Michael Cooper vs. Mel Thurston Comparison

Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Mel Thurston 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.

Mel Thurston

NBA Timeline:	1946-47 2023-24
Michael Cooper: 1978-79 to 1989-90
Mel Thurston: 1947-48 to 1947-48

NBA Championships and Seasons

NBA Championships Michael Cooper 5 Mel Thurston 0

NBA Seasons Michael Cooper 12 Mel Thurston 1

Playoffs Played Michael Cooper 11 Mel Thurston 0

All-Star Games Michael Cooper 0 Mel Thurston 0

Honors and Awards

All-Defensive 1st Team Michael Cooper 5 Mel Thurston 0 *

All-Defensive Teams (Total Selections) Michael Cooper 8 Mel Thurston 0

Defensive Player of The Year Michael Cooper 1 * Mel Thurston 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 Mel Thurston 5.6

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Mel Thurston 0.3

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 7,729 Mel Thurston 78

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 2,769 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Michael Cooper 3,666 Mel Thurston 4

Total Steals Michael Cooper 1,033 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 523 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 873 Mel Thurston 14

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .469 Mel Thurston .283

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .340 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .833 Mel Thurston .500

Best Season (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 11.9 (1982) Mel Thurston 5.6 (1948)

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.1 (1981) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.9 (1984) Mel Thurston 0.3 (1948)

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.6 (1981) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1981) Mel Thurston - n/a **

NBA Playoffs Stats

Stats Per Game

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 9.4 Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 3.4 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 4.2 Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 1.2 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 0.6 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Totals Stats

Total Points Michael Cooper 1,581 Mel Thurston -

Total Rebounds Michael Cooper 574 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Assists Michael Cooper 703 Mel Thurston -

Total Steals Michael Cooper 203 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Blocks Michael Cooper 96 Mel Thurston - n/a **

Total Games Michael Cooper 168 Mel Thurston 0

Percentages

Field Goal Percentage Michael Cooper .468 Mel Thurston -

3-Point Percentage Michael Cooper .392 * Mel Thurston - n/a **

Free Throw Percentage Michael Cooper .825 Mel Thurston -

Best Playoffs (no game minimum)

Points Per Game Michael Cooper 13.0 (1987) Mel Thurston -

Rebounds Per Game Michael Cooper 4.4 (1982) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Assists Per Game Michael Cooper 5.7 (1984) Mel Thurston -

Steals Per Game Michael Cooper 2.0 (1981) Mel Thurston - n/a **

Blocks Per Game Michael Cooper 1.0 (1984) Mel Thurston - 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.