The Los Angeles Lakers will likely be honoring Michael Cooper throughout the 2024-25 NBA season. The Lakers introduced Thursday that the crew will likely be retiring Cooper’s No. 21 jersey on Jan. 13, 2025, in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs.
Cooper, 68, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame for the Class of 2024. As a 6-foot-7 capturing guard, he spent his complete 12-year profession with the Lakers after the crew chosen him sixtieth general within the 1978 draft.
In 873 profession NBA regular-season video games (94 begins), he averaged 8.9 factors, 3.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 27.1 minutes per contest. He additionally shot 46.9% from the ground, 34% from 3-point vary, and 83.3% on the free throw line.
5x Champion. Defensive specialist. Showtime Coooooop.
1/13/25 – We increase Michael Cooper’s jersey into the rafters amongst the Laker greats. pic.twitter.com/KbSwza9pHu
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 15, 2024
Furthermore, Cooper was named NBA All-Defensive eight occasions: 5 First-Group picks (1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988) and three Second-Group nods (1981, 1983, 1986). Plus, he helped Los Angeles win 5 NBA championships (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988).
Till 2024, Cooper and Norm Van Lier had essentially the most defensive picks of any participant to not be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame. He participated within the 1984 NBA Slam Dunk Contest as properly.
Michael Cooper is slated to change into the thirteenth Los Angeles Lakers participant to have his quantity retired
Cooper ranks fifth in assists (3,666) and steals (1,033) in Lakers’ franchise historical past. Whereas he didn’t make the highest 10 in blocks or factors, he was nearly at all times wholesome. Cooper appeared in each recreation within the 1979-80, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86, and 1986-87 seasons.
Moreover, in Los Angeles’ 119-113 win over the Boston Celtics on Feb. 7, 1982, he recorded a career-high 31 factors on 13-of-20 (65%) capturing from the sphere and 5-of-6 (83.3%) on the foul line. Larry Chicken mentioned previously that Cooper was the very best defender he ever confronted.
Within the 1986-87 season, Cooper received NBA Defensive Participant of the 12 months. He averaged 10.5 factors, 3.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.0 steal, and 27.5 minutes per contest in 82 video games (two begins).
The California native joins Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Pau Gasol, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, James Worthy, Jerry West, Jamaal Wilkes, and George Mikan as gamers who’ve had their numbers retired by the Lakers.
Cooper’s jersey will likely be retired a month earlier than NBA All-Star Weekend. The occasion is scheduled from Feb. 14-16 in San Francisco at Chase Heart. Subsequent season’s All-Star Recreation would be the 74th version. Nonetheless, the sport will likely be televised nationally by TNT for the twenty third and remaining consecutive yr.
