Michael Cooper vs. Dick Van Arsdale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Dick Van Arsdale 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 Dick Van Arsdale both played 12 years in the NBA. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Dick Van Arsdale had his rookie season in 1965-66. 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
Dick Van Arsdale 12 4 1965-66 to 1976-77

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1978-791965-66
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 -
Dick Van Arsdale 79 29.0 12.3 - - 4.8 2.3 - - - 3.0 4.5 10.6 .428 - - - 3.2 4.4 .715
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1979-801966-67
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
Dick Van Arsdale 79 36.6 15.1 - - 7.0 3.1 - - - 3.3 5.2 11.6 .449 - - - 4.7 6.4 .729
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
Dick Van Arsdale 4 38.3 11.5 - - 6.3 3.5 - - - 4.0 3.8 11.8 .319 - - - 4.0 5.5 .727

Season 3

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1980-811967-68
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 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
Dick Van Arsdale 78 30.1 11.0 - - 5.4 2.9 - - - 2.9 4.1 9.3 .436 - - - 2.9 4.3 .670
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
Dick Van Arsdale 4 22.0 3.3 - - 4.0 3.3 - - - 2.3 1.3 5.5 .227 - - - 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 4

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1981-821968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 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
Dick Van Arsdale 80 42.4 21.0 - - 6.9 4.8 - - - 3.1 7.7 17.3 .442 - - - 5.7 8.1 .705
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
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1982-831969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns Lost West 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 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
Dick Van Arsdale 77 38.5 21.3 - - 3.4 4.4 - - - 3.7 7.7 15.1 .508 - - - 6.0 7.5 .798
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
Dick Van Arsdale 7 36.4 16.4 - - 2.6 4.1 - - - 3.3 6.1 14.3 .430 - - - 4.1 4.7 .879

Season 6

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1983-841970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Dick Van Arsdale 81 39.0 21.9 - - 3.9 4.1 - - - 3.0 7.5 16.6 .452 - - - 6.8 8.4 .811
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
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1984-851971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
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
Dick Van Arsdale 82 37.8 19.7 - - 4.1 3.6 - - - 2.8 6.6 14.4 .463 - - - 6.5 7.6 .845
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
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1985-861972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
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
Dick Van Arsdale 81 36.8 18.4 - - 4.0 3.3 - - - 2.7 6.6 13.8 .476 - - - 5.3 6.1 .859
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
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1986-871973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second 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
Dick Van Arsdale 78 36.3 17.8 0.8 2.0 2.8 4.2 1.2 0.2 - 3.1 6.6 13.2 .500 - - - 4.6 5.4 .853
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
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1987-881974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
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
Dick Van Arsdale 70 34.6 16.1 0.7 2.0 2.7 2.8 1.2 0.2 - 2.5 6.0 12.8 .470 - - - 4.0 4.8 .832
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
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1988-891975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSuns 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
Dick Van Arsdale 58 32.2 12.9 0.7 1.7 2.4 2.4 0.9 0.2 - 1.9 4.8 9.8 .484 - - - 3.4 4.1 .830
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
Dick Van Arsdale 19 24.8 8.5 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 0.7 0.1 - 2.2 3.2 6.6 .488 - - - 2.1 2.4 .870

Season 12

Michael Cooper Dick Van Arsdale
Season 1989-901976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
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
Dick Van Arsdale 78 19.7 7.7 0.4 1.1 1.5 1.5 0.4 0.1 - 1.2 2.9 6.4 .456 - - - 1.9 2.1 .873
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 -
Dick Van Arsdale ------- --- ----------