Gilbert Arenas vs. Michael Cooper Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Cooper and Gilbert Arenas, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Gilbert Arenas played 11 years in the NBA, 1 less than Michael Cooper, who played 12. Gilbert Arenas had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Michael Cooper had his rookie season in 1978-79. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Gilbert Arenas 11 5 2001-02 to 2011-12
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2001-021978-79
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 47 24.6 10.9 0.9 1.9 2.8 3.7 1.5 0.2 2.1 2.4 3.7 8.2 .453 0.8 2.4 .345 2.6 3.4 .775
Michael Cooper 3 2.3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.0 2.0 .500 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2002-031979-80
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement Most Improved Player-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 82 35.0 18.3 1.2 3.5 4.7 6.3 1.5 0.2 3.5 3.2 6.2 14.4 .431 1.3 3.8 .348 4.5 5.7 .791
Michael Cooper 82 24.1 8.8 1.2 1.6 2.8 2.7 1.0 0.5 1.7 2.6 3.7 7.0 .524 0.1 0.2 .250 1.4 1.7 .776
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 16 29.0 9.1 1.8 1.9 3.7 3.6 1.5 0.7 1.8 3.4 3.6 8.8 .407 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .861

Season 3

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2003-041980-81
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 55 37.6 19.6 1.0 3.6 4.6 5.0 1.9 0.2 4.1 3.2 6.5 16.6 .392 2.3 6.1 .375 4.3 5.8 .748
Michael Cooper 81 32.4 9.4 1.5 2.7 4.1 4.1 1.6 1.0 2.0 3.1 4.0 8.1 .491 0.0 0.2 .211 1.4 1.8 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 3 34.0 10.7 0.7 2.7 3.3 2.3 2.0 0.0 2.3 2.3 3.7 6.7 .550 0.0 1.0 .000 3.3 4.7 .714

Season 4

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2004-051981-82
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 80 40.9 25.5 1.0 3.7 4.7 5.1 1.7 0.3 3.0 3.1 8.2 19.0 .431 2.6 7.0 .365 6.5 8.0 .814
Michael Cooper 76 28.9 11.9 1.1 2.4 3.5 3.0 1.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 5.0 9.8 .517 0.0 0.2 .118 1.8 2.3 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 10 45.1 23.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.2 2.1 0.6 3.9 3.4 7.3 19.4 .376 1.8 7.7 .234 7.2 9.4 .766
Michael Cooper 14 27.4 11.9 1.4 3.0 4.4 4.4 1.7 0.8 2.1 3.4 5.0 8.9 .565 0.1 0.1 .500 1.8 2.4 .735

Season 5

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2005-061982-83
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 80 42.3 29.3 0.7 2.8 3.5 6.1 2.0 0.3 3.7 3.6 9.3 20.9 .447 2.5 6.8 .369 8.2 10.0 .820
Michael Cooper 82 26.2 7.8 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.8 1.4 0.6 1.6 2.5 3.2 6.1 .535 0.1 0.3 .238 1.2 1.6 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 6 47.3 34.0 1.2 4.3 5.5 5.3 2.2 0.7 3.3 3.5 10.8 23.3 .464 3.3 7.7 .435 9.0 11.7 .771
Michael Cooper 15 30.2 9.4 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.3 3.6 3.5 7.6 .465 0.1 0.5 .143 2.3 2.7 .829

Season 6

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2006-071983-84
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 74 39.8 28.4 0.8 3.7 4.6 6.0 1.9 0.2 3.2 3.4 8.7 20.9 .418 2.8 7.9 .351 8.2 9.7 .844
Michael Cooper 82 29.1 9.0 0.6 2.5 3.2 5.9 1.4 0.8 1.8 3.3 3.3 6.7 .497 0.5 1.5 .314 1.9 2.3 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 21 34.4 11.3 1.0 3.0 3.9 5.7 1.1 1.0 1.4 3.8 4.2 9.1 .461 0.6 1.7 .333 2.4 3.0 .806

