Michael Cooper vs. Anderson Varejao Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Anderson Varejao 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, 2 less than Anderson Varejao, who played 14. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Anderson Varejao had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Anderson Varejao 14 6 2004-05 to 2020-21

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1978-792004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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 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 -
Anderson Varejao 54 16.0 4.9 2.0 2.7 4.8 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.5 2.3 1.8 3.6 .513 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.4 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1979-802005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East 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 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
Anderson Varejao 48 15.8 4.6 1.6 3.3 4.9 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.6 2.5 1.6 3.1 .527 0.0 0.0 .000 1.3 2.5 .513
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
Anderson Varejao 13 18.3 6.8 1.4 3.1 4.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.5 3.8 2.4 3.8 .620 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .703

Season 3

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1980-812006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 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
Anderson Varejao 81 23.9 6.8 2.4 4.4 6.7 0.9 0.9 0.6 0.8 3.3 2.4 5.0 .476 0.0 0.1 .000 2.0 3.3 .616
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
Anderson Varejao 20 22.4 6.0 2.3 3.7 6.0 0.6 1.1 0.6 1.0 2.7 2.3 4.5 .511 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.4 .563

Season 4

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1981-822007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost East 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 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
Anderson Varejao 48 27.5 6.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 1.1 0.8 0.5 1.2 2.8 2.8 6.1 .461 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.7 .598
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
Anderson Varejao 13 18.5 4.1 1.5 3.6 5.2 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.7 2.3 1.7 4.2 .407 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.6 .429

Season 5

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1982-832008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
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
Anderson Varejao 81 28.5 8.6 2.0 5.1 7.2 1.0 0.9 0.8 1.0 3.0 3.3 6.2 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 3.1 .616
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
Anderson Varejao 14 30.0 6.9 2.9 3.5 6.4 0.6 1.3 1.1 1.1 3.5 2.9 5.9 .500 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .682

Season 6

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1983-842009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East 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 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
Anderson Varejao 76 28.5 8.6 2.5 5.1 7.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 2.9 3.5 6.1 .572 0.0 0.1 .200 1.5 2.3 .663
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
Anderson Varejao 11 23.2 5.7 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.6 1.0 0.8 1.1 3.5 1.8 4.4 .417 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 2.8 .742

Season 7

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1984-852010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 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
Anderson Varejao 31 32.1 9.1 3.2 6.5 9.7 1.5 0.9 1.2 1.3 2.8 3.7 7.0 .528 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.6 .667
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1985-862011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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
Anderson Varejao 25 31.4 10.8 4.4 7.1 11.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 1.8 2.5 4.6 8.9 .514 0.0 0.2 .000 1.7 2.6 .672
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1986-872012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
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 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
Anderson Varejao 25 36.0 14.1 5.5 8.9 14.4 3.4 1.5 0.6 1.8 2.7 5.5 11.6 .478 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.1 .755
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1987-882013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 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
Anderson Varejao 65 27.7 8.4 2.9 6.8 9.7 2.2 1.1 0.6 1.1 2.5 3.5 7.1 .495 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.1 .681
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1988-892014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 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
Anderson Varejao 26 24.5 9.8 2.2 4.3 6.5 1.3 0.7 0.6 1.3 2.2 4.3 7.7 .555 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .733
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
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season 1989-902015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 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
Anderson Varejao 53 9.4 2.6 0.7 2.0 2.7 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.4 1.3 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 0.9 .640
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 -
Anderson Varejao 17 5.5 1.2 0.7 0.5 1.2 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.0 0.3 0.8 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526

Season 13

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season -2016-17
Team -Golden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 14 6.6 1.3 0.9 1.1 1.9 0.7 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.1 0.4 1.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.8 .727
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------

Note: Anderson Varejao didn't play in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Season 14

Michael Cooper Anderson Varejao
Season -2020-21
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao 5 7.2 2.6 1.4 2.6 4.0 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 3.2 .250 0.0 0.2 .000 1.0 1.8 .556
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Anderson Varejao ------- --- ----------