Michael Cooper vs. Reggie Theus Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Reggie Theus 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, 1 less than Reggie Theus, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Reggie Theus had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Reggie Theus 13 4 1978-79 to 1990-91

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1978-791978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 -
Reggie Theus 82 33.6 16.3 1.1 1.7 2.8 5.2 1.1 0.2 3.7 3.3 6.5 13.6 .480 - - - 3.2 4.2 .761
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1979-801979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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
Reggie Theus 82 36.9 20.2 1.7 2.3 4.0 6.3 1.4 0.2 4.2 3.2 6.9 14.3 .483 0.3 1.3 .267 6.1 7.3 .838
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
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1980-811980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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 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
Reggie Theus 82 34.4 18.9 1.5 2.0 3.5 5.2 1.5 0.2 3.2 3.1 6.6 13.4 .495 0.2 1.1 .200 5.4 6.7 .809
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
Reggie Theus 6 38.7 19.8 1.2 2.3 3.5 6.3 1.5 0.0 2.5 3.7 6.7 15.0 .444 0.3 1.5 .222 6.2 7.2 .860

Season 4

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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 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
Reggie Theus 82 34.6 18.4 1.4 2.4 3.8 5.8 1.1 0.2 3.4 3.0 6.8 14.6 .469 0.3 1.2 .250 4.4 5.5 .808
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
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 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
Reggie Theus 82 34.8 23.8 1.1 2.5 3.7 5.9 1.7 0.2 3.9 3.4 9.1 19.1 .478 0.3 1.1 .231 5.3 6.6 .801
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
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls, Kansas City Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKings 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
Reggie Theus 61 24.6 12.2 0.8 1.3 2.1 5.8 0.8 0.2 2.6 2.8 4.3 10.2 .419 0.1 0.7 .167 3.5 4.6 .762
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
Reggie Theus 3 27.0 14.3 1.3 2.3 3.7 5.3 1.7 0.0 3.0 3.0 5.7 14.3 .395 0.0 1.0 .000 3.0 3.3 .900

Season 7

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1984-851984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersKansas City Kings
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 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
Reggie Theus 82 31.0 16.4 1.3 2.0 3.3 8.0 1.2 0.2 3.7 3.0 6.1 12.5 .487 0.1 0.5 .132 4.1 4.7 .863
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
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsKings 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 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
Reggie Theus 82 35.6 18.3 0.9 2.8 3.7 9.6 1.4 0.2 4.0 2.8 6.7 13.9 .480 0.1 0.4 .171 4.9 6.0 .827
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
Reggie Theus 3 34.0 15.0 1.0 1.7 2.7 6.3 1.0 0.7 4.7 3.0 6.0 15.3 .391 0.0 0.3 .000 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 9

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
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
Reggie Theus 79 36.4 20.3 1.1 2.3 3.4 8.8 1.0 0.2 3.7 2.6 7.3 15.5 .472 0.2 1.0 .218 5.4 6.3 .867
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
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1987-881987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
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
Reggie Theus 73 36.3 21.6 1.0 2.2 3.2 6.3 0.8 0.2 3.2 2.4 8.5 18.1 .470 0.2 0.8 .271 4.4 5.3 .831
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
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 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
Reggie Theus 82 30.7 15.8 1.0 1.9 3.0 4.7 1.3 0.2 2.4 2.9 6.1 13.0 .466 0.2 0.7 .293 3.5 4.1 .851
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
Reggie Theus 5 25.4 7.4 0.6 0.8 1.4 4.8 0.2 0.0 2.0 3.6 2.8 7.6 .368 0.0 0.4 .000 1.8 2.4 .750

Season 12

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season 1989-901989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Reggie Theus 76 30.9 18.9 1.0 1.9 2.9 5.4 0.8 0.2 3.0 2.6 6.8 15.5 .439 0.3 1.4 .248 5.0 5.8 .853
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 -
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Cooper Reggie Theus
Season -1990-91
Team -New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Reggie Theus 81 36.5 18.6 0.9 2.0 2.8 4.7 1.0 0.4 3.1 2.9 7.2 15.4 .468 0.6 1.8 .361 3.6 4.2 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Reggie Theus ------- --- ----------