Season 7

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2007-081984-85
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Wizards Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 13 32.7 19.4 0.5 3.5 3.9 5.1 1.8 0.1 3.8 2.3 6.0 15.1 .398 1.7 6.0 .282 5.7 7.4 .771
Michael Cooper 82 26.7 8.6 0.7 2.4 3.1 5.2 1.1 0.6 1.9 2.5 3.4 7.2 .465 0.4 1.5 .285 1.4 1.6 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 4 23.5 10.8 0.0 1.8 1.8 2.8 0.5 0.0 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.0 .389 1.3 3.0 .417 2.5 3.0 .833
Michael Cooper 19 26.4 10.4 0.6 3.4 4.0 4.9 1.1 0.5 1.9 2.4 3.7 6.6 .563 0.4 1.4 .308 2.5 2.7 .923

Season 8

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2008-091985-86
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 2 31.5 13.0 0.5 4.0 4.5 10.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.0 3.0 11.5 .261 1.0 3.5 .286 6.0 8.0 .750
Michael Cooper 82 27.7 9.2 0.5 2.4 3.0 5.7 1.1 0.5 1.8 2.9 3.3 7.4 .452 0.8 2.0 .387 1.8 2.1 .865
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 14 30.1 9.7 1.1 2.1 3.3 4.9 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.7 3.9 8.2 .470 1.4 2.9 .463 0.6 0.8 .818

Season 9

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2009-101986-87
Team Washington WizardsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 32 36.5 22.6 0.5 3.6 4.2 7.2 1.3 0.3 3.7 3.0 7.9 19.3 .411 2.0 5.7 .348 4.8 6.5 .739
Michael Cooper 82 27.5 10.5 0.7 2.4 3.1 4.5 1.0 0.5 1.2 2.4 3.9 9.0 .438 1.1 2.8 .385 1.5 1.8 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 18 29.0 13.0 0.4 2.8 3.3 5.0 1.4 0.8 2.1 2.6 4.3 8.8 .484 1.9 3.9 .486 2.6 3.0 .852

Season 10

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2010-111987-88
Team Washington Wizards, Orlando MagicLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Magic Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 70 25.7 10.8 0.3 2.4 2.7 3.9 1.1 0.3 2.5 2.7 3.8 10.5 .366 1.4 4.7 .297 1.7 2.2 .784
Michael Cooper 61 29.4 8.7 0.8 2.9 3.7 4.7 1.1 0.4 1.7 2.2 3.1 7.9 .392 0.9 2.9 .320 1.6 1.9 .858
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 5 16.2 8.6 0.8 2.0 2.8 2.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.8 3.6 8.4 .429 0.6 2.4 .250 0.8 1.2 .667
Michael Cooper 24 24.5 6.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.4 2.3 5.5 .412 1.0 2.6 .403 0.8 1.1 .741

Season 11

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season 2011-121988-89
Team Memphis GrizzliesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 17 12.4 4.2 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.1 1.5 3.8 .406 0.8 2.3 .333 0.4 0.6 .700
Michael Cooper 80 24.3 7.3 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.9 0.9 0.4 1.2 2.3 2.7 6.2 .431 1.0 2.6 .381 1.0 1.2 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas 6 3.8 0.7 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.0 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Michael Cooper 15 27.6 7.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 4.7 0.6 0.5 1.1 2.5 2.5 5.9 .416 1.4 3.7 .382 1.3 1.6 .833

Season 12

Gilbert Arenas Michael Cooper
Season -1989-90
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 80 23.1 6.4 0.7 2.1 2.8 2.7 0.8 0.5 1.1 2.6 2.4 6.2 .387 0.6 2.0 .318 1.0 1.2 .883
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gilbert Arenas ------- --- ----------
Michael Cooper 9 19.2 2.6 1.2 1.4 2.7 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.8 2.3 1.1 3.9 .286 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 -