Michael Cooper vs. Manu Ginobili Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Manu Ginobili 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 played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than Manu Ginobili, who played 16. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Manu Ginobili had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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
Manu Ginobili 16 15 2002-03 to 2017-18

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1978-792002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
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 %
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 -
Manu Ginobili 69 20.7 7.6 0.7 1.7 2.3 2.0 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.5 2.5 5.8 .438 0.7 2.1 .345 1.8 2.5 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 24 27.5 9.4 1.2 2.6 3.8 2.9 1.7 0.4 1.5 2.6 3.0 7.7 .386 1.2 3.0 .384 2.3 3.1 .757

Season 2

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1979-802003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 77 29.4 12.8 1.1 3.4 4.5 3.8 1.8 0.2 2.1 2.4 4.3 10.2 .418 1.1 3.2 .359 3.1 3.9 .802
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
Manu Ginobili 10 27.9 13.0 1.5 3.8 5.3 3.1 1.7 0.1 2.1 3.0 4.2 9.4 .447 1.0 3.5 .286 3.6 4.4 .818

Season 3

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1980-812004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 74 29.6 16.0 1.0 3.4 4.4 3.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.6 5.0 10.5 .471 1.3 3.5 .376 4.8 6.0 .803
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
Manu Ginobili 23 33.7 20.8 0.8 5.0 5.8 4.2 1.2 0.3 2.9 3.0 6.3 12.4 .507 1.8 4.2 .438 6.4 8.0 .795

Season 4

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1981-822005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 65 27.9 15.1 0.6 2.9 3.5 3.6 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.4 4.8 10.3 .462 1.3 3.3 .382 4.3 5.5 .778
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
Manu Ginobili 13 32.8 18.4 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.0 1.5 0.5 2.5 3.3 5.8 12.1 .484 1.1 3.2 .333 5.6 6.7 .839

Season 5

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1982-832006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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 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
Manu Ginobili 75 27.5 16.5 0.8 3.6 4.4 3.5 1.5 0.4 2.1 2.1 5.3 11.4 .464 1.7 4.3 .396 4.3 5.0 .860
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
Manu Ginobili 20 30.1 16.7 0.8 4.7 5.5 3.7 1.7 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.0 12.4 .401 1.9 5.0 .384 4.9 5.8 .836

Season 6

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1983-842007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 74 31.1 19.5 0.9 3.9 4.8 4.5 1.5 0.4 2.7 2.3 6.1 13.3 .460 2.1 5.3 .401 5.1 6.0 .860
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
Manu Ginobili 17 32.9 17.8 0.8 2.9 3.8 3.9 0.6 0.3 2.8 2.8 5.8 13.6 .422 2.2 6.0 .373 4.1 4.5 .896

Season 7

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1984-852008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
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 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
Manu Ginobili 44 26.8 15.5 0.5 4.0 4.5 3.6 1.5 0.4 2.0 2.0 5.1 11.2 .454 1.6 4.8 .330 3.8 4.3 .884
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
Manu Ginobili ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1985-862009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 75 28.7 16.5 0.9 2.9 3.8 4.9 1.4 0.3 2.1 2.1 5.3 12.0 .441 1.8 4.7 .377 4.1 4.7 .870
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
Manu Ginobili 10 35.2 19.4 0.4 3.3 3.7 6.0 2.6 0.2 3.0 3.0 5.8 14.0 .414 2.0 6.0 .333 5.8 6.7 .866

Season 9

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1986-872010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 80 30.3 17.4 0.5 3.2 3.7 4.9 1.5 0.4 2.2 2.0 5.5 12.7 .433 1.9 5.5 .349 4.5 5.1 .871
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
Manu Ginobili 5 34.8 20.6 0.4 3.6 4.0 4.2 2.6 0.6 3.4 2.6 6.2 14.0 .443 1.8 5.6 .321 6.4 8.2 .780

Season 10

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1987-882011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 34 23.3 12.9 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.4 0.7 0.4 1.9 1.6 4.4 8.4 .526 1.5 3.7 .413 2.6 3.0 .871
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
Manu Ginobili 14 27.9 14.4 0.6 2.9 3.5 4.0 0.7 0.3 3.0 2.6 4.6 10.4 .448 1.6 4.9 .338 3.4 4.0 .857

Season 11

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs Lost NBA Finals
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
Manu Ginobili 60 23.2 11.8 0.5 2.9 3.4 4.6 1.3 0.2 2.2 1.9 3.8 9.0 .425 1.4 3.9 .353 2.7 3.4 .796
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
Manu Ginobili 21 26.7 11.5 0.4 3.3 3.7 5.0 1.1 0.3 2.6 2.5 3.7 9.2 .399 1.4 4.6 .302 2.8 3.8 .738

Season 12

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season 1989-902013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West 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 %
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
Manu Ginobili 68 22.8 12.3 0.4 2.5 3.0 4.3 1.0 0.3 2.0 1.9 4.3 9.2 .469 1.3 3.8 .349 2.4 2.8 .851
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 -
Manu Ginobili 23 25.5 14.3 0.4 2.9 3.3 4.1 1.6 0.1 2.3 2.6 4.5 10.3 .439 1.8 4.6 .390 3.5 4.1 .862

Season 13

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season -2014-15
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 70 22.7 10.5 0.4 2.6 3.0 4.2 1.0 0.3 2.2 2.0 3.6 8.4 .426 1.3 3.7 .345 2.1 2.9 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 7 18.7 8.0 0.6 2.9 3.4 4.6 0.6 0.9 2.0 2.7 2.1 6.1 .349 1.1 3.1 .364 2.6 3.3 .783

Season 14

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season -2015-16
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 58 19.6 9.6 0.4 2.1 2.5 3.1 1.1 0.2 1.7 1.7 3.4 7.5 .453 1.2 3.1 .391 1.6 1.9 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 10 19.2 6.7 0.6 2.1 2.7 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.7 2.5 2.0 4.7 .426 0.9 2.1 .429 1.8 2.3 .783

Season 15

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season -2016-17
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 69 18.7 7.5 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.7 1.2 0.2 1.4 1.7 2.5 6.4 .390 1.3 3.3 .392 1.2 1.6 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 16 17.8 6.6 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.4 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.8 2.5 6.1 .412 0.6 2.5 .225 1.1 1.4 .739

Season 16

Michael Cooper Manu Ginobili
Season -2017-18
Team -San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Spurs 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 %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 65 20.0 8.9 0.3 1.9 2.2 2.5 0.7 0.2 1.6 1.9 3.1 7.1 .434 1.0 3.0 .333 1.7 2.0 .840
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Manu Ginobili 5 21.4 9.0 0.2 2.8 3.0 3.2 1.4 0.2 1.4 2.6 3.0 7.4 .405 1.2 3.6 .333 1.8 2.2 .818