Michael Cooper vs. Dennis Rodman Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dennis Rodman 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 / Stats Rankings / Games against each other

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 Dennis Rodman, who played 14. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Dennis Rodman had his rookie season in 1986-87. 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 achievements, 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
Dennis Rodman 14 11 1986-87 to 1999-00

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1978-791986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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 -
difference:+74+12.7+4.5+2.1+2.2+4.3+0.7+0.2+0.6-0.9-1.9+1.8+3.1+.045+1.0+1.6
Dennis Rodman 77 15.0 6.5 2.1 2.2 4.3 0.7 0.5 0.6 1.2 2.2 2.8 5.1 .545 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.6 .587
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper DNP------ --- ----------
Dennis Rodman 15 16.3 6.5 2.1 2.6 4.7 0.2 0.4 1.1 1.1 3.2 2.7 4.9 .541 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.1 .563

Season 2

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost NBA Finals
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2.1+2.8+2.7+3.2+5.9+1.4+0.1-0.2-0.7+1.2+1.6+.037+.044+0.5+1.8+.241
Dennis Rodman 82 26.2 11.6 3.9 4.8 8.7 1.3 0.9 0.5 1.9 3.3 4.9 8.6 .561 0.1 0.2 .294 1.9 3.5 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7+8.4+2.0+0.4+1.8+2.2+2.7+0.9+0.1-0.5-0.4+0.5+2.9+.115+0.9+.454
Dennis Rodman 23 20.6 7.1 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.6 0.6 1.3 3.8 3.1 5.9 .522 0.0 0.1 .000 1.0 2.3 .407

Season 3

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+1+5.5+0.4+2.5+2.7+5.3+2.9+0.9+0.1-0.5-0.5+0.1+1.6+.104+0.1+0.1+.020+0.2+0.1+.159
Dennis Rodman 82 26.9 9.0 4.0 5.4 9.4 1.2 0.7 0.9 1.5 3.6 3.9 6.5 .595 0.1 0.3 .231 1.2 1.9 .626
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+14+9.9+4.9+2.6+4.0+6.7+1.4+1.6+0.7-0.9-1.1+1.5+2.6+.021+0.8+1.9+2.6+.028
Dennis Rodman 17 24.1 5.8 3.3 6.7 10.0 0.9 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.4 2.2 4.1 .529 0.0 0.2 .000 1.4 2.1 .686

Season 4

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1981-821989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+6+0.1+3.1+3.0+3.2+6.2+2.1+1.0+0.1-0.9-0.6+1.5+3.8+.064+0.1+.007+0.1+0.3+.159
Dennis Rodman 82 29.0 8.8 4.1 5.6 9.7 0.9 0.6 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.5 6.0 .581 0.0 0.1 .111 1.7 2.6 .654
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+5+2.1+5.3+1.5+2.6+4.1+3.5+1.2+0.1-0.5-0.1+2.2+3.9+.003+0.1+0.1+0.9+0.6+.221
Dennis Rodman 19 29.5 6.6 2.9 5.6 8.5 0.9 0.5 0.7 1.6 3.3 2.8 5.0 .568 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .514

Season 5

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1982-831990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+7.3+0.4+3.4+5.8+9.2+2.8+0.6+0.1-0.5-0.9+0.2+0.7+.042+0.1+.038+0.2+0.5+.154
Dennis Rodman 82 33.5 8.2 4.4 8.1 12.5 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.1 3.4 3.4 6.8 .493 0.1 0.4 .200 1.4 2.1 .631
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+2.8+3.1+3.7+4.2+7.9+2.0+1.0+0.3-0.4-0.1+0.8+1.5+.014+0.1+.079+1.6+1.1+.412
Dennis Rodman 15 33.0 6.3 4.5 7.3 11.8 0.9 0.7 0.7 0.9 3.7 2.7 6.1 .451 0.1 0.6 .222 0.7 1.6 .417

Season 6

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1983-841991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+11.2+0.8+5.8+9.8+15.5+3.6+0.6+0.1-0.1-0.3+0.9+1.0+.042+0.1+0.3+.003+0.9+0.6+.238
Dennis Rodman 82 40.3 9.8 6.4 12.3 18.7 2.3 0.8 0.9 1.7 3.0 4.2 7.7 .539 0.4 1.2 .317 1.0 1.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+16+3.2+4.1+2.2+4.0+6.3+3.9+0.3+0.6-0.4+1.0+3.7+.132+0.6+1.3+.333+1.6+1.4+.306
Dennis Rodman 5 31.2 7.2 3.2 7.0 10.2 1.8 0.8 0.4 1.4 3.4 3.2 5.4 .593 0.0 0.4 .000 0.8 1.6 .500

