Michael Cooper vs. Jerry West Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Jerry West and Michael Cooper, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Michael Cooper played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Jerry West, who played 14. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Jerry West had his rookie season in 1960-61. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90
Jerry West 14 13 1960-61 to 1973-74

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1978-791960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 3 2.3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 2.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Jerry West 79 35.4 17.6 - - 7.7 4.2 - - - 2.7 6.7 16.0 .419 - - - 4.2 6.3 .666
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Jerry West 12 38.4 22.9 - - 8.7 5.3 - - - 3.3 8.3 16.8 .490 - - - 6.4 8.8 .726

Season 2

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1979-801961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 24.1 8.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.5 1.7 2.6 3.7 7.0 .524 0.1 0.2 .250 1.4 1.7 .776
Jerry West 75 41.2 30.8 - - 7.9 5.4 - - - 2.3 10.7 23.9 .445 - - - 9.5 12.3 .769
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 16 29.0 9.1 1.8 1.9 3.7 3.6 1.5 0.7 1.8 3.4 3.6 8.8 .407 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .861
Jerry West 13 42.8 31.5 - - 6.8 4.4 - - - 2.9 11.1 23.8 .465 - - - 9.3 11.5 .807

Season 3

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1980-811962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 81 32.4 9.4 1.5 2.7 4.1 4.1 1.6 1.0 2.0 3.1 4.0 8.1 .491 0.0 0.2 .211 1.4 1.8 .785
Jerry West 55 39.3 27.1 - - 7.0 5.6 - - - 2.7 10.2 22.1 .461 - - - 6.7 8.7 .778
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 3 34.0 10.7 0.7 2.7 3.3 2.3 2.0 0.0 2.3 2.3 3.7 6.7 .550 0.0 1.0 .000 3.3 4.7 .714
Jerry West 13 41.4 27.8 - - 8.2 4.7 - - - 2.6 11.1 22.0 .503 - - - 5.7 7.7 .740

Season 4

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1981-821963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 76 28.9 11.9 1.1 2.4 3.5 3.0 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 5.0 9.8 .517 0.0 0.2 .118 1.8 2.3 .813
Jerry West 72 40.4 28.7 - - 6.0 5.6 - - - 2.8 10.3 21.2 .484 - - - 8.1 9.8 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 14 27.4 11.9 1.4 3.0 4.4 4.4 1.7 0.8 2.1 3.4 5.0 8.9 .565 0.1 0.1 .500 1.8 2.4 .735
Jerry West 5 41.2 31.2 - - 7.2 3.4 - - - 4.0 11.4 23.0 .496 - - - 8.4 10.6 .792

Season 5

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1982-831964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 26.2 7.8 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.8 1.4 0.6 1.6 2.5 3.2 6.1 .535 0.1 0.3 .238 1.2 1.6 .785
Jerry West 74 41.4 31.0 - - 6.0 4.9 - - - 3.0 11.1 22.4 .497 - - - 8.8 10.7 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 15 30.2 9.4 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.3 3.6 3.5 7.6 .465 0.1 0.5 .143 2.3 2.7 .829
Jerry West 11 42.7 40.6 - - 5.7 5.3 - - - 3.4 14.1 31.9 .442 - - - 12.5 14.0 .890

Season 6

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1983-841965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 29.1 9.0 0.6 2.5 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.8 1.8 3.3 3.3 6.7 .497 0.5 1.5 .314 1.9 2.3 .838
Jerry West 79 40.7 31.3 - - 7.1 6.1 - - - 3.1 10.4 21.9 .473 - - - 10.6 12.4 .860
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 21 34.4 11.3 1.0 3.0 3.9 5.7 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.8 4.2 9.1 .461 0.6 1.7 .333 2.4 3.0 .806
Jerry West 14 44.2 34.2 - - 6.3 5.6 - - - 2.9 13.2 25.5 .518 - - - 7.8 8.9 .872

