Michael Cooper vs. Cedric Maxwell Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Cedric Maxwell 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, 1 more than Cedric Maxwell, who played 11. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Cedric Maxwell had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
Cedric Maxwell 11 8 1977-78 to 1987-88

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1978-791977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
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 -
Cedric Maxwell 72 16.8 7.3 1.9 3.3 5.3 0.9 0.7 0.7 1.7 2.1 2.4 4.4 .538 - - - 2.6 3.5 .752
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1979-801978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
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 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
Cedric Maxwell 80 37.1 19.0 3.4 6.5 9.9 2.9 1.2 0.9 3.4 3.3 5.9 10.1 .584 - - - 7.2 9.0 .802
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1980-811979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 80 34.3 16.9 3.6 5.3 8.8 2.5 1.0 0.8 2.9 3.3 5.7 9.4 .609 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .787
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
Cedric Maxwell 9 35.6 18.2 3.4 6.6 10.0 2.1 0.6 1.1 2.4 2.8 6.6 10.3 .634 0.0 0.0 - 5.1 6.8 .754

Season 4

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1981-821980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
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
Cedric Maxwell 81 33.7 15.2 2.7 3.7 6.5 2.7 1.0 0.8 2.2 3.2 5.4 9.3 .588 0.0 0.0 .000 4.3 5.6 .782
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
Cedric Maxwell 17 35.2 16.1 3.6 3.8 7.4 2.7 0.7 0.9 2.5 3.1 5.9 10.2 .580 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.2 .818

Season 5

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1982-831981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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
Cedric Maxwell 78 33.2 14.8 2.8 3.6 6.4 2.3 1.0 0.6 2.2 3.4 5.1 9.3 .548 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 6.1 .747
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
Cedric Maxwell 12 32.1 14.5 3.1 4.2 7.3 2.2 1.5 0.9 2.0 3.3 5.2 10.0 .517 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 5.8 .714

Season 6

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1983-841982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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
Cedric Maxwell 79 28.5 11.9 2.3 3.0 5.3 2.4 0.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 4.2 8.4 .499 0.0 0.0 .000 3.5 4.4 .812
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
Cedric Maxwell 7 35.1 12.9 3.3 4.0 7.3 3.3 0.6 0.6 2.7 2.6 4.1 7.9 .527 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 5.4 .842

Season 7

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1984-851983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
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 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
Cedric Maxwell 80 31.3 11.9 2.5 3.3 5.8 2.6 0.8 0.3 2.5 2.8 4.0 7.5 .532 0.0 0.1 .167 4.0 5.3 .753
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
Cedric Maxwell 23 32.7 11.9 2.3 2.9 5.2 2.4 1.0 0.3 2.0 3.3 3.7 7.3 .503 0.0 0.0 .000 4.6 5.9 .779

Season 8

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1985-861984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 57 26.2 11.1 1.7 2.5 4.2 1.8 0.6 0.3 1.7 2.5 3.5 6.6 .533 0.0 0.0 .000 4.1 4.9 .831
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
Cedric Maxwell 20 11.9 3.8 0.9 1.5 2.4 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.5 1.1 2.2 .488 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.2 .791

Season 9

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1986-871985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers
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
Cedric Maxwell 76 32.3 14.1 3.2 5.0 8.2 2.8 0.8 0.4 2.7 3.3 4.1 8.7 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 5.9 7.4 .795
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1987-881986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 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
Cedric Maxwell 81 24.3 10.0 2.2 3.2 5.4 2.4 0.5 0.2 1.7 2.2 3.1 5.9 .530 0.0 0.0 .000 3.7 4.8 .775
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
Cedric Maxwell 10 17.7 6.2 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.7 0.4 0.0 0.8 1.7 1.8 3.4 .529 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.5 .743

Season 11

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
Season 1988-891987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
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
Cedric Maxwell 71 11.9 3.8 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.8 1.1 1.1 2.4 .468 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.0 .769
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
Cedric Maxwell 4 3.8 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Michael Cooper Cedric Maxwell
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 %
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
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------
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 -
Cedric Maxwell ------- --- ----------