Michael Cooper vs. Lance Stephenson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Lance Stephenson 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 more than Lance Stephenson, who played 10. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Lance Stephenson had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Lance Stephenson 10 6 2010-11 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1978-792010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
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 -
Lance Stephenson 12 9.6 3.1 0.1 1.4 1.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 1.3 1.2 1.1 3.3 .333 0.0 0.4 .000 0.9 1.2 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 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
Lance Stephenson 42 10.5 2.5 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.5 0.1 0.9 0.7 1.1 3.0 .376 0.1 0.7 .133 0.2 0.4 .471
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
Lance Stephenson 4 3.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.5 2.3 .222 0.3 0.5 .500 0.3 0.5 .500

Season 3

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPacers Lost East Conf 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
Lance Stephenson 78 29.2 8.8 0.6 3.3 3.9 2.9 1.0 0.2 1.4 2.1 3.5 7.7 .460 0.8 2.4 .330 1.0 1.5 .652
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
Lance Stephenson 19 35.4 9.4 0.7 6.8 7.6 3.3 1.2 0.1 1.9 2.5 3.6 8.9 .408 0.9 3.4 .281 1.2 1.9 .622

Season 4

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East Conf Finals
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
Lance Stephenson 78 35.3 13.8 1.2 5.9 7.2 4.6 0.7 0.1 2.7 2.5 5.5 11.2 .491 1.1 3.1 .352 1.8 2.5 .711
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
Lance Stephenson 19 37.1 13.6 1.3 5.6 6.9 4.2 0.8 0.2 2.4 2.9 5.3 11.6 .455 1.3 3.5 .358 1.8 2.6 .714

Season 5

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Lance Stephenson 61 25.8 8.2 0.6 3.9 4.5 3.9 0.6 0.1 2.1 2.2 3.4 9.0 .376 0.3 1.7 .171 1.1 1.8 .627
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
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1983-842015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsGrizzlies 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
Lance Stephenson 69 19.9 8.3 0.6 2.7 3.2 1.9 0.6 0.1 1.4 2.0 3.3 6.9 .481 0.4 1.1 .385 1.3 1.6 .784
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
Lance Stephenson 4 23.8 13.0 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.8 0.3 0.0 0.8 2.5 5.8 11.0 .523 0.5 1.3 .400 1.0 1.3 .800

Season 7

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1984-852016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers 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 26.7 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
Lance Stephenson 18 20.1 6.8 0.2 2.7 2.9 3.3 0.3 0.2 1.4 1.8 3.0 6.7 .450 0.3 1.1 .300 0.4 0.7 .615
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
Lance Stephenson 4 26.8 16.0 0.3 5.0 5.3 2.8 0.5 0.0 1.0 2.8 6.8 13.3 .509 1.8 4.5 .389 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 8

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1985-862017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsPacers 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 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
Lance Stephenson 82 22.6 9.2 0.8 4.4 5.2 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.6 2.2 3.7 8.6 .427 0.8 2.8 .289 1.0 1.5 .661
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
Lance Stephenson 7 21.3 10.4 0.4 2.3 2.7 2.9 0.3 0.1 1.3 2.9 4.3 9.3 .462 1.1 3.7 .308 0.7 1.3 .556

Season 9

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1986-872018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
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
Lance Stephenson 68 16.5 7.2 0.5 2.7 3.2 2.1 0.6 0.1 1.3 1.6 2.7 6.4 .426 1.1 2.9 .371 0.7 1.1 .685
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
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------

Note: Lance Stephenson didn't play in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Season 10

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
Season 1987-882021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers
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
Lance Stephenson 46 17.7 8.3 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.6 0.5 0.1 1.6 2.1 3.2 7.0 .455 0.6 2.0 .300 1.4 1.7 .788
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
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
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
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------
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
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Lance Stephenson
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
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------
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 -
Lance Stephenson ------- --- ----------