Former Lakers defensive stalwart Michael Cooper will enter the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame later this year – information that Lakers great Magic Johnson revealed about his former “Showtime” teammate via social media on Thursday evening.
“I don’t even know where to start! I tried to wait until Saturday … but I just can’t hold the news,” Johnson posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I’m so so thrilled that my Showtime running mate and one of my best friends Michael Cooper has been elected into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame!!”
Lakers great James Worthy, another former teammate of Cooper’s, also posted a congratulatory post about Cooper’s expected induction into the Hall of Fame.
The 1986-87 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Cooper was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, including being named a first-team selection five times.
The Los Angeles native, a former Pasadena High and Pasadena City College star, was a third-round draft pick (60th overall) of the Lakers out of the University of New Mexico. He spent his entire 12-year NBA career (1978-90) with the Lakers.
Cooper, Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were the only three players with the Lakers for all five of their NBA championships (1980, ‘82, ‘85, ‘87-88) during the “Showtime” era. Cooper joins Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy and Coach Pat Riley as “Showtime” representatives in the Hall of Fame.
Cooper will be the 31st player to wear a Lakers uniform and get elected to the Hall of Fame.
Cooper, who was previously named a Hall of Fame finalist in 2021 and 2022, averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game during his 12-season NBA career.
Johnson continued: “Coop is the greatest defensive player I’ve ever seen in the NBA – and I would know because I went up against him every single day in practice! His play on the offensive end was strong too. He was an excellent point guard and 3-point shooting threat.
Related Articles
Anthony Davis leads Lakers past Wizards to cap successful trip
Jerry West reportedly elected again to Basketball Hall of Fame
Balanced Lakers crush Raptors for 7th win in 8 games
Lakers turning a corner defensively with postseason play approaching
LeBron James scores 40 points, leads Lakers to win over Nets
“He was mentally and physically tough, which made him such an amazing teammate. And I can’t forget about our special [alley-oops], aka the Coop-a-Loop! I loved throwing him those high lobs, which always sent the Forum into a frenzy! I’m so happy for Michael, his wife Yvonne, and his kids for this well-deserved honor and Laker Nation should be ecstatic as well! Cookie and I can’t wait to support Coop at the Hall of Fame ceremony.”
Cooper entered the coaching ranks following his playing career. He earned WNBA Coach of the Year accolades in 2000 with the Sparks before winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001-02.
Jerry West reportedly will also be entering the Hall of Fame, for the third time, as a contributor to the game. The entire 2024 Hall of Fame class will officially be announced on Saturday in Phoenix during the NCAA men’s Final Four, with the enshrinement taking place Aug. 16-17 in Springfield, Mass.
