Michael Cooper vs. Slater Martin Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Slater Martin 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 more than Slater Martin, who played 11. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Slater Martin had his rookie season in 1949-50. 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
Slater Martin 11 11 1949-50 to 1959-60

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1978-791949-50
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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 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 -
Slater Martin 67 - 4.0 - - - 2.2 - - - 2.4 1.6 4.5 .351 - - - 0.9 1.4 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Slater Martin 12 - 4.7 - - - 2.1 - - - 2.9 1.8 4.2 .420 - - - 1.2 2.0 .583

Season 2

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1979-801950-51
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West 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 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
Slater Martin 68 - 8.5 - - 3.6 3.5 - - - 2.9 3.3 9.2 .362 - - - 1.8 2.6 .684
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
Slater Martin 7 - 7.1 - - 6.0 3.6 - - - 2.9 2.6 7.3 .353 - - - 2.0 3.9 .519

Season 3

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1980-811951-52
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA 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 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
Slater Martin 66 37.6 9.3 - - 3.5 3.8 - - - 3.4 3.6 9.6 .375 - - - 2.2 2.9 .747
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
Slater Martin 13 40.2 9.0 - - 2.8 4.3 - - - 4.9 2.9 8.5 .345 - - - 3.2 4.3 .732

Season 4

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1981-821952-53
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 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
Slater Martin 70 36.5 10.6 - - 2.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 3.7 9.1 .410 - - - 3.2 4.1 .780
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
Slater Martin 12 37.8 10.1 - - 2.6 3.6 - - - 4.1 3.4 8.6 .398 - - - 3.3 4.3 .765

Season 5

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1982-831953-54
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA 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 26.2 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
Slater Martin 69 35.8 9.9 - - 2.4 3.7 - - - 2.9 3.7 9.5 .388 - - - 2.6 3.5 .724
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
Slater Martin 13 41.0 9.7 - - 2.2 4.6 - - - 4.0 2.8 8.6 .330 - - - 4.0 5.4 .743

Season 6

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1983-841954-55
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsLakers Lost West 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 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
Slater Martin 72 38.7 13.6 - - 3.6 5.9 - - - 3.1 4.9 12.8 .381 - - - 3.8 5.0 .769
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
Slater Martin 7 45.0 13.7 - - 4.0 4.4 - - - 3.3 4.0 13.4 .298 - - - 5.7 7.0 .816

Season 7

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1984-851955-56
Team Los Angeles LakersMinneapolis Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 26.7 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
Slater Martin 72 39.4 13.2 - - 3.6 6.2 - - - 2.8 4.3 12.0 .358 - - - 4.6 5.5 .833
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
Slater Martin 3 40.3 18.0 - - 2.3 5.0 - - - 3.0 5.7 12.3 .459 - - - 6.7 8.0 .833

Season 8

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1985-861956-57
Team Los Angeles LakersNew York Knicks, St. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsHawks 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 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
Slater Martin 66 36.4 10.9 - - 4.4 4.1 - - - 2.9 3.7 11.2 .332 - - - 3.5 4.4 .790
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
Slater Martin 10 43.9 16.6 - - 4.2 4.9 - - - 3.9 5.5 15.5 .355 - - - 5.6 7.4 .757

Season 9

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1986-871957-58
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
-Achievement All-Star Game
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 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
Slater Martin 60 35.0 12.0 - - 3.8 3.6 - - - 3.1 4.3 12.8 .336 - - - 3.4 4.6 .746
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
Slater Martin 11 37.8 11.5 - - 4.4 3.6 - - - 3.6 4.0 12.5 .321 - - - 3.5 5.7 .619

Season 10

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1987-881958-59
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionHawks Lost West 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 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
Slater Martin 71 35.3 9.7 - - 3.6 4.7 - - - 3.2 3.5 9.9 .347 - - - 2.8 3.6 .776
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
Slater Martin 1 18.0 8.0 - - 3.0 2.0 - - - 2.0 4.0 5.0 .800 - - - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
Season 1988-891959-60
Team Los Angeles LakersSt. Louis Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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
Slater Martin 64 27.4 6.2 - - 2.9 5.2 - - - 2.7 2.2 6.0 .371 - - - 1.8 2.4 .729
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
Slater Martin 3 19.3 1.0 - - 1.0 2.7 - - - 3.0 0.3 4.3 .077 - - - 0.3 1.3 .250

Season 12

Michael Cooper Slater Martin
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
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------
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 -
Slater Martin ------- --- ----------