Michael Cooper vs. Rod Higgins Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Rod Higgins 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, 1 less than Rod Higgins, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Rod Higgins had his rookie season in 1982-83. 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
Rod Higgins 13 6 1982-83 to 1994-95

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1978-791982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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 -
Rod Higgins 82 26.8 10.3 1.9 2.5 4.5 2.1 0.8 0.8 1.5 3.0 3.8 8.5 .448 0.2 0.5 .317 2.5 3.2 .792
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1979-801983-84
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
Rod Higgins 78 20.2 6.4 1.1 1.5 2.6 1.5 0.6 0.4 1.0 2.1 2.5 5.5 .447 0.0 0.3 .045 1.4 2.0 .724
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
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBulls 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
Rod Higgins 68 13.9 4.5 0.8 1.4 2.2 1.1 0.3 0.2 0.7 1.3 1.8 4.0 .441 0.1 0.5 .270 0.9 1.3 .667
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
Rod Higgins 1 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersSeattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Chicago 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
Rod Higgins 30 11.1 3.3 0.5 1.2 1.7 0.8 0.3 0.4 0.4 1.6 1.3 3.5 .368 0.0 0.3 .111 0.6 0.9 .704
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
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 26.2 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
Rod Higgins 73 20.5 8.6 1.0 2.3 3.2 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.0 2.9 5.6 .519 0.0 0.2 .176 2.7 3.3 .833
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
Rod Higgins 10 17.7 4.3 0.5 1.6 2.1 1.2 1.1 0.6 0.2 2.0 1.8 4.6 .391 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.6 0.9 .667

Season 6

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First 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 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
Rod Higgins 68 32.2 15.5 1.4 2.9 4.3 2.8 1.0 0.5 1.6 2.8 5.6 10.7 .526 0.3 0.6 .487 4.0 4.7 .848
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
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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
Rod Higgins 81 23.3 10.6 1.4 3.3 4.6 2.0 0.5 0.5 0.9 2.1 3.7 7.8 .476 0.8 2.1 .393 2.3 2.8 .821
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
Rod Higgins 8 33.4 14.9 2.9 4.5 7.4 2.5 1.6 0.9 1.4 2.4 5.0 10.3 .488 1.3 4.4 .286 3.6 4.3 .853

Season 8

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
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
Rod Higgins 82 24.3 11.1 1.5 3.7 5.1 1.6 0.6 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.7 7.7 .481 0.8 2.4 .347 2.9 3.5 .821
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
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 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
Rod Higgins 82 24.7 9.5 1.3 3.0 4.3 1.4 0.6 0.5 0.8 2.4 3.2 6.8 .463 0.9 2.7 .332 2.3 2.8 .819
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
Rod Higgins 9 23.8 9.2 1.0 2.2 3.2 2.0 0.2 0.9 0.8 3.1 2.9 6.8 .426 0.9 2.9 .308 2.6 3.1 .821

Season 10

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 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
Rod Higgins 25 21.4 10.2 1.2 2.2 3.4 0.9 0.6 0.5 0.6 3.0 3.5 8.4 .412 1.3 3.8 .347 1.9 2.4 .814
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
Rod Higgins 2 8.5 3.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.5 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.5 .400 0.0 1.0 .000 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 11

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
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
Rod Higgins 69 20.7 8.3 1.0 1.8 2.8 1.7 0.7 0.4 0.9 2.0 2.9 7.0 .412 0.6 1.9 .323 1.9 2.2 .861
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
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season 1989-901993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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
Rod Higgins 36 15.2 5.4 0.7 1.6 2.3 1.0 0.7 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.0 4.5 .436 0.6 1.4 .440 0.9 1.2 .738
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 -
Rod Higgins 3 19.0 3.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 3.3 1.3 3.7 .364 0.7 2.3 .286 0.3 0.7 .500

Season 13

Michael Cooper Rod Higgins
Season -1994-95
Team -Golden State Warriors
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 ------- --- ----------
Rod Higgins 5 9.2 2.0 0.8 0.6 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.2 1.4 0.6 2.4 .250 0.2 1.2 .167 0.6 0.8 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Rod Higgins ------- --- ----------