Michael Cooper vs. Dave Gambee Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dave Gambee and Michael Cooper, 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.

Michael Cooper and Dave Gambee both played 12 years in the NBA. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Dave Gambee had his rookie season in 1958-59. 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
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90
Dave Gambee 12 7 1958-59 to 1969-70

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1978-791958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
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 %
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 -
Dave Gambee 2 3.5 1.0 - - 1.0 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Dave Gambee ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1979-801959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks, Cincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 61 10.8 5.0 - - 3.8 0.6 - - - 1.4 1.9 4.8 .402 - - - 1.1 1.7 .651
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1980-811960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNationals Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 79 26.5 13.7 - - 7.4 1.3 - - - 3.5 5.0 12.0 .419 - - - 3.7 4.5 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 8 26.0 12.5 - - 6.9 1.5 - - - 4.1 4.3 11.9 .358 - - - 4.0 5.1 .780

Season 4

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1981-821961-62
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 80 28.9 16.7 - - 7.9 1.4 - - - 3.4 6.0 14.1 .424 - - - 4.8 5.9 .817
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 5 34.0 11.2 - - 9.0 0.8 - - - 4.4 3.4 10.8 .315 - - - 4.4 5.0 .880

Season 5

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1982-831962-63
Team Los Angeles LakersSyracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNationals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 60 20.6 11.2 - - 4.8 0.8 - - - 3.2 3.9 9.0 .438 - - - 3.3 4.0 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 5 15.0 6.4 - - 3.2 0.0 - - - 2.8 2.0 6.8 .294 - - - 2.4 2.6 .923

Season 6

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1983-841963-64
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA Finals76ers Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 41 22.6 11.0 - - 6.2 0.9 - - - 3.9 3.6 9.2 .394 - - - 3.7 4.5 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 5 29.8 13.8 - - 5.8 1.6 - - - 4.6 4.8 12.0 .400 - - - 4.2 5.4 .778

Season 7

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1984-851964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion76ers Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 80 24.9 12.6 - - 5.9 1.4 - - - 3.5 4.5 10.8 .412 - - - 3.7 4.6 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 10 13.2 6.2 - - 2.3 0.6 - - - 3.1 1.6 4.8 .333 - - - 3.0 3.4 .882

Season 8

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1985-861965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Finals76ers Lost East Div Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 72 14.8 6.9 - - 3.8 1.0 - - - 2.6 2.3 6.1 .384 - - - 2.2 2.6 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 5 16.4 6.0 - - 2.8 0.8 - - - 2.8 2.2 5.8 .379 - - - 1.6 2.2 .727

Season 9

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1986-871966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 63 12.0 6.5 - - 3.1 0.7 - - - 2.3 2.4 5.5 .435 - - - 1.7 2.0 .856
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 5 4.8 3.6 - - 1.2 0.4 - - - 1.2 1.2 2.2 .545 - - - 1.2 1.2 1.000

Season 10

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1987-881967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Diego Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 80 21.9 13.4 - - 5.8 1.2 - - - 3.2 4.7 10.7 .440 - - - 4.0 4.7 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1988-891968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 59 15.7 9.8 - - 4.4 0.8 - - - 2.7 3.6 7.9 .452 - - - 2.7 3.3 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Dave Gambee
Season 1989-901969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Francisco Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Dave Gambee 73 13.0 7.2 - - 3.3 0.8 - - - 2.4 2.5 6.4 .399 - - - 2.1 2.5 .839
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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 -
Dave Gambee ------- --- ----------