Michael Cooper vs. Russell Westbrook Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Russell Westbrook 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

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, 5 less than Russell Westbrook, who played 17. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Russell Westbrook had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Russell Westbrook 17 14 2008-09 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1978-792008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
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+30.2+13.3+2.2+2.7+4.9+5.3+1.0+0.2-3.0-2.0+4.3+11.4+.102+4.3+5.2
Russell Westbrook 82 32.5 15.3 2.2 2.7 4.9 5.3 1.3 0.2 3.3 2.3 5.3 13.4 .398 0.4 1.6 .271 4.3 5.2 .815
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Michael Cooper nor Russell Westbrook played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1979-802009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+10.2+7.3+0.5+1.5+2.1+5.3+0.3+0.1-1.6-0.1+2.2+7.1+.106+0.2+1.1+.029+2.6+3.4+.004
Russell Westbrook 82 34.3 16.1 1.7 3.1 4.9 8.0 1.3 0.4 3.3 2.5 5.9 14.1 .418 0.3 1.3 .221 4.0 5.1 .780
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:+10+6.3+11.4+0.1+2.4+2.3+2.4+0.2+0.5-0.5-1.2+3.6+6.4+.066+0.8+1.9+.417+3.4+4.0+.019
Russell Westbrook 6 35.3 20.5 1.7 4.3 6.0 6.0 1.7 0.2 2.3 2.2 7.2 15.2 .473 0.8 2.0 .417 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 3
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1980-812010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdThunder Lost West Conf Finals
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+2.3+12.5+0.4+0.5+4.1+0.3+0.6-1.9-0.6+3.5+8.9+.049+0.4+1.1+.119+5.1+5.9+.057
Russell Westbrook 82 34.7 21.9 1.5 3.1 4.6 8.2 1.9 0.4 3.9 2.5 7.5 17.0 .442 0.4 1.3 .330 6.5 7.7 .842
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+3.5+13.1+1.4+0.5+2.1+4.1+0.6+0.4-2.3-1.0+4.2+13.5+.156+0.8+1.8+.292+3.8+3.7+.138
Russell Westbrook 17 37.5 23.8 2.1 3.2 5.4 6.4 1.4 0.4 4.6 3.3 7.9 20.2 .394 0.8 2.8 .292 7.1 8.4 .852

Season 4
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1981-822011-12
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder Lost NBA Finals
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:+10+6.4+11.7+0.4+0.7+1.1+2.5+0.1+0.5-1.6-0.6+3.8+9.4+.060+0.9+2.8+.198+3.4+4.0+.010
Russell Westbrook 66 35.3 23.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.5 1.7 0.3 3.6 2.2 8.8 19.2 .457 0.9 3.0 .316 5.2 6.3 .823
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:+6+11.0+11.2+0.3+1.4+1.1+1.5+0.1+0.4-0.2-0.9+3.9+11.5+.130+0.8+3.2+.223+2.7+3.2+.067
Russell Westbrook 20 38.4 23.1 1.1 4.4 5.5 5.9 1.6 0.4 2.3 2.5 8.9 20.4 .435 0.9 3.3 .277 4.5 5.6 .802

Season 5
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1982-832012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf Semis
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:+8.7+15.4+0.4+1.6+1.9+3.6+0.4+0.3-1.7-0.2+5.0+12.6+.097+1.1+3.4+.085+4.4+5.4+.015
Russell Westbrook 82 34.9 23.2 1.4 3.9 5.2 7.4 1.8 0.3 3.3 2.3 8.2 18.7 .438 1.2 3.7 .323 5.6 7.0 .800
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:+13+3.8+14.6+0.3+2.9+2.6+4.1+1.3+0.4-2.7-1.1+5.0+12.9+.050+0.9+4.0+.079+3.7+4.3+.028
Russell Westbrook 2 34.0 24.0 0.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 3.0 0.0 4.0 2.5 8.5 20.5 .415 1.0 4.5 .222 6.0 7.0 .857

Season 6
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1983-842013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf Finals
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:+36+1.6+12.8+0.6+2.0+2.5+1.0+0.5+0.6-2.0-1.0+4.2+10.5+.060+1.0+3.2+.004+3.4+4.1+.012
Russell Westbrook 46 30.7 21.8 1.2 4.5 5.7 6.9 1.9 0.2 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.2 .437 1.5 4.7 .318 5.3 6.4 .826
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:+2+4.3+15.4+1.4+1.9+3.4+2.4+1.1+0.7-3.0-0.5+4.6+11.8+.041+0.9+3.6+.053+5.2+5.6+.078
Russell Westbrook 19 38.7 26.7 2.4 4.9 7.3 8.1 2.2 0.3 4.4 3.3 8.8 20.9 .420 1.5 5.3 .280 7.6 8.6 .884