Season 7

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1984-851966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 26.7 8.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 1.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.4 7.2 .465 0.4 1.5 .285 1.4 1.6 .865
Jerry West 66 40.5 28.7 - - 5.9 6.8 - - - 2.4 9.8 21.0 .464 - - - 9.1 10.4 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 19 26.4 10.4 0.6 3.4 4.0 4.9 1.1 0.5 1.9 2.4 3.7 6.6 .563 0.4 1.4 .308 2.5 2.7 .923
Jerry West 1 1.0 0.0 - - 1.0 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1985-861967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 27.7 9.2 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.7 1.1 0.5 1.8 2.9 3.3 7.4 .452 0.8 2.0 .387 1.8 2.1 .865
Jerry West 51 37.6 26.3 - - 5.8 6.1 - - - 3.0 9.3 18.2 .514 - - - 7.7 9.5 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 14 30.1 9.7 1.1 2.1 3.3 4.9 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 8.2 .470 1.4 2.9 .463 0.6 0.8 .818
Jerry West 15 41.5 30.8 - - 5.4 5.5 - - - 3.1 11.0 20.9 .527 - - - 8.8 11.3 .781

Season 9

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1986-871968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
-Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 82 27.5 10.5 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.5 1.0 0.5 1.2 2.4 3.9 9.0 .438 1.1 2.8 .385 1.5 1.8 .851
Jerry West 61 39.2 25.9 - - 4.3 6.9 - - - 2.6 8.9 19.0 .471 - - - 8.0 9.8 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 18 29.0 13.0 0.4 2.8 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.8 2.1 2.6 4.3 8.8 .484 1.9 3.9 .486 2.6 3.0 .852
Jerry West 18 42.1 30.9 - - 3.9 7.5 - - - 2.9 10.9 23.5 .463 - - - 9.1 11.3 .804

Season 10

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1987-881969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 61 29.4 8.7 0.8 2.9 3.7 4.7 1.1 0.4 1.7 2.2 3.1 7.9 .392 0.9 2.9 .320 1.6 1.9 .858
Jerry West 74 42.0 31.2 - - 4.6 7.5 - - - 2.2 11.2 22.6 .497 - - - 8.7 10.6 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 24 24.5 6.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.4 2.3 5.5 .412 1.0 2.6 .403 0.8 1.1 .741
Jerry West 18 46.1 31.2 - - 3.7 8.4 - - - 3.1 10.9 23.2 .469 - - - 9.4 11.8 .802

Season 11

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1988-891970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 80 24.3 7.3 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.9 0.9 0.4 1.2 2.3 2.7 6.2 .431 1.0 2.6 .381 1.0 1.2 .871
Jerry West 69 41.2 26.9 - - 4.6 9.5 - - - 2.6 9.7 19.6 .494 - - - 7.6 9.1 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 15 27.6 7.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 4.7 0.6 0.5 1.1 2.5 2.5 5.9 .416 1.4 3.7 .382 1.3 1.6 .833
Jerry West ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season 1989-901971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game NVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 80 23.1 6.4 0.7 2.1 2.8 2.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 2.6 2.4 6.2 .387 0.6 2.0 .318 1.0 1.2 .883
Jerry West 77 38.6 25.8 - - 4.2 9.7 - - - 2.7 9.5 20.0 .477 - - - 6.7 8.2 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper 9 19.2 2.6 1.2 1.4 2.7 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.8 2.3 1.1 3.9 .286 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 -
Jerry West 15 40.5 22.9 - - 4.9 8.9 - - - 2.6 8.5 22.7 .376 - - - 5.9 7.1 .830

Season 13

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season -1972-73
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Lakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Jerry West 69 35.7 22.8 - - 4.2 8.8 - - - 2.0 9.0 18.7 .479 - - - 4.9 6.1 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Jerry West 17 37.5 23.6 - - 4.5 7.8 - - - 2.9 8.9 19.8 .449 - - - 5.8 7.5 .780

Season 14

Michael Cooper Jerry West
Season -1973-74
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Lakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Jerry West 31 31.2 20.3 1.0 2.8 3.7 6.6 2.6 0.7 - 2.6 7.5 16.7 .447 - - - 5.3 6.4 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Jerry West 1 14.0 4.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 2.0 9.0 .222 - - - 0.0 0.0 -