Michael Cooper vs. Rickey Green Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rickey Green 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 Rickey Green, who played 14. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Rickey Green had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
Rickey Green 14 8 1977-78 to 1991-92

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 Rickey Green
Season 1978-791977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
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 -
Rickey Green 76 14.4 4.5 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.0 0.8 0.0 1.0 1.3 1.9 4.9 .381 - - - 0.7 1.2 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1979-801978-79
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
Rickey Green 27 16.0 6.6 0.6 0.9 1.5 2.3 0.9 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.5 6.6 .379 - - - 1.7 2.5 .672
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
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------

Note: Rickey Green didn't play in 1979-80.

Season 3

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1980-811980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Rickey Green 47 27.8 9.0 0.6 1.8 2.5 5.0 1.6 0.0 1.8 2.6 3.7 7.8 .481 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.1 .722
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
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1981-821981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
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
Rickey Green 81 34.8 14.8 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.8 2.3 0.1 2.4 2.3 6.2 12.5 .493 0.0 0.1 .000 2.5 3.3 .765
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
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1982-831982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
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
Rickey Green 78 35.7 14.3 0.8 2.1 2.9 8.9 2.8 0.1 2.8 2.0 5.9 12.1 .493 0.0 0.2 .154 2.4 3.0 .797
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
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1983-841983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsJazz 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 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
Rickey Green 81 34.2 13.2 0.7 2.1 2.8 9.2 2.7 0.2 2.1 1.9 5.4 11.2 .486 0.0 0.2 .118 2.4 2.9 .821
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
Rickey Green 11 36.7 14.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 9.5 1.7 0.4 2.6 1.5 5.8 13.7 .424 0.1 0.4 .250 2.9 3.9 .744

Season 7

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1984-851984-85
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
Rickey Green 77 31.6 13.0 0.5 2.0 2.5 7.8 1.7 0.0 2.3 1.7 4.9 10.4 .477 0.1 0.3 .300 3.0 3.5 .869
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
Rickey Green 10 30.2 15.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.5 1.2 0.0 2.0 2.3 5.7 10.6 .538 0.1 0.7 .143 3.5 3.8 .921

Season 8

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1985-861985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Rickey Green 80 25.2 11.7 0.4 1.3 1.7 5.1 1.3 0.1 1.7 1.6 4.5 9.5 .471 0.1 0.4 .172 2.7 3.1 .852
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
Rickey Green 4 29.8 13.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 9.5 0.5 0.0 1.3 0.3 5.3 10.8 .488 0.3 0.5 .500 2.5 2.8 .909

Season 9

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1986-871986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionJazz 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 27.5 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
Rickey Green 81 25.8 9.6 0.5 1.5 2.0 6.7 1.4 0.0 1.6 1.3 3.7 8.0 .467 0.1 0.2 .368 2.1 2.6 .827
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
Rickey Green 4 18.0 6.8 0.3 1.8 2.0 6.3 0.5 0.0 1.8 1.3 2.8 5.8 .478 0.0 0.3 .000 1.3 1.5 .833

Season 10

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1987-881987-88
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 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
Rickey Green 81 13.8 4.9 0.2 0.8 1.0 3.7 0.7 0.0 1.2 1.0 1.9 4.6 .424 0.0 0.2 .211 0.9 1.0 .904
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
Rickey Green 7 5.4 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.3 0.3 1.1 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1988-891988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 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
Rickey Green 63 13.8 4.6 0.2 0.9 1.1 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 0.6 2.0 4.2 .489 0.0 0.2 .273 0.5 0.5 .909
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
Rickey Green 8 13.8 3.6 0.4 1.3 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.0 0.5 1.1 1.5 3.6 .414 0.1 0.3 .500 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 12

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season 1989-901989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisPacers 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 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
Rickey Green 69 13.4 3.5 0.1 0.7 0.8 2.6 0.7 0.0 0.9 0.9 1.4 3.3 .433 0.0 0.2 .091 0.6 0.7 .843
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 -
Rickey Green 3 10.3 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.7 0.3 2.3 .143 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season -1990-91
Team -Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -76ers 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 ------- --- ----------
Rickey Green 79 28.5 10.0 0.4 1.3 1.7 5.2 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.6 4.2 9.1 .463 0.1 0.5 .222 1.5 1.8 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Rickey Green 8 24.9 7.4 0.1 1.0 1.1 2.8 0.9 0.0 1.6 1.1 3.0 6.9 .436 0.4 0.5 .750 1.0 1.1 .889

Season 14

Michael Cooper Rickey Green
Season -1991-92
Team -Boston Celtics
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 ------- --- ----------
Rickey Green 26 14.1 4.1 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.6 0.7 0.0 0.7 1.1 1.8 4.0 .447 0.0 0.2 .250 0.5 0.7 .722
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Rickey Green ------- --- ----------