Michael Cooper vs. Kelly Tripucka Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kelly Tripucka 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 / Games against each other

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 more than Kelly Tripucka, who played 10. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Kelly Tripucka had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Kelly Tripucka 10 5 1981-82 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1978-791981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 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 -
Kelly Tripucka 82 37.5 21.6 2.7 2.7 5.4 3.3 1.1 0.2 3.4 2.9 7.8 15.6 .496 0.1 0.3 .227 6.0 7.6 .797
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 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
Kelly Tripucka 58 38.8 26.5 2.2 2.4 4.6 4.1 1.2 0.3 3.2 2.7 9.7 19.9 .489 0.2 0.6 .378 6.8 8.0 .845
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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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
Kelly Tripucka 76 32.8 21.3 1.6 2.5 4.0 3.0 0.9 0.2 2.5 2.5 7.8 17.1 .459 0.0 0.2 .118 5.6 6.9 .815
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
Kelly Tripucka 5 41.6 27.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.0 2.2 0.0 3.6 4.4 9.6 20.4 .471 0.0 0.2 .000 8.2 10.2 .804

Season 4

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East 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 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
Kelly Tripucka 55 30.5 19.1 1.2 2.8 4.0 2.5 0.9 0.3 2.1 2.1 7.2 15.1 .477 0.0 0.1 .400 4.6 5.2 .885
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
Kelly Tripucka 9 32.0 14.8 2.1 2.2 4.3 3.2 0.4 0.3 2.1 2.4 5.4 13.1 .415 0.0 0.1 .000 3.9 4.4 .875

Season 5

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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
Kelly Tripucka 81 32.4 20.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 3.3 1.1 0.1 2.3 2.1 7.6 15.3 .498 0.1 0.3 .480 4.7 5.5 .856
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
Kelly Tripucka 4 43.8 21.8 2.5 3.3 5.8 2.3 0.8 0.5 4.0 3.5 8.3 17.8 .465 0.0 0.0 - 5.3 5.8 .913

Season 6

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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
Kelly Tripucka 79 23.6 10.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 3.1 1.1 0.1 2.1 1.9 3.7 7.9 .469 0.2 0.7 .365 2.5 2.9 .872
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
Kelly Tripucka 5 14.0 6.4 0.2 1.2 1.4 0.6 0.8 0.0 1.4 1.2 2.8 4.0 .700 0.0 0.6 .000 0.8 0.8 1.000

Season 7

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz 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 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
Kelly Tripucka 49 19.9 7.5 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.1 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.4 2.8 6.2 .459 0.6 1.5 .419 1.2 1.4 .868
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
Kelly Tripucka 2 4.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 8

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1985-861988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Kelly Tripucka 71 32.4 22.6 1.1 2.6 3.8 3.2 1.2 0.2 3.3 2.8 8.0 17.1 .467 0.4 1.2 .357 6.2 7.2 .866
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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1986-871989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 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
Kelly Tripucka 79 30.4 15.6 1.0 3.0 4.1 2.8 0.9 0.2 2.2 2.8 5.6 13.0 .430 0.5 1.3 .365 3.9 4.4 .883
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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1987-881990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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 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
Kelly Tripucka 77 16.7 7.0 0.6 1.7 2.3 2.1 0.4 0.2 1.2 1.7 2.4 5.4 .454 0.2 0.6 .333 2.0 2.2 .910
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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1988-89-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
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 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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------
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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Kelly Tripucka
Season 1989-90-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
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 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
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------
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 -
Kelly Tripucka ------- --- ----------