Michael Cooper vs. Kurt Nimphius Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kurt Nimphius 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 / 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, 4 more than Kurt Nimphius, who played 8. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Kurt Nimphius had his rookie season in 1981-82. 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
Kurt Nimphius 8 5 1981-82 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1978-791981-82
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
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 -
Kurt Nimphius 63 17.2 5.3 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.9 3.0 2.2 4.7 .461 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.7 .583
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1979-801982-83
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards
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 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
Kurt Nimphius 81 18.7 5.3 1.9 3.0 5.0 1.4 0.3 1.4 0.8 3.5 2.1 4.4 .490 0.0 0.0 1.000 1.0 1.7 .550
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1980-811983-84
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdMavericks 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 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
Kurt Nimphius 82 27.9 7.9 2.2 4.0 6.3 2.1 0.5 1.8 1.2 3.5 3.3 6.4 .520 0.0 0.0 .250 1.2 2.0 .623
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
Kurt Nimphius 10 17.8 4.2 2.0 3.3 5.3 1.3 0.0 1.4 0.9 2.4 1.4 3.3 .424 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.7 .824

Season 4

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1981-821984-85
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionMavericks 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 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
Kurt Nimphius 82 24.5 6.1 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.2 0.4 1.5 1.2 3.2 2.4 5.3 .452 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.7 .771
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
Kurt Nimphius 4 12.5 1.5 0.8 0.8 1.5 0.8 0.3 0.3 0.5 2.5 0.8 1.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 5

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1982-831985-86
Team Los Angeles LakersDallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers
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
Kurt Nimphius 80 27.8 11.2 1.9 3.8 5.7 0.8 0.4 1.3 1.5 3.3 4.4 8.7 .506 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.3 .740
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1983-841986-87
Team Los Angeles LakersLos Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsPistons 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 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
Kurt Nimphius 66 16.5 5.9 1.2 1.6 2.8 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.0 2.4 2.3 5.0 .470 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 1.8 .675
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
Kurt Nimphius 4 7.5 2.0 1.3 1.3 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.8 2.5 0.8 2.3 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 1.0 .500

Season 7

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1984-851987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionSpurs 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 26.7 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
Kurt Nimphius 72 12.8 4.4 0.9 1.3 2.1 0.7 0.3 0.8 0.7 2.0 1.8 3.6 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.2 .723
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
Kurt Nimphius 3 10.0 4.0 1.0 1.7 2.7 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.0 2.3 1.7 3.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Note: Kurt Nimphius didn't play in 1988-89.

Season 8

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersPhiladelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf Finals76ers Lost East 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 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
Kurt Nimphius 38 8.3 2.4 0.6 1.0 1.6 0.2 0.1 0.5 0.3 1.2 1.0 2.4 .418 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.8 .467
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
Kurt Nimphius 4 4.5 0.5 0.8 0.3 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 1.8 .143 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 9

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1986-87-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA 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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
Season 1987-88-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs NBA 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 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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Michael Cooper Kurt Nimphius
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
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------
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 -
Kurt Nimphius ------- --- ----------