Season 7

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1984-851992-93
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+20+12.2+1.1+5.2+9.9+15.2+3.6+0.3+0.1-0.2-0.7+0.4+0.3+.038+0.2+0.3+.080+1.0+.331
Dennis Rodman 62 38.9 7.5 5.9 12.3 18.3 1.6 0.8 0.7 1.7 3.2 3.0 6.9 .427 0.2 1.2 .205 1.4 2.6 .534
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
Dennis Rodman DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1985-861993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsSpurs Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+3+10.1+4.5+5.2+9.2+14.3+3.4+0.4+0.1-0.1+1.3+3.7+.082+0.7+1.7+.179+1.1+0.8+.345
Dennis Rodman 79 37.8 4.7 5.7 11.6 17.3 2.3 0.7 0.4 1.7 2.9 2.0 3.7 .534 0.1 0.3 .208 0.7 1.3 .520
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+11+7.9+1.4+6.9+5.9+12.7+4.2+0.7+1.0-0.5-3.0+0.1+0.2+.030+1.4+1.2+.463+0.3+1.2+.651
Dennis Rodman 3 38.0 8.3 8.0 8.0 16.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 2.0 4.7 4.0 8.0 .500 0.0 1.7 .000 0.3 2.0 .167

Season 9

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1986-871994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+33+4.5+3.4+4.9+8.8+13.7+2.5+0.4-0.8-0.8+1.1+4.1+.133+1.1+2.8+0.5+.175
Dennis Rodman 49 32.0 7.1 5.6 11.2 16.8 2.0 0.6 0.5 2.0 3.2 2.8 4.9 .571 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.3 .676
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+3.8+4.1+4.5+7.1+11.5+3.7+0.5+0.8-0.3-1.0+0.6+1.9+.058+1.9+3.5+.486+1.2+0.5+.281
Dennis Rodman 14 32.8 8.9 4.9 9.9 14.8 1.3 0.9 0.0 1.8 3.6 3.7 6.9 .542 0.0 0.4 .000 1.4 2.5 .571

Season 10

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+3+3.2+3.2+4.8+6.4+11.2+2.2+0.5-0.5-0.9+0.8+3.1+.088+0.9+2.5+.209+0.7+0.2+.330
Dennis Rodman 64 32.6 5.5 5.6 9.3 14.9 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.2 3.1 2.3 4.8 .480 0.0 0.4 .111 0.9 1.7 .528
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+6+9.9+1.1+4.8+6.5+11.3+0.7-1.4-1.8+0.5+0.2+.073+1.0+2.6+1.1+2.2+.148
Dennis Rodman 18 34.4 7.5 5.4 8.3 13.7 2.1 0.8 0.4 2.3 4.2 2.8 5.7 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .593

Season 11

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1988-891996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+25+11.1+1.6+5.4+8.2+13.7+0.8+0.3+0.1-0.8-0.8+0.4+1.0+.017+0.9+2.3+.118+0.1+0.4+.303
Dennis Rodman 55 35.4 5.7 5.8 10.2 16.1 3.1 0.6 0.3 2.0 3.1 2.3 5.2 .448 0.1 0.3 .263 0.9 1.6 .568
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+4+0.5+3.5+2.5+3.2+5.7+3.3+0.1+0.3-0.4-1.4+0.9+1.6+.046+1.2+2.9+.132+0.5+0.2+.256
Dennis Rodman 19 28.1 4.2 3.1 5.3 8.4 1.4 0.5 0.2 1.5 3.9 1.6 4.3 .370 0.2 0.8 .250 0.8 1.4 .577

Season 12

Michael Cooper Dennis Rodman
Season 1989-901997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards -Achievement Rebounds Leader
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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
difference:+12.6+1.7+4.6+7.7+12.2+0.2+0.2+0.3-0.7-0.4+0.5+1.7+.044+0.5+1.7+.144+0.2+0.2+.333
Dennis Rodman 80 35.7 4.7 5.3 9.8 15.0 2.9 0.6 0.2 1.8 3.0 1.9 4.5 .431 0.1 0.3 .174 0.8 1.4 .550
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF 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 -
difference:+12+15.2+2.3+3.5+5.7+9.1+0.8+0.1+0.2-0.9-1.9+0.8+1.1+.085+0.3+1.1+1.1+1.8
Dennis Rodman 21 34.4 4.9 4.7 7.1 11.8 2.0 0.7 0.6 1.7 4.2 1.9 5.0 .371 0.0 0.2 .250 1.1 1.8 .605

Additional Years

* Dennis Rodman played 2 seasons more than Michael Cooper in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 14, from 1999 to 2000—Dennis Rodman didn't play in the postseason.