Michael Cooper vs. Domantas Sabonis Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Domantas Sabonis 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 more than Domantas Sabonis, who played 8. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Domantas Sabonis had his rookie season in 2016-17. 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
Domantas Sabonis 8 4 2016-17 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1978-792016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayThunder 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 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 -
Domantas Sabonis 81 20.1 5.9 0.6 3.0 3.6 1.0 0.5 0.4 1.0 2.5 2.4 5.9 .399 0.6 2.0 .321 0.5 0.8 .657
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Domantas Sabonis 2 3.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.0 2.0 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.0 1.000

Season 2

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1979-802017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
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 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
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.5 11.6 2.2 5.5 7.7 2.0 0.5 0.4 1.9 3.0 4.6 8.9 .514 0.2 0.5 .351 2.3 3.0 .750
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
Domantas Sabonis 7 23.7 12.4 2.0 2.6 4.6 0.7 0.1 0.3 1.0 3.1 5.1 8.9 .581 0.1 1.0 .143 2.0 2.6 .778

Season 3

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1980-812018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPacers 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 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
Domantas Sabonis 74 24.8 14.1 2.5 6.8 9.3 2.9 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.6 9.5 .590 0.1 0.2 .529 2.8 3.9 .715
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
Domantas Sabonis 4 24.0 8.5 1.8 5.5 7.3 4.0 0.8 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 7.3 .414 0.3 1.0 .250 2.3 3.5 .643

Season 4

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1981-822019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.8 18.5 3.0 9.4 12.4 5.0 0.8 0.5 2.7 3.1 7.4 13.7 .540 0.3 1.1 .254 3.5 4.8 .723
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1982-832020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Domantas Sabonis 62 36.0 20.3 2.4 9.5 12.0 6.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 3.3 7.8 14.6 .535 0.8 2.6 .321 3.9 5.3 .732
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1983-842021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersIndiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings
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
Domantas Sabonis 62 34.5 18.9 3.2 8.9 12.1 5.2 1.0 0.4 3.1 3.3 7.1 12.5 .573 0.6 2.0 .312 4.0 5.4 .741
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1984-852022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKings 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 26.7 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
Domantas Sabonis 79 34.6 19.1 3.2 9.1 12.3 7.3 0.8 0.5 2.9 3.5 7.3 11.9 .615 0.4 1.1 .373 4.1 5.5 .742
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
Domantas Sabonis 7 34.7 16.4 4.4 6.6 11.0 4.7 1.4 0.9 3.7 4.0 7.0 14.1 .495 0.1 0.7 .200 2.3 4.0 .571

Season 8

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1985-862023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
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
Domantas Sabonis 82 35.7 19.4 3.6 10.1 13.7 8.2 0.9 0.6 3.3 3.0 7.7 13.0 .594 0.4 1.1 .379 3.6 5.1 .704
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1986-87-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
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 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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1987-88-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1988-89-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Domantas Sabonis
Season 1989-90-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 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
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------
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 -
Domantas Sabonis ------- --- ----------