Season 7
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1984-852014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
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:+15+7.7+19.5+1.2+3.0+4.2+3.4+1.0+0.4-2.5-0.2+6.0+14.8+.039+0.9+2.8+.014+6.7+8.2+.030
Russell Westbrook 67 34.4 28.1 1.9 5.4 7.3 8.6 2.1 0.2 4.4 2.7 9.4 22.0 .426 1.3 4.3 .299 8.1 9.8 .835
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
Russell Westbrook DNP------ --- ----------

Season 8
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1985-862015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
-Achievement All-Star Game MVP
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsThunder Lost West 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:+2+6.7+14.3+1.3+3.6+4.8+4.7+0.9+0.2-2.5-0.4+4.9+10.7+.002+0.5+2.3+.091+4.0+5.1+.053
Russell Westbrook 80 34.4 23.5 1.8 6.0 7.8 10.4 2.0 0.3 4.3 2.5 8.2 18.1 .454 1.3 4.3 .296 5.8 7.2 .812
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:+4+7.3+16.3+1.2+2.5+3.6+6.1+1.3+0.2-2.8-0.7+4.9+13.6+.065+0.5+2.9+.139+5.8+7.0+.011
Russell Westbrook 18 37.4 26.0 2.3 4.6 6.9 11.0 2.6 0.1 4.3 2.4 8.8 21.8 .405 1.9 5.8 .324 6.4 7.8 .829

Season 9
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1986-872016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement Scoring Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder Lost West 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:+1+7.1+21.1+1.0+6.6+7.6+5.9+0.6+0.1-4.2-0.1+6.3+15.0+.013+1.4+4.4+.042+7.3+8.6+.006
Russell Westbrook 81 34.6 31.6 1.7 9.0 10.7 10.4 1.6 0.4 5.4 2.3 10.2 24.0 .425 2.5 7.2 .343 8.8 10.4 .845
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:+13+9.8+24.4+1.4+7.0+8.3+5.8+1.0+0.4-3.9-0.6+7.5+21.6+.096+0.7+5.9+.221+8.6+11.0+.052
Russell Westbrook 5 38.8 37.4 1.8 9.8 11.6 10.8 2.4 0.4 6.0 3.2 11.8 30.4 .388 2.6 9.8 .265 11.2 14.0 .800

Season 10
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1987-882017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionThunder Lost West 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:+19+7.0+16.7+1.1+5.3+6.4+5.6+0.7+0.1-3.1-0.3+6.4+13.2+.057+0.3+1.2+.022+3.6+5.2+.121
Russell Westbrook 80 36.4 25.4 1.9 8.2 10.1 10.3 1.8 0.3 4.8 2.5 9.5 21.1 .449 1.2 4.1 .298 5.2 7.1 .737
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:+18+14.7+22.9+1.2+8.4+9.6+4.7+0.7+0.4-4.3-1.1+8.4+21.3+.014+1.5+4.4+.046+4.7+5.6+.084
Russell Westbrook 6 39.2 29.3 1.8 10.2 12.0 7.5 1.5 0.0 5.2 3.5 10.7 26.8 .398 2.5 7.0 .357 5.5 6.7 .825

Season 11
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1988-892018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement Assists Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsThunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd
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:+7+11.7+15.6+1.1+7.6+8.7+6.8+1.0+0.1-3.3-1.1+5.9+14.0+.003+0.6+3.0+.091+3.1+5.0+.215
Russell Westbrook 73 36.0 22.9 1.5 9.6 11.1 10.7 1.9 0.5 4.5 3.4 8.6 20.2 .428 1.6 5.6 .290 4.1 6.2 .656
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:+10+11.8+15.1+0.8+5.5+6.3+5.9+0.4+0.1-3.5-1.3+5.5+16.3+.056+0.8+3.1+.058+3.3+3.6+.052
Russell Westbrook 5 39.4 22.8 1.4 7.6 9.0 10.6 1.0 0.6 4.6 3.8 8.0 22.2 .360 2.2 6.8 .324 4.6 5.2 .885

Season 12
Michael Cooper Russell Westbrook
Season 1989-902019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Third Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West 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:+23+12.8+20.8+1.1+4.1+5.1+4.3+0.8+0.1-3.4-0.9+8.2+16.3+.085+0.4+1.7+.060+4.1+5.5+.120
Russell Westbrook 57 35.9 27.2 1.8 6.2 7.9 7.0 1.6 0.4 4.5 3.5 10.6 22.5 .472 1.0 3.7 .258 5.1 6.7 .763
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+13.6+15.3+0.2+4.2+4.3+1.8+0.7+0.1-3.0-0.6+6.3+13.6+.135+0.7+2.8+.008+2.1+4.0
Russell Westbrook 8 32.8 17.9 1.4 5.6 7.0 4.6 1.5 0.3 3.8 2.9 7.4 17.5 .421 1.0 4.1 .242 2.1 4.0 .531

Additional Years

* Russell Westbrook played 5 seasons more than Michael Cooper in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 17, from 2021 to 2025—Russell Westbrook played in 4 Playoffs.

In those 5 extra years over Michael Cooper, Russell Westbrook got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Assists Leader
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