Michael Cooper vs. Cazzie Russell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cazzie Russell 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 and Cazzie Russell both played 12 years in the NBA. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Cazzie Russell had his rookie season in 1966-67. 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
Cazzie Russell 12 8 1966-67 to 1977-78

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1978-791966-67
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Div Semis
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 -
Cazzie Russell 77 22.0 11.3 - - 3.3 2.4 - - - 2.3 4.5 10.2 .436 - - - 2.3 3.0 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Cazzie Russell 4 22.3 15.5 - - 4.8 2.8 - - - 4.0 6.5 16.5 .394 - - - 2.5 3.3 .769

Season 2

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1979-801967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks Lost East Div 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
Cazzie Russell 82 28.0 16.9 - - 4.6 2.4 - - - 2.7 6.7 14.5 .462 - - - 3.4 4.3 .808
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
Cazzie Russell 6 34.8 21.7 - - 3.8 1.7 - - - 2.7 9.2 16.3 .561 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833

Season 3

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1980-811968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks Lost East Div 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
Cazzie Russell 50 32.9 18.3 - - 4.2 2.3 - - - 2.8 7.2 16.1 .450 - - - 3.8 4.8 .796
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
Cazzie Russell 5 7.2 2.4 - - 1.0 0.2 - - - 0.8 1.0 4.2 .238 - - - 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 4

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1981-821969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
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
Cazzie Russell 78 20.0 11.5 - - 3.0 1.7 - - - 1.8 4.9 9.9 .498 - - - 1.6 2.1 .775
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
Cazzie Russell 19 16.1 9.4 - - 2.5 0.8 - - - 1.6 4.2 8.7 .485 - - - 0.9 1.0 .947

Season 5

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1982-831970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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
Cazzie Russell 57 18.5 9.2 - - 3.4 1.4 - - - 1.3 3.8 8.8 .429 - - - 1.6 2.1 .773
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
Cazzie Russell 11 10.9 5.6 - - 2.0 0.7 - - - 1.3 2.3 5.8 .391 - - - 1.1 1.1 1.000

Season 6

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1983-841971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 %
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
Cazzie Russell 79 36.7 21.4 - - 5.4 3.1 - - - 2.2 8.7 19.2 .455 - - - 4.0 4.8 .833
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
Cazzie Russell 5 32.2 14.2 - - 4.4 1.8 - - - 2.6 6.2 12.6 .492 - - - 1.8 2.4 .750

Season 7

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1984-851972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 %
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
Cazzie Russell 80 30.4 15.7 - - 4.4 2.3 - - - 2.1 6.8 14.8 .458 - - - 2.2 2.5 .864
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
Cazzie Russell 11 23.9 14.8 - - 3.3 1.5 - - - 2.2 6.5 13.4 .490 - - - 1.7 2.0 .864

Season 8

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1985-861973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersGolden State Warriors
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
Cazzie Russell 82 31.4 20.5 1.7 2.6 4.3 2.3 0.7 0.2 - 2.4 9.0 18.7 .482 - - - 2.5 3.0 .835
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
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1986-871974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
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
Cazzie Russell 40 26.4 15.7 0.9 2.0 2.9 2.7 0.7 0.1 - 1.4 6.6 14.5 .455 - - - 2.5 2.8 .894
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
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1987-881975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
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
Cazzie Russell 74 22.0 11.8 0.7 1.8 2.5 1.6 0.7 0.0 - 1.6 5.0 10.8 .463 - - - 1.8 2.0 .892
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
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1988-891976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers 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 %
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
Cazzie Russell 82 31.5 16.4 1.0 2.5 3.6 2.6 1.0 0.1 - 2.0 7.0 14.4 .490 - - - 2.3 2.7 .858
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
Cazzie Russell 11 34.7 15.8 2.0 2.4 4.4 2.3 1.5 0.1 - 3.0 5.9 14.3 .414 - - - 4.0 4.5 .880

Season 12

Michael Cooper Cazzie Russell
Season 1989-901977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisDid 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 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
Cazzie Russell 36 21.9 8.8 0.9 1.4 2.3 1.7 0.5 0.1 1.0 1.8 3.7 8.4 .438 - - - 1.4 1.6 .860
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 -
Cazzie Russell ------- --- ----------