Jonathan Bender vs. Michael Cooper Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Cooper and Jonathan Bender, 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.

Jonathan Bender played 8 years in the NBA, 4 less than Michael Cooper, who played 12. Jonathan Bender had the first of his seasons in 1999-00, while Michael Cooper had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Jonathan Bender 8 5 1999-00 to 2009-10
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 1999-001978-79
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers 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 %
Jonathan Bender 24 5.4 2.7 0.2 0.7 0.9 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.8 1.0 2.9 .329 0.1 0.5 .167 0.7 1.0 .667
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 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 9 2.1 1.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.7 .667 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.3 0.7 .500
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2000-011979-80
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 59 9.7 3.3 0.2 1.0 1.3 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.7 1.2 1.1 3.2 .355 0.2 0.7 .268 0.8 1.2 .735
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 3
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2001-021980-81
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdLakers 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 %
Jonathan Bender 78 21.1 7.4 0.8 2.3 3.1 0.8 0.2 0.6 1.2 1.9 2.5 5.9 .430 0.6 1.6 .360 1.8 2.3 .773
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 5 9.2 1.2 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.2 0.6 1.2 .500 0.0 0.2 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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

Season 4
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2002-031981-82
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 46 17.8 6.6 0.9 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.2 1.2 0.9 1.9 2.4 5.5 .441 0.4 1.2 .358 1.3 1.8 .714
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 3 11.3 5.7 1.0 1.3 2.3 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.0 0.7 1.7 5.0 .333 1.0 3.0 .333 1.3 2.0 .667
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

Season 5
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2003-041982-83
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 21 12.9 7.0 0.4 1.5 1.9 0.4 0.2 0.5 1.6 1.1 2.4 5.0 .472 0.4 1.0 .409 1.9 2.2 .830
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 16 12.3 4.8 0.6 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.1 0.9 0.8 1.2 1.8 4.3 .406 0.6 1.6 .360 0.8 1.0 .750
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

Season 6
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2004-051983-84
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 7 13.3 5.1 0.7 1.3 2.0 0.6 0.1 0.3 1.4 1.3 2.3 5.7 .400 0.1 0.7 .200 0.4 0.9 .500
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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

Season 7
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2005-061984-85
Team Indiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 2 10.5 5.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 .800 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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

Note: Jonathan Bender didn't play in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Season 8
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
Season 2009-101985-86
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender 25 11.7 4.7 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.7 1.1 1.3 1.6 4.0 .400 0.6 1.6 .359 1.0 1.0 .923
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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

Season 9
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
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 %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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

Season 10
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
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 %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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

Season 11
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
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 %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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

Season 12
Jonathan Bender Michael Cooper
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 %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jonathan Bender ------- --- ----------
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 -
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