Michael Cooper vs. Joe Graboski Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Graboski 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 less than Joe Graboski, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Joe Graboski had his rookie season in 1948-49. 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
Joe Graboski 13 10 1948-49 to 1961-62

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1978-791948-49
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Stags
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayStags 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 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 -
Joe Graboski 45 - 2.8 - - - 0.4 - - - 1.9 1.2 3.5 .344 - - - 0.4 1.1 .347
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Joe Graboski 1 - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - 1.0 0.0 6.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1979-801949-50
Team Los Angeles LakersChicago Stags
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionStags Lost Cent 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
Joe Graboski 57 - 3.6 - - - 0.6 - - - 1.7 1.3 4.3 .304 - - - 0.9 1.6 .596
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
Joe Graboski 1 - 0.0 - - - 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Note: Joe Graboski didn't play in 1950-51.

Season 3

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1980-811951-52
Team Los Angeles LakersIndianapolis Olympians
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdOlympians 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 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
Joe Graboski 66 37.0 13.7 - - 9.9 2.0 - - - 3.8 4.8 12.5 .387 - - - 4.0 6.0 .667
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
Joe Graboski 2 48.0 23.0 - - 11.5 1.5 - - - 3.5 9.5 24.0 .396 - - - 4.0 7.5 .533

Season 4

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1981-821952-53
Team Los Angeles LakersIndianapolis Olympians
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionOlympians 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 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
Joe Graboski 69 40.1 13.0 - - 10.0 2.3 - - - 4.4 3.9 11.6 .340 - - - 5.1 7.4 .682
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
Joe Graboski 2 38.0 17.0 - - 8.0 0.0 - - - 2.5 7.0 14.0 .500 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750

Season 5

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1982-831953-54
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second 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 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
Joe Graboski 71 38.9 13.3 - - 9.4 2.3 - - - 3.1 5.0 14.1 .354 - - - 3.3 4.9 .674
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
Joe Graboski ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1983-841954-55
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
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
Joe Graboski 70 35.9 13.6 - - 9.1 2.6 - - - 3.7 5.3 15.7 .340 - - - 3.0 4.3 .686
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
Joe Graboski ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1984-851955-56
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
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
Joe Graboski 72 33.0 14.4 - - 8.9 2.6 - - - 3.8 5.5 14.9 .369 - - - 3.3 4.7 .706
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
Joe Graboski 10 31.3 13.2 - - 9.4 2.7 - - - 3.7 5.3 15.4 .344 - - - 2.6 3.5 .743

Season 8

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1985-861956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsWarriors 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 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
Joe Graboski 72 34.7 14.3 - - 8.5 1.9 - - - 3.4 5.4 15.5 .349 - - - 3.5 4.5 .783
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
Joe Graboski 2 45.5 17.5 - - 11.0 2.0 - - - 3.5 6.5 20.0 .325 - - - 4.5 5.5 .818

Season 9

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1986-871957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionWarriors 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 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
Joe Graboski 72 28.8 12.6 - - 7.9 1.7 - - - 3.5 4.7 14.1 .335 - - - 3.2 4.2 .749
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
Joe Graboski 8 31.5 12.3 - - 10.3 3.8 - - - 2.6 5.0 17.3 .290 - - - 2.3 2.9 .783

Season 10

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1987-881958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
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
Joe Graboski 72 34.5 14.7 - - 10.4 2.1 - - - 3.5 5.5 15.5 .353 - - - 3.8 5.0 .750
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
Joe Graboski ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1988-891959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 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
Joe Graboski 73 17.4 7.7 - - 4.9 1.5 - - - 2.0 3.0 8.0 .372 - - - 1.8 2.4 .753
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
Joe Graboski 9 14.3 4.6 - - 3.3 1.0 - - - 2.6 1.9 6.4 .293 - - - 0.8 1.0 .778

Season 12

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season 1989-901960-61
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisWarriors 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 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
Joe Graboski 68 14.9 6.8 - - 3.9 1.1 - - - 2.2 2.5 7.5 .333 - - - 1.9 2.7 .694
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 -
Joe Graboski 1 1.0 0.0 - - 0 0.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 0.0 - - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 13

Michael Cooper Joe Graboski
Season -1961-62
Team -St. Louis Hawks, Chicago Packers, Syracuse Nationals
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Nationals 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 ------- --- ----------
Joe Graboski 38 12.3 5.1 - - 4.1 0.7 - - - 1.6 2.0 5.8 .348 - - - 1.0 1.7 .600
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Joe Graboski 4 6.0 0.8 - - 1.0 0.0 - - - 0.8 0.3 1.8 .143 - - - 0.3 0.3 1.000