Michael Cooper vs. Paul Silas Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Paul Silas 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 Paul Silas, who played 16. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Paul Silas had his rookie season in 1964-65. 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 Silas 16 14 1964-65 to 1979-80

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 Paul Silas
Season 1978-791964-65
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks Lost West 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 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 Silas 79 15.7 4.6 - - 7.3 0.6 - - - 2.0 1.8 4.7 .373 - - - 1.1 2.1 .506
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 4 10.5 2.8 - - 4.5 0.3 - - - 1.5 1.0 2.5 .400 - - - 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 2

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1979-801965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost West 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 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 Silas 46 12.7 3.8 - - 5.1 0.5 - - - 1.6 1.5 3.8 .405 - - - 0.8 1.3 .574
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 Silas 7 11.4 2.6 - - 4.9 0.3 - - - 1.6 0.7 2.6 .278 - - - 1.1 1.6 .727

Season 3

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1980-811966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks Lost West 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
Paul Silas 77 20.4 6.8 - - 8.7 1.0 - - - 2.7 2.7 6.3 .429 - - - 1.5 2.8 .531
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 Silas 8 15.3 3.6 - - 6.5 0.8 - - - 2.1 1.1 4.5 .250 - - - 1.4 2.3 .611

Season 4

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1981-821967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost West 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
Paul Silas 82 32.3 13.4 - - 11.7 2.0 - - - 3.0 4.9 10.6 .458 - - - 3.6 5.2 .705
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 Silas 6 29.7 11.8 - - 9.5 3.5 - - - 2.8 3.7 8.5 .431 - - - 4.5 6.3 .711

Season 5

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1982-831968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks Lost West 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 26.2 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 Silas 79 23.5 8.7 - - 9.4 1.8 - - - 2.1 3.1 7.3 .419 - - - 2.6 4.2 .613
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 Silas 11 23.5 5.5 - - 8.4 1.9 - - - 2.9 1.9 5.3 .362 - - - 1.7 3.4 .514

Season 6

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1983-841969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West 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
Paul Silas 78 36.4 12.8 - - 11.7 2.7 - - - 3.4 4.8 10.3 .464 - - - 3.2 5.3 .607
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 Silas 7 40.9 16.1 - - 15.9 4.3 - - - 4.1 6.6 15.6 .422 - - - 3.0 4.6 .656

Season 7

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1984-851970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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
Paul Silas 81 36.3 11.9 - - 12.5 3.0 - - - 2.8 4.2 9.7 .428 - - - 3.5 5.1 .685
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 Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1985-861971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Paul Silas 80 38.5 17.5 - - 11.9 4.3 - - - 2.5 6.1 12.9 .470 - - - 5.4 7.0 .773
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 Silas ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1986-871972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 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 Silas 80 32.7 13.3 - - 13.0 3.1 - - - 2.5 5.0 10.6 .470 - - - 3.3 4.8 .700
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 Silas 13 39.4 9.6 - - 15.1 3.0 - - - 3.0 3.6 9.2 .392 - - - 2.4 3.8 .620

Season 10

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1987-881973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 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 Silas 82 31.7 11.5 4.1 7.1 11.2 2.3 0.8 0.2 - 3.0 4.1 9.4 .440 - - - 3.2 4.1 .783
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 Silas 18 31.9 8.0 2.9 7.7 10.6 2.6 0.7 0.5 - 2.8 2.8 7.0 .397 - - - 2.4 2.9 .830

Season 11

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1988-891974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 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 Silas 82 32.5 10.6 4.2 8.3 12.5 2.7 0.7 0.3 - 2.8 3.8 9.1 .417 - - - 3.0 4.2 .709
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 Silas 11 36.8 9.1 4.2 7.6 11.8 3.6 1.1 0.2 - 4.1 3.8 8.4 .457 - - - 1.5 2.3 .640

Season 12

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season 1989-901975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
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
Paul Silas 81 32.9 10.7 4.5 8.1 12.7 2.5 0.7 0.4 - 2.8 3.9 9.1 .426 - - - 2.9 4.1 .709
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 Silas 18 41.2 10.8 4.3 9.3 13.7 2.3 1.3 0.3 - 3.7 3.8 8.6 .448 - - - 3.1 3.8 .812

Season 13

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season -1976-77
Team -Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nuggets 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 81 24.2 7.2 2.9 4.6 7.5 1.6 0.7 0.3 - 2.3 2.5 7.1 .360 - - - 2.1 3.1 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 6 23.5 6.8 2.7 4.0 6.7 2.7 0.3 0.7 - 3.8 2.3 5.5 .424 - - - 2.2 4.0 .542

Season 14

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season -1977-78
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 26.5 5.8 3.5 4.6 8.1 1.8 0.8 0.2 1.9 2.2 2.2 5.7 .397 - - - 1.3 2.3 .586
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 22 27.5 4.9 3.3 5.2 8.5 1.6 0.5 0.3 1.4 2.7 1.5 4.3 .351 - - - 1.9 2.7 .683

Season 15

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season -1978-79
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 23.9 5.6 3.2 3.9 7.0 1.4 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 2.1 4.9 .423 - - - 1.4 2.4 .598
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 17 24.6 4.3 2.4 3.4 5.8 1.1 0.5 0.3 2.0 2.6 1.2 3.2 .389 - - - 1.8 2.7 .674

Season 16

Michael Cooper Paul Silas
Season -1979-80
Team -Seattle Supersonics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Supersonics 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 ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 82 19.5 3.8 2.5 2.8 5.3 0.8 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.5 1.4 3.6 .378 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Paul Silas 15 17.1 2.5 2.2 2.8 5.0 1.0 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.9 0.9 2.9 .302 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.9 .846