Michael Cooper vs. Wayne Ellington Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wayne Ellington 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, 1 less than Wayne Ellington, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Wayne Ellington had his rookie season in 2009-10. 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
Wayne Ellington 13 3 2009-10 to 2021-22

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1978-792009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
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 -
Wayne Ellington 76 18.2 6.6 0.4 1.7 2.1 1.0 0.3 0.1 1.0 0.9 2.5 5.9 .424 0.8 2.1 .395 0.8 0.9 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1979-802010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Wayne Ellington 62 19.0 6.6 0.4 1.3 1.7 1.2 0.5 0.0 0.9 1.4 2.6 6.4 .403 0.8 2.0 .397 0.7 0.9 .792
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1980-812011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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 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
Wayne Ellington 51 19.1 6.1 0.3 1.7 1.9 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.5 1.1 2.4 5.9 .404 0.7 2.1 .324 0.6 0.8 .800
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1981-822012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersMemphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers
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 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
Wayne Ellington 78 21.3 7.9 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.3 0.6 0.0 0.7 1.0 2.9 6.8 .427 1.2 3.1 .392 0.9 1.0 .907
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1982-832013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsMavericks 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 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
Wayne Ellington 45 8.7 3.2 0.2 0.8 1.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.2 0.7 1.2 2.8 .437 0.6 1.3 .424 0.2 0.2 .909
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
Wayne Ellington 2 7.0 4.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.5 1.0 3.0 .333 1.0 3.0 .333 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 6

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1983-842014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
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
Wayne Ellington 65 25.8 10.0 0.5 2.8 3.2 1.6 0.5 0.0 0.8 1.2 3.9 9.5 .412 1.4 3.7 .370 0.8 1.0 .813
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1984-852015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersBrooklyn Nets
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
Wayne Ellington 76 21.3 7.7 0.3 2.0 2.3 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.1 2.9 7.4 .389 1.3 3.5 .358 0.7 0.8 .857
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1985-862016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
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
Wayne Ellington 62 24.2 10.5 0.3 1.8 2.1 1.1 0.6 0.1 0.5 1.1 3.7 9.0 .416 2.4 6.4 .378 0.6 0.7 .860
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1986-872017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHeat 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 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
Wayne Ellington 77 26.5 11.2 0.3 2.5 2.8 1.0 0.7 0.1 0.7 1.2 3.7 9.1 .407 2.9 7.5 .392 0.9 1.0 .859
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
Wayne Ellington 5 20.2 7.8 0.2 1.4 1.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.8 2.4 7.0 .343 2.4 6.0 .400 0.6 0.6 1.000

Season 10

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1987-882018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 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
Wayne Ellington 53 24.5 10.3 0.3 1.8 2.0 1.4 1.0 0.1 0.8 1.7 3.5 8.6 .403 2.6 7.0 .371 0.7 0.9 .796
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
Wayne Ellington 4 32.8 7.8 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.3 0.8 0.0 0.5 1.0 2.8 8.8 .314 1.8 5.5 .318 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 11

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
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
Wayne Ellington 36 15.5 5.1 0.1 1.7 1.8 1.2 0.4 0.1 0.5 1.1 1.7 4.8 .351 1.4 4.0 .350 0.3 0.4 .846
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
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season 1989-902020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
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
Wayne Ellington 46 22.0 9.6 0.3 1.6 1.8 1.5 0.4 0.2 0.7 1.3 3.2 7.3 .441 2.5 6.0 .422 0.6 0.8 .800
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 -
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Michael Cooper Wayne Ellington
Season -2021-22
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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 ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington 43 18.8 6.7 0.2 1.6 1.8 0.7 0.5 0.1 0.4 1.0 2.3 5.5 .414 1.9 4.9 .389 0.2 0.3 .818
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Wayne Ellington ------- --- ----------