Michael Cooper vs. Earl Gardner Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Earl Gardner and Michael Cooper that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.

Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.

Head-To-Head Career Comparison

Michael Cooper

vs.

Earl Gardner

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Michael Cooper: 1978-79 to 1989-90
Earl Gardner: 1948-49 to 1948-49

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Michael Cooper 5 Earl Gardner 1

NBA Seasons Michael Cooper 12 Earl Gardner 1

Playoffs Played Michael Cooper 11 Earl Gardner 1

All-Star Games Michael Cooper 0 Earl Gardner 0

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Michael Cooper 5 Earl Gardner 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Michael Cooper 8 Earl Gardner 0

Defensive Player of The Year Michael Cooper 1 * Earl Gardner 0 *

* Notes: Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. Defensive Player of The Year is awarded since 1982-83.

NBA Regular Season Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 8.9 Earl Gardner 1.8

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.2 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Earl Gardner 0.4

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 7,729 Earl Gardner 89

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 2,769 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Total Assists Michael Cooper 3,666 Earl Gardner 19

Total Steals Michael Cooper 1,033 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 523 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 873 Earl Gardner 50

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .469 Earl Gardner .376

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .340 * Earl Gardner - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .833 Earl Gardner .464

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 11.9 (1982) Earl Gardner 1.8 (1949)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.1 (1981) Earl Gardner - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.9 (1984) Earl Gardner 0.4 (1949)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.6 (1981) Earl Gardner - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1981) Earl Gardner - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 9.4 Earl Gardner 0.6

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.4 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Earl Gardner 0.1

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 1,581 Earl Gardner 4

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 574 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Total Assists Michael Cooper 703 Earl Gardner 1

Total Steals Michael Cooper 203 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 96 Earl Gardner - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 168 Earl Gardner 7

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .468 Earl Gardner .111

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .392 * Earl Gardner - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .825 Earl Gardner .500

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 13.0 (1987) Earl Gardner 0.6 (1949)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.4 (1982) Earl Gardner - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.7 (1984) Earl Gardner 0.1 (1949)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 2.0 (1981) Earl Gardner - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1984) Earl Gardner - n/a **

Notes: * Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80. Some years in this player's career don't have stats. ** Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74, this player has no data for the stat. Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat. Rebounds started to be recorded in 1950-51, this player has no data for the stat.