Michael Cooper

Michael Jerome Cooper , born on April 15th 1956 with Los Angeles (California), is a former player of American Basket-ball and current trainer. It evolved/moved 12 seasons under the shirt of the Lakers of Los Angeles with which it gained 5 championships NBA and was elected better defender of the league. Michael Cooper started in 1994 a career of trainer, talent which he exerted in NBA, WNBA and Ligue of development of the NBA. He is currently trainer of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, champions 2006 of the D-League .

Career of player

At her exit of the University of the New Mexico, Michael Cooper is drafté with the 3rd turn, 6th choice by Lakers in 1978. It will be faithful to the Californian frankness throughout its 12 years from career.

To Los Angeles, it will take part in the one of the most beautiful epopees of NBA by gaining 5 times the title at the side of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the Eighties. Very good defender in spite of his small size (1m83), it was named 5 times in the team of the best defenders and received the title of better defender in 1987. He is, according to Larry Bird, the best defender against whom he played.

Successive clubs

1979 - 1990:

Prize list

5 times Champion NBA with Lakers in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988

Elected Defensive NBA Player off the Year (better defender of the league) in 1987
5 selections in AlDefense First TEAM (defensive standard team of the league) in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988
3 selections in AlDefense Second TEAM (second defensive standard team of the league) in 1981, 1983 and 1986

Statistics in career: 8,9 points/3,2 rebounds/4,2 master keys/1,2 interceptions in 873 matches of regular season (+ 168 in playoffs)

Career of trainer

At the end of its career of player, it assists during 3 years Jerry West, the GM (General Manager) of Lakers before joining the team of the trainers of Magic Johnson in March 1994, always in Lakers. It remains in spite of the change of trainer and the arrival of LED Harris (1994 to 1997).

In 1999, he becomes the assisting trainer of the team of the Los Angeles Sparks, team of WNBA which reaches for the first time of its history the playoffs. Then, in November 1999, it is named trainer of Sparks. A success since he is elected trainer WNBA of the year in 2000 and the club gains the title in 2001 and 2002 before being inclined finally the following year against the Detroit Shock.

Cooper returns in NBA in 2004-2005 to assist Jeff Bzdelik with the Denver Nuggets then to take its place by interim before being replaced by George Karl.

For the season 2005-2006, it involves the Thunderbird Albuquerque, team of the Ligue of development of the NBA with which it gains the championship.

Prize list

Champion of the WNBA with Los Angeles Sparks in 2001 and 2002
Champion of the NBA League Development in 2006

See too

List of the players most titrated in NBA

External bond

Statistical detailed on basketball-reference.com

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