Michael Cooper vs. Mike James Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Mike James 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 Mike James both played 12 years in the NBA. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Mike James had his rookie season in 2001-02. 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
Mike James 12 3 2001-02 to 2013-14

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1978-792001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
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 -
Mike James 15 7.9 2.8 0.1 0.8 0.9 1.3 0.4 0.1 0.9 1.1 1.0 2.9 .349 0.5 1.4 .381 0.3 0.5 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1979-802002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
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
Mike James 78 22.1 7.8 0.3 1.6 1.9 3.2 0.8 0.1 1.4 2.3 2.8 7.5 .373 0.9 2.9 .294 1.3 1.8 .732
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1980-812003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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
Mike James 81 27.1 9.3 0.3 2.5 2.9 4.2 1.2 0.0 1.5 1.9 3.4 8.1 .414 1.3 3.5 .377 1.3 1.6 .811
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
Mike James 22 8.8 2.6 0.3 0.9 1.2 1.1 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.0 2.4 .396 0.3 0.6 .429 0.4 0.7 .563

Season 4

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1981-822004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersMilwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 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
Mike James 74 25.1 11.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.6 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.4 4.5 10.1 .441 1.4 3.5 .386 1.5 2.0 .752
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
Mike James 7 24.6 11.6 0.3 1.6 1.9 2.3 0.9 0.3 1.4 2.4 4.1 8.9 .468 0.0 1.3 .000 3.3 3.4 .958

Season 5

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1982-832005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersToronto Raptors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 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
Mike James 79 37.0 20.3 0.6 2.7 3.3 5.8 0.9 0.0 2.6 2.7 7.3 15.5 .469 2.1 4.8 .442 3.6 4.3 .837
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1983-842006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 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
Mike James 82 25.2 10.1 0.3 1.7 2.0 3.6 0.7 0.1 1.6 2.1 3.6 8.6 .422 1.0 2.6 .372 1.9 2.2 .837
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1984-852007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets, New Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHornets 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 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
Mike James 54 13.3 5.0 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.1 0.4 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.9 5.4 .348 0.6 1.8 .320 0.7 0.9 .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
Mike James 4 7.0 3.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.5 1.3 .400 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 8

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1985-862008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets, Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Mike James 61 27.0 8.7 0.4 1.8 2.2 3.3 0.7 0.1 1.5 1.8 3.2 8.4 .383 1.1 3.0 .375 1.1 1.3 .829
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1986-872009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
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 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
Mike James 4 11.5 4.5 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 0.8 0.0 1.3 0.8 1.5 5.0 .300 0.5 1.5 .333 1.0 2.0 .500
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Note: Mike James didn't play in 2010-11.

Season 10

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1987-882011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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
Mike James 11 10.9 4.8 0.2 0.7 0.9 2.6 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.8 1.8 4.5 .408 0.5 0.9 .600 0.6 0.7 .875
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1988-892012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
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
Mike James 45 19.2 6.1 0.2 1.4 1.6 3.1 0.6 0.1 1.2 2.1 2.2 6.0 .373 1.1 2.8 .384 0.5 0.6 .793
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
Mike James ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Mike James
Season 1989-902013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
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
Mike James 11 7.0 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.5 0.2 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 1.9 .238 0.1 0.5 .200 0.0 0.2 .000
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 -
Mike James ------- --- ----------