Michael Cooper vs. Chris Ford Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Chris Ford 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 more than Chris Ford, who played 10. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Chris Ford had his rookie season in 1972-73. 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
Chris Ford 10 7 1972-73 to 1981-82

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1978-791972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
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 -
Chris Ford 74 20.8 6.4 - - 3.6 2.6 - - - 1.8 2.8 5.9 .479 - - - 0.8 1.3 .645
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1979-801973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 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
Chris Ford 82 25.1 7.1 1.3 2.4 3.7 3.4 1.8 0.2 - 1.9 3.2 7.3 .444 - - - 0.7 0.9 .740
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
Chris Ford 5 18.8 4.0 0.8 2.2 3.0 1.4 0.4 0.4 - 2.0 1.6 3.4 .471 - - - 0.8 1.2 .667

Season 3
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1980-811974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdPistons 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 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
Chris Ford 80 24.5 5.9 1.2 2.2 3.4 2.9 1.4 0.3 - 2.3 2.6 5.4 .474 - - - 0.8 1.2 .663
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
Chris Ford 3 27.3 4.0 0.7 3.7 4.3 3.3 0.3 0.0 - 2.7 2.0 3.7 .545 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1981-821975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons 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 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
Chris Ford 82 26.8 8.4 1.0 2.6 3.5 3.3 2.2 0.3 - 2.7 3.7 8.6 .426 - - - 1.0 1.4 .722
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
Chris Ford 9 30.7 8.7 0.7 3.3 4.0 4.4 1.2 0.6 - 3.7 3.7 9.0 .407 - - - 1.3 1.7 .800

Season 5
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1982-831976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 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
Chris Ford 82 31.0 12.3 1.2 2.1 3.3 4.1 2.2 0.3 - 2.3 5.3 11.2 .476 - - - 1.6 2.1 .771
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
Chris Ford 3 33.7 13.7 2.7 3.7 6.3 4.0 2.3 0.0 - 3.7 6.0 14.7 .409 - - - 1.7 3.0 .556

Season 6
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1983-841977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 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
Chris Ford 82 31.5 10.5 1.4 1.8 3.3 4.6 2.0 0.2 2.8 2.2 4.6 9.5 .481 - - - 1.4 1.9 .734
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
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1984-851978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons, Boston Celtics
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
Chris Ford 81 33.8 15.4 1.5 1.9 3.4 4.6 1.4 0.3 2.6 2.6 6.6 14.1 .471 - - - 2.1 2.8 .758
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
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1985-861979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 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 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
Chris Ford 73 29.0 11.2 1.1 1.4 2.5 2.9 1.5 0.4 1.4 2.4 4.5 9.7 .465 1.0 2.2 .427 1.2 1.6 .754
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
Chris Ford 9 31.0 9.1 1.0 1.8 2.8 2.3 1.6 0.7 1.4 3.9 3.8 8.8 .430 0.2 1.4 .154 1.3 1.7 .800

Season 9
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1986-871980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
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 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
Chris Ford 82 33.2 8.9 0.9 1.1 2.0 3.6 1.2 0.3 1.5 2.6 3.8 8.6 .444 0.4 1.3 .330 0.8 1.1 .736
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
Chris Ford 17 29.8 9.1 0.8 1.9 2.6 2.7 0.8 0.1 1.1 2.8 3.9 8.6 .452 0.4 1.5 .280 0.9 1.5 .600

Season 10
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
Season 1987-881981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics 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 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
Chris Ford 76 20.9 5.7 0.7 0.7 1.4 1.9 0.6 0.1 0.7 1.9 2.5 5.9 .418 0.3 0.8 .317 0.5 0.7 .696
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
Chris Ford 12 11.5 3.9 0.5 0.8 1.3 1.3 0.3 0.1 0.3 1.3 1.7 3.5 .476 0.2 0.6 .286 0.4 0.6 .714

Season 11
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
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 %
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
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------
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
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Michael Cooper Chris Ford
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
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------
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 -
Chris Ford ------- --- ----------
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