Michael Cooper vs. Wes Unseld Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Wes Unseld 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 Wes Unseld, who played 13. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Wes Unseld had his rookie season in 1968-69. 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
Wes Unseld 13 12 1968-69 to 1980-81

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1978-791968-69
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Season MVP
-Achievement All-NBA First Team
-Achievement Rookie of the Year
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Did Not PlayBullets 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 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 -
Wes Unseld 82 36.2 13.8 - - 18.2 2.6 - - - 3.4 5.2 10.9 .476 - - - 3.4 5.6 .605
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Wes Unseld 4 41.3 18.8 - - 18.5 1.3 - - - 3.5 7.5 14.3 .526 - - - 3.8 4.8 .789

Season 2

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1979-801969-70
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 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
Wes Unseld 82 39.4 16.2 - - 16.7 3.5 - - - 3.0 6.4 12.4 .518 - - - 3.3 5.2 .638
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
Wes Unseld 7 41.3 10.4 - - 23.6 3.4 - - - 3.6 4.1 10.0 .414 - - - 2.1 2.7 .789

Season 3

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1980-811970-71
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdBullets 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 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
Wes Unseld 74 39.2 14.1 - - 16.9 4.0 - - - 3.2 5.7 11.4 .501 - - - 2.7 4.1 .657
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
Wes Unseld 18 42.2 13.2 - - 18.8 3.8 - - - 3.3 5.3 11.6 .462 - - - 2.6 4.5 .568

Season 4

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1981-821971-72
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 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
Wes Unseld 76 41.7 13.0 - - 17.6 3.7 - - - 2.9 5.4 10.8 .498 - - - 2.3 3.6 .629
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
Wes Unseld 6 44.3 12.3 - - 12.5 4.2 - - - 3.7 5.3 10.8 .492 - - - 1.7 3.2 .526

Season 5

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1982-831972-73
Team Los Angeles LakersBaltimore Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 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
Wes Unseld 79 39.1 12.5 - - 15.9 4.4 - - - 2.1 5.3 10.8 .493 - - - 1.9 2.7 .703
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
Wes Unseld 5 40.2 9.8 - - 15.2 3.4 - - - 2.4 4.0 9.6 .417 - - - 1.8 3.8 .474

Season 6

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1983-841973-74
Team Los Angeles LakersCapital Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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 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
Wes Unseld 56 30.8 5.9 2.7 6.5 9.2 2.8 1.0 0.3 - 2.2 2.6 5.9 .438 - - - 0.6 1.0 .655
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
Wes Unseld 7 42.4 10.1 3.1 9.0 12.1 3.9 0.6 0.1 - 2.1 4.4 9.0 .492 - - - 1.3 2.1 .600

Season 7

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1984-851974-75
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 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
Wes Unseld 73 39.8 9.2 4.4 10.4 14.8 4.1 1.6 0.9 - 2.5 3.7 7.5 .502 - - - 1.7 2.5 .685
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
Wes Unseld 17 43.2 10.7 3.8 12.4 16.2 3.8 0.9 1.2 - 2.3 4.2 7.6 .546 - - - 2.4 3.6 .656

Season 8

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1985-861975-76
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsBullets 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
Wes Unseld 78 37.5 9.6 3.5 9.8 13.3 5.2 1.1 0.8 - 2.6 4.1 7.3 .561 - - - 1.5 2.5 .585
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
Wes Unseld 7 44.3 7.0 3.7 8.4 12.1 4.0 0.9 0.6 - 2.7 2.6 5.6 .462 - - - 1.9 3.4 .542

Season 9

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1986-871976-77
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionBullets 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 27.5 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
Wes Unseld 82 34.9 7.8 3.0 7.7 10.7 4.4 1.1 0.5 - 3.1 3.3 6.7 .490 - - - 1.2 2.0 .602
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
Wes Unseld 9 40.9 7.4 2.7 9.0 11.7 4.9 0.9 0.7 - 3.6 3.3 6.0 .556 - - - 0.8 1.3 .583

Season 10

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1987-881977-78
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards -Achievement Finals MVP
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 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
Wes Unseld 80 33.1 7.6 3.6 8.4 11.9 4.1 1.2 0.6 2.2 2.9 3.2 6.1 .523 - - - 1.2 2.2 .538
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
Wes Unseld 18 37.6 9.4 4.0 8.0 12.0 4.4 0.9 0.4 2.0 3.4 3.9 7.4 .530 - - - 1.5 2.6 .587

Season 11

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1988-891978-79
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsBullets 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
Wes Unseld 77 31.2 10.9 3.6 7.2 10.8 4.1 0.9 0.5 2.0 2.6 4.5 7.8 .577 - - - 2.0 3.1 .643
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
Wes Unseld 19 38.7 10.3 4.7 8.6 13.3 3.4 0.9 0.7 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.3 .494 - - - 2.1 3.4 .609

Season 12

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season 1989-901979-80
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisBullets Lost East 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 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
Wes Unseld 82 36.3 9.7 4.1 9.3 13.3 4.5 0.8 0.7 1.9 3.0 4.0 7.8 .513 0.0 0.0 .500 1.7 2.5 .665
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 -
Wes Unseld 2 43.5 9.0 3.5 10.5 14.0 3.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 7.0 .500 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 13

Michael Cooper Wes Unseld
Season -1980-81
Team -Washington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did 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 ------- --- ----------
Wes Unseld 63 32.3 8.0 3.3 7.4 10.7 2.7 0.8 0.6 1.5 2.7 3.6 6.8 .524 0.0 0.1 .500 0.9 1.4 .640
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Michael Cooper ------- --- ----------
Wes Unseld ------- --- ----------