Michael Cooper vs. Kevin McHale Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin McHale 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, 1 less than Kevin McHale, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Kevin McHale had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Kevin McHale 13 13 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1978-791980-81
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+79+17.8+8.0+1.9+2.5+4.4+0.7+1.8-1.0-2.9+3.3+6.1+.033+1.3+1.9
Kevin McHale 82 20.1 10.0 1.9 2.5 4.4 0.7 0.3 1.8 1.3 3.2 4.3 8.1 .533 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .679
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Michael Cooper DNP------ --- ----------
Kevin McHale 17 17.4 8.5 1.7 1.8 3.5 0.8 0.2 1.5 0.9 3.0 3.6 6.6 .540 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.1 .639

Season 2

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1979-801981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf 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:+4.3+4.8+1.1+2.9+4.0+1.6+0.6+1.8-0.6+2.0+3.7+.007+0.1+0.2+0.9+1.3+.022
Kevin McHale 82 28.4 13.6 2.3 4.5 6.8 1.1 0.4 2.3 1.7 3.2 5.7 10.7 .531 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.0 .754
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:+4+0.3+7.1+1.6+1.8+3.4+2.7+1.1+1.6-0.5-0.3+2.8+2.4+.168+0.1+1.4+2.1+.106
Kevin McHale 12 28.7 16.2 3.4 3.7 7.1 0.9 0.4 2.3 1.3 3.7 6.4 11.2 .575 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.4 .755

Season 3

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1980-811982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second TeamAchievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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+3.8+4.7+1.1+1.4+2.6+2.8+1.2+1.3-0.1-0.2+1.9+2.8+.050+0.2+1.0+1.5+.068
Kevin McHale 82 28.6 14.1 2.6 4.1 6.7 1.3 0.4 2.3 1.9 2.9 5.9 10.9 .541 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.3 .717
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:+4+8.7+0.4+1.4+1.2+2.7+1.6+1.6+1.0-0.9+1.2+2.2+.002+0.9+1.9+2.1+.158
Kevin McHale 7 25.3 11.1 2.1 3.9 6.0 0.7 0.4 1.0 1.4 2.3 4.9 8.9 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 1.4 2.6 .556

Season 4

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1981-821983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man 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+2.5+6.5+1.4+2.5+3.9+1.7+1.3+0.7-0.2-0.2+2.2+3.1+.039+0.2+2.3+3.1+.048
Kevin McHale 82 31.4 18.4 2.5 4.9 7.4 1.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.0 7.2 12.9 .556 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.4 .765
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:+9+3.1+2.9+1.3+0.5+1.8+3.2+1.6+0.7-0.4-0.1+0.3+1.7+.061+0.1+.500+2.3+2.9+.042
Kevin McHale 23 30.5 14.8 2.7 3.5 6.2 1.2 0.1 1.5 1.7 3.3 5.3 10.6 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.3 .777

Season 5

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1982-831984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost NBA 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:+3+7.4+12.0+1.9+3.8+5.7+2.0+1.0+0.9-0.4-0.5+4.5+7.3+.035+0.1+0.2+.238+3.3+4.3+.025
Kevin McHale 79 33.6 19.8 2.9 6.1 9.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.0 3.0 7.7 13.4 .570 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 5.9 .760
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:+6+9.7+12.7+2.7+3.3+6.0+1.4+1.1+1.8-1.6-0.1+4.7+6.8+.103+0.1+0.5+3.5+4.4+.022
Kevin McHale 21 39.9 22.1 3.5 6.4 9.9 1.5 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.5 8.2 14.4 .568 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 7.1 .807

Season 6

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1983-841985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
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:+14+6.2+12.3+1.9+3.1+4.9+3.2+1.0+1.2-0.4-0.5+5.0+7.7+.077+0.5+1.5+2.9+3.9+.062
Kevin McHale 68 35.3 21.3 2.5 5.6 8.1 2.7 0.4 2.0 2.2 2.8 8.3 14.4 .574 0.0 0.0 - 4.8 6.2 .776
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:+3+5.3+13.6+1.8+2.8+4.7+3.0+0.7+1.4-1.3-0.2+5.1+7.0+.118+0.6+1.6+.333+3.8+4.8+.012
Kevin McHale 18 39.7 24.9 2.8 5.8 8.6 2.7 0.4 2.4 2.7 3.6 9.3 16.1 .579 0.0 0.1 .000 6.2 7.8 .794

