Michael Cooper never made an All-Star game with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he was as critical to those Showtime teams as anyone not named Magic Johnson or James Worthy. He played several different positions and roles in 12 seasons with L.A., and he was one of the greatest defenders ever, not to mention an excellent 3-point shooter and a very serviceable facilitator.

Since retiring from the NBA in 1990, Cooper has been a head coach at several different levels for multiple teams. He has been nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame multiple times, and on Thursday, he finally got voted in.

Cooper's Lakers teammate Johnson shared a heartfelt reaction upon hearing the news:

“I don’t even know where to start! I tried to wait until Saturday…but I just can’t hold the news 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!!  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.

A lot of people may not know that he once held the record for the most 3-pointers in an NBA Finals game (with 6) before Steph Curry came along. 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 Lakers Nation should be ecstatic as well! Cookie and I can’t wait to support Coop at the Hall of Fame ceremony on August 17th.”

Michael Cooper, Lakers legend to Hall of Famer

Cooper was a pivotal contributor to five title teams (1980, ’82, ’85, ’87, ’88) over 12 NBA seasons — all with the Lakers. In addition to beautifully filling the wing for Magic Johnson, Cooper was heralded for his elite defense.

Cooper earned five All-Defensive First Team selections and won Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 despite coming off the bench for all but two games. In total, the 1978 third-round pick was named to eight All-Defense teams.

Beyond Showtime, his basketball contributions are respectable, if not quite Hall of Fame-caliber. Cooper was an All-American at the University of New Mexico. He served as a Lakers assistant GM and assistant coach in the mid-1990s and briefly as Nuggets interim head coach in 2004. Cooper also coached the Albuquerque Thunderbirds to a D-League crown in 2006.

His coaching peak came with the Los Angeles Sparks, helping lead Lisa Leslie and company to back-to-back WNBA titles (2001-02) and three straight Finals appearances, winning WNBA Coach of the Year in 2000.

From 2009-13, he coached the USC Women of Troy to a 72-57 record. (the Hall of Fame's page includes his 1991 Italian All-Star Game MVP in his accolades).

His stats are far below traditional Springfield-level. He averaged 8.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game on 46.9% shooting. He had two seasons exceeding over 10 PPG, and he never made an All-Star team. He averaged 10.3/2.9/3.9 in the Finals.

Cooper ranks top-10 in Lakers history in minutes, games, threes made, assists, steals, and blocks.