Michael Cooper vs. Yao Ming Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Yao Ming 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.
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 Yao Ming, who played 8. Michael Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Yao Ming had his rookie season in 2002-03. 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 |
| Yao Ming |
8 |
4 |
2002-03 to 2010-11 |
Comparison Season by Season |
|
Jump to season:
|
|
|
Rookie Season |
|
Michael Cooper |
Yao Ming |
| Season |
1978-79 | 2002-03 |
| Team |
Los Angeles Lakers | Houston Rockets |
| Honors & Awards |
- |  All-Rookie First Team |
| - | All-Star Game |
| Playoffs |
Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
- |
| difference: | +79 | +26.7 | +11.5 | +2.4 | +5.8 | +8.2 | +1.7 | +0.1 | +1.8 | -1.8 | -2.5 | +3.9 | +7.8 | +.002 | | | | +3.7 | +4.5 | |
| Yao Ming |
82 |
29.0 |
13.5 |
2.4 |
5.8 |
8.2 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
1.8 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
9.8 |
.498 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
3.7 |
4.5 |
.811 |
|
| Playoffs Stats |
| * Neiher Michael Cooper nor Yao Ming played in the postseason in their season 1 |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | | +8.7 | +8.7 | +1.2 | +5.0 | +6.2 | +1.2 | +0.7 | +1.4 | -0.8 | -0.7 | +2.8 | +5.5 | +.002 | +0.1 | +0.2 | | +3.0 | +3.7 | +.033 |
| Yao Ming |
82 |
32.8 |
17.5 |
2.4 |
6.6 |
9.0 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
1.9 |
2.5 |
3.3 |
6.5 |
12.5 |
.522 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.4 |
5.4 |
.809 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +11 | +8.6 | +5.9 | +0.4 | +3.3 | +3.7 | +1.8 | +1.1 | +0.7 | -0.8 | -0.6 | +2.6 | +4.8 | +.049 | | +0.1 | | +0.7 | +1.1 | +.096 |
| Yao Ming |
5 |
37.6 |
15.0 |
2.2 |
5.2 |
7.4 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
4.0 |
6.2 |
13.6 |
.456 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
2.6 |
3.4 |
.765 |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +1 | +1.8 | +8.9 | +1.1 | +3.1 | +4.3 | +3.3 | +1.2 | +1.0 | -0.5 | -0.6 | +2.7 | +4.1 | +.061 | | +0.2 | | +3.5 | +4.4 | +.002 |
| Yao Ming |
80 |
30.6 |
18.3 |
2.6 |
5.8 |
8.4 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.7 |
6.7 |
12.2 |
.552 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.9 |
6.2 |
.783 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +4 | +2.1 | +10.7 | +2.6 | +1.7 | +4.4 | +1.6 | +1.7 | +2.7 | -0.4 | -2.1 | +4.2 | +5.3 | +.105 | | +1.0 | | +2.4 | +3.2 | +.013 |
| Yao Ming |
7 |
31.9 |
21.4 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
7.7 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
4.4 |
7.9 |
12.0 |
.655 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.7 |
7.9 |
.727 |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +19 | +5.3 | +10.4 | +1.5 | +5.2 | +6.7 | +1.5 | +1.1 | +0.8 | -0.6 | -0.6 | +3.2 | +6.0 | +.002 | | +0.2 | | +4.1 | +4.6 | +.040 |
| Yao Ming |
57 |
34.2 |
22.3 |
2.6 |
7.6 |
10.2 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
1.6 |
2.6 |
3.4 |
8.2 |
15.8 |
.519 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.9 |
6.9 |
.853 |
|
| 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 |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +34 | +7.6 | +17.2 | +1.1 | +5.0 | +6.1 | +1.8 | +1.0 | +1.4 | -1.9 | -0.8 | +5.6 | +11.0 | +.019 | +0.1 | +0.3 | | +6.2 | +7.0 | +.077 |
| Yao Ming |
48 |
33.8 |
25.0 |
2.1 |
7.3 |
9.4 |
2.0 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
8.8 |
17.1 |
.516 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
7.4 |
8.6 |
.862 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +8 | +6.9 | +15.7 | +2.5 | +3.9 | +6.4 | +2.0 | +1.6 | +0.3 | -3.4 | -0.3 | +4.4 | +10.3 | +.025 | +0.1 | +0.5 | | +7.1 | +8.0 | +.051 |
| Yao Ming |
7 |
37.1 |
25.1 |
3.3 |
7.0 |
10.3 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
7.9 |
17.9 |
.440 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
9.4 |
10.7 |
.880 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +27 | +8.1 | +13.0 | +2.5 | +5.2 | +7.6 | +3.6 | +0.9 | +1.2 | -1.5 | -0.2 | +4.6 | +8.8 | +.010 | +0.5 | +1.5 | | +4.4 | +5.1 | +.012 |
| Yao Ming |
55 |
37.2 |
22.0 |
3.1 |
7.7 |
10.8 |
2.3 |
0.5 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
7.9 |
15.5 |
.507 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
6.3 |
7.4 |
.850 |
|
| 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 |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +5 | +6.9 | +11.1 | +1.9 | +4.8 | +6.8 | +3.4 | +0.7 | +1.3 | -1.1 | -0.8 | +4.0 | +6.2 | +.083 | +0.4 | +1.5 | | +3.5 | +4.1 | +.001 |
| Yao Ming |
77 |
33.6 |
19.7 |
2.6 |
7.2 |
9.9 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
7.4 |
13.4 |
.548 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.9 |
5.7 |
.866 |
|
| 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 |
| difference: | +10 | +9.5 | +6.7 | +1.5 | +5.4 | +6.9 | +3.9 | +0.7 | +0.7 | | -0.6 | +2.3 | +4.4 | +.018 | +0.4 | +1.4 | | +2.6 | +3.0 | +.021 |
| Yao Ming |
9 |
35.9 |
17.1 |
2.1 |
8.8 |
10.9 |
1.0 |
0.4 |
1.2 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
6.0 |
11.0 |
.545 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.1 |
5.7 |
.902 |
Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| 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 |
| difference: | +77 | +9.5 | +1.0 | +0.9 | +1.6 | +2.4 | +4.9 | +1.1 | +1.1 | -0.4 | -0.3 | +0.3 | | +.034 | +0.8 | +2.0 | | +1.2 | +1.1 | +.073 |
| Yao Ming |
5 |
18.2 |
10.2 |
1.4 |
4.0 |
5.4 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
7.4 |
.486 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
3.0 |
3.2 |
.938 |
|
| 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 |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Additional Years |
* Michael Cooper played 4 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 12, from 1987 to 1990—Michael Cooper played in 4 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships. In those 4 extra years over Yao Ming, Michael Cooper got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards | 2 All-Defensive First Team
1 Defensive Player of the Year
|
NBA Champion