Michael Cooper vs. Paul George Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul George 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, 2 less than Paul George, who played 14. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Paul George had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Paul George 14 11 2010-11 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1978-792010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayPacers Lost East 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 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 -
Paul George 61 20.7 7.8 0.6 3.1 3.7 1.1 1.0 0.4 1.1 2.1 2.9 6.5 .453 0.7 2.3 .297 1.3 1.7 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul George 5 26.6 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 1.0 1.4 2.0 1.4 2.2 2.0 6.6 .303 0.6 2.6 .231 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 2

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1979-802011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East 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
Paul George 66 29.7 12.1 0.8 4.8 5.6 2.4 1.6 0.6 1.8 2.9 4.3 9.7 .440 1.4 3.5 .385 2.2 2.8 .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
Paul George 11 33.7 9.7 1.4 5.3 6.6 2.4 1.6 0.4 1.9 2.9 3.4 8.6 .389 1.0 3.7 .268 2.0 2.5 .786

Season 3

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1980-812012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Most Improved Player
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPacers Lost East 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 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
Paul George 79 37.6 17.4 1.1 6.5 7.6 4.1 1.8 0.6 2.9 2.9 6.2 14.9 .419 2.2 5.9 .362 2.8 3.5 .807
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
Paul George 19 41.1 19.2 0.8 6.6 7.4 5.1 1.3 0.5 3.9 3.8 6.3 14.6 .430 1.8 5.5 .327 4.9 6.7 .727

Season 4

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1981-822013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East 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 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
Paul George 80 36.2 21.7 0.8 6.0 6.8 3.5 1.9 0.3 2.8 2.5 7.2 17.0 .424 2.3 6.3 .364 5.0 5.8 .864
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
Paul George 19 41.1 22.6 0.7 6.9 7.6 3.8 2.2 0.4 2.6 2.9 7.3 16.6 .438 2.7 6.8 .403 5.3 6.7 .789

Season 5

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1982-832014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
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
Paul George 6 15.2 8.8 0.7 3.0 3.7 1.0 0.8 0.2 2.0 1.8 3.0 8.2 .367 1.5 3.7 .409 1.3 1.8 .727
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
Paul George ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1983-842015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPacers Lost East 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 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
Paul George 81 34.8 23.1 1.0 6.0 7.0 4.1 1.9 0.4 3.3 2.8 7.5 17.9 .418 2.6 7.0 .371 5.6 6.5 .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
Paul George 7 39.3 27.3 1.3 6.3 7.6 4.3 2.0 0.7 3.3 3.4 8.0 17.6 .455 2.6 6.1 .419 8.7 9.1 .953

Season 7

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1984-852016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPacers Lost East 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 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
Paul George 75 35.9 23.7 0.8 5.8 6.6 3.3 1.6 0.4 2.9 2.7 8.3 18.0 .461 2.6 6.6 .393 4.5 5.0 .898
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
Paul George 4 43.0 28.0 1.3 7.5 8.8 7.3 1.8 0.5 3.3 3.3 8.5 22.0 .386 4.5 10.5 .429 6.5 7.5 .867

Season 8

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1985-862017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsThunder 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 27.7 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
Paul George 79 36.6 21.9 0.9 4.7 5.7 3.3 2.0 0.5 2.7 2.9 7.3 17.0 .430 3.1 7.7 .401 4.3 5.2 .822
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
Paul George 6 41.8 24.7 0.7 5.3 6.0 2.7 1.3 0.7 4.0 2.8 8.2 20.0 .408 3.2 8.7 .365 5.2 6.0 .861

Season 9

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1986-872018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Steals Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder 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
Paul George 77 36.9 28.0 1.4 6.8 8.2 4.1 2.2 0.4 2.7 2.8 9.2 21.0 .438 3.8 9.8 .386 5.9 7.0 .839
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
Paul George 5 40.8 28.6 1.2 7.4 8.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 4.2 4.2 8.8 20.2 .436 3.0 9.4 .319 8.0 9.8 .816

Season 10

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1987-882019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionClippers 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 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
Paul George 48 29.6 21.5 0.5 5.2 5.7 3.9 1.4 0.4 2.6 2.4 7.1 16.3 .439 3.3 7.9 .412 4.0 4.5 .876
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
Paul George 13 36.8 20.2 1.1 5.0 6.1 3.8 1.5 0.5 3.1 3.8 6.8 17.0 .398 2.8 8.5 .333 3.8 4.2 .909

Season 11

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1988-892020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsClippers 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 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
Paul George 54 33.7 23.3 0.8 5.8 6.6 5.2 1.1 0.4 3.3 2.4 8.2 17.6 .467 3.2 7.7 .411 3.7 4.2 .868
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
Paul George 19 40.8 26.9 0.9 8.7 9.6 5.4 1.0 0.5 3.5 3.1 8.7 19.7 .441 2.7 8.0 .336 6.8 8.1 .844

Season 12

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season 1989-902021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
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
Paul George 31 34.7 24.3 0.4 6.5 6.9 5.7 2.2 0.4 4.1 2.4 8.6 20.5 .421 2.9 8.3 .354 4.1 4.8 .858
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 -
Paul George ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season -2022-23
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul George 56 34.6 23.8 0.8 5.3 6.1 5.1 1.5 0.4 3.1 2.8 8.2 17.9 .457 2.8 7.6 .371 4.6 5.3 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul George ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Michael Cooper Paul George
Season -2023-24
Team -Los Angeles Clippers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs -Clippers 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul George 74 33.8 22.6 0.5 4.7 5.2 3.5 1.5 0.5 2.1 2.7 7.9 16.7 .471 3.3 7.9 .413 3.6 3.9 .907
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul George 6 37.0 19.5 0.5 6.3 6.8 4.8 1.2 0.5 2.3 3.7 6.5 15.8 .411 3.0 8.2 .367 3.5 4.2 .840