Michael Cooper vs. George Yardley Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars George Yardley 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

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2025-26
Michael Cooper: 1978-79 to 1989-90
George Yardley: 1953-54 to 1959-60

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Michael Cooper 5 George Yardley 0

NBA Seasons Michael Cooper 12 George Yardley 7

Playoffs Played Michael Cooper 11 George Yardley 7

All-Star Games Michael Cooper 0 George Yardley 6

Honors and Awards

All-NBA First Team Michael Cooper 0 George Yardley 1

All-NBA Teams (Total Selections) Michael Cooper 0 George Yardley 2

All-Defensive 1st Team Michael Cooper 5 George Yardley 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Michael Cooper 8 George Yardley 0

Defensive Player of The Year Michael Cooper 1 * George Yardley 0 *

Scoring Leader Michael Cooper 0 George Yardley 1

* 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 George Yardley 19.2

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.2 George Yardley 8.9

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 George Yardley 1.7

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 George Yardley - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 George Yardley - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 7,729 George Yardley 9,063

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 2,769 George Yardley 4,220

Total Assists Michael Cooper 3,666 George Yardley 815

Total Steals Michael Cooper 1,033 George Yardley - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 523 George Yardley - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 873 George Yardley 472

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .469 George Yardley .422

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .340 * George Yardley - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .833 George Yardley .780

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 11.9 (1982) George Yardley 27.8 (1958)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.1 (1981) George Yardley 10.7 (1958)

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.9 (1984) George Yardley 2.2 (1956)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.6 (1981) George Yardley - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1981) George Yardley - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 9.4 George Yardley 20.3

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.4 George Yardley 9.9

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 George Yardley 2.4

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 George Yardley - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 George Yardley - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 1,581 George Yardley 933

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 574 George Yardley 457

Total Assists Michael Cooper 703 George Yardley 112

Total Steals Michael Cooper 203 George Yardley - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 96 George Yardley - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 168 George Yardley 46

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .468 George Yardley .422

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .392 * George Yardley - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .825 George Yardley .817

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 13.0 (1987) George Yardley 28.5 (1957)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.4 (1982) George Yardley 13.9 (1956)

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.7 (1984) George Yardley 4.0 (1957)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 2.0 (1981) George Yardley - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1984) George Yardley - 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.