Season 7

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1984-851986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
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:+5+13.0+17.5+2.5+4.3+6.8+2.6+0.6+1.6-0.7-0.6+6.9+9.8+.139+0.4+1.4+.285+4.2+5.0+.029
Kevin McHale 77 39.7 26.1 3.2 6.7 9.9 2.6 0.5 2.2 2.6 3.1 10.3 17.0 .604 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.6 .836
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
difference:+2+13.0+10.7+2.5+2.7+5.2+3.0+0.8+0.9-0.7-1.0+4.6+7.6+.021+0.4+1.4+2.1+3.3+.161
Kevin McHale 21 39.4 21.1 3.1 6.1 9.2 1.9 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.4 8.3 14.2 .584 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.0 .762

Season 8

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1985-861987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
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:+18+9.6+13.4+2.0+3.5+5.4+3.0+0.7+0.9-0.4-0.1+5.3+6.8+.152+0.8+2.0+3.6+4.7+.068
Kevin McHale 64 37.3 22.6 2.5 5.9 8.4 2.7 0.4 1.4 2.2 2.8 8.6 14.2 .604 0.0 0.0 - 5.4 6.8 .797
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:+3+12.0+15.7+2.1+2.7+4.7+2.5+0.9+1.5-0.8-2.1+5.4+7.2+.133+1.3+2.8+.537+6.2+7.3+.021
Kevin McHale 17 42.1 25.4 3.2 4.8 8.0 2.4 0.4 1.8 2.3 3.8 9.3 15.4 .603 0.1 0.1 1.000 6.8 8.1 .839

Season 9

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1986-871988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+4+9.4+12.0+2.2+2.9+5.1+2.3+0.7+0.7-1.3-0.5+4.6+6.5+.108+1.1+2.7+.385+4.1+5.0+.033
Kevin McHale 78 36.9 22.5 2.9 5.3 8.2 2.2 0.3 1.2 2.5 2.9 8.5 15.5 .546 0.0 0.1 .000 5.6 6.8 .818
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:+15+9.3+6.0+1.9+2.9+4.7+2.0+1.1+0.1-0.8-1.7+2.4+4.9+.004+1.9+3.9+3.1+4.7+.113
Kevin McHale 3 38.3 19.0 2.3 5.7 8.0 3.0 0.3 0.7 1.3 4.3 6.7 13.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 5.7 7.7 .739

Season 10

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1987-881989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
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:+21+3.8+12.2+1.7+2.9+4.6+2.6+0.7+1.5-0.5-0.8+4.8+6.5+.157+0.6+2.1+.013+3.2+3.5+.035
Kevin McHale 82 33.2 20.9 2.5 5.8 8.3 2.1 0.4 1.9 2.2 3.0 7.9 14.4 .549 0.3 0.8 .333 4.8 5.4 .893
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:+19+13.9+15.6+1.0+4.4+5.4+0.2+0.4+1.6-1.9-1.0+6.1+8.3+.197+0.8+2.0+.070+4.2+4.7+.121
Kevin McHale 5 38.4 22.0 1.6 6.2 7.8 2.6 0.4 2.0 2.8 3.4 8.4 13.8 .609 0.2 0.6 .333 5.0 5.8 .862

Season 11

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1988-891990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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:+12+6.1+11.1+1.7+2.9+4.7+2.0+0.5+1.7-0.9-0.6+4.7+7.2+.122+0.8+2.1+.024+2.4+2.8+.042
Kevin McHale 68 30.4 18.4 2.1 4.9 7.1 1.9 0.4 2.1 2.1 2.9 7.4 13.4 .553 0.2 0.5 .405 3.4 4.0 .829
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+6.6+13.0+1.0+2.8+3.8+2.9+0.1+0.8-0.2-1.3+4.6+7.6+.111+0.9+2.7+.163+4.7+5.7+.008
Kevin McHale 11 34.2 20.7 1.6 4.9 6.5 1.8 0.5 1.3 1.3 3.8 7.1 13.5 .527 0.5 1.0 .545 6.0 7.3 .825

Season 12

Michael Cooper Kevin McHale
Season 1989-901991-92
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
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:+24+1.9+7.5+1.4+1.7+3.1+1.2+0.6+0.6-0.4-0.6+3.4+5.1+.122+0.6+1.8+.318+1.4+1.7+.061
Kevin McHale 56 25.0 13.9 2.1 3.8 5.9 1.5 0.2 1.1 1.5 2.0 5.8 11.3 .509 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.9 .822
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:+1+11.4+13.9+0.9+3.2+4.0+1.5+0.3+0.1-0.1-1.1+5.4+8.7+.230+0.3+1.2+.250+3.5+4.4
Kevin McHale 10 30.6 16.5 2.1 4.6 6.7 1.3 0.5 0.5 0.9 3.4 6.5 12.6 .516 0.0 0.1 .000 3.5 4.4 .795

Additional Years

* Kevin McHale played 1 season more than Michael Cooper in the NBA.

In that period—his season 13 in 1993—Kevin McHale played in the Playoffs.