Michael Cooper Basketball Cards

About Michael Cooper, Hall of Famer

Michael Cooper, born in 1956, was a defensive powerhouse for the Los Angeles Lakers throughout his twelve-year NBA career. Drafted in 1978, he became a cornerstone of the Lakers' Showtime dynasty, winning five championships alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Cooper earned eight All-Defensive Team selections and captured the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1987. At 6'7" and known for his knee-high socks, he played multiple positions but primarily defended opponents' best perimeter scorers. He averaged 8.9 points and 4.2 assists per game while establishing himself as one of the elite perimeter defenders of his era. Cooper was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024, with the Lakers retiring his No. 21 jersey in 2025.

Did you know? Larry Bird once said that Michael Cooper was the best defender he ever faced.

Source: Wikipedia, Michael Cooper (CC BY-SA)