Nickeil Alexander-Walker vs. Michael Cooper Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Michael Cooper and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 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.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker played 6 years in the NBA, 6 less than Michael Cooper, who played 12. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had the first of his seasons in 2019-20, while Michael Cooper had his rookie season in 1978-79. 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
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 6 4 2019-20 to 2024-25
Michael Cooper 12 11 1978-79 to 1989-90

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6

Rookie Season
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Michael Cooper
Season 2019-201978-79
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
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%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 47 12.6 5.7 0.2 1.6 1.8 1.9 0.4 0.2 1.1 1.2 2.1 5.7 .368 1.0 2.8 .346 0.5 0.8 .676
difference:+44+10.3+3.7+0.2+1.6+1.8+1.9+0.1+0.2-0.8-0.9+1.1+3.7+.132+0.5+0.8
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 -
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Nickeil Alexander-Walker nor Michael Cooper played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Michael Cooper
Season 2020-211979-80
Team New Orleans PelicansLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 46 21.9 11.0 0.3 2.8 3.1 2.2 1.0 0.5 1.5 1.9 4.2 10.0 .419 1.7 4.8 .347 1.0 1.4 .727
difference:+36+2.2+2.2+0.9+1.2+0.3+0.5-0.2-0.7+0.5+3.0+.105+1.6+4.6+.097+0.4+0.3+.049
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 3
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Michael Cooper
Season 2021-221980-81
Team New Orleans Pelicans, Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Jazz Lost West Conf 1st RdLakers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 65 22.6 10.6 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.4 0.7 0.4 1.4 1.6 3.9 10.5 .372 1.6 5.2 .311 1.2 1.7 .743
difference:+16+9.8+1.2+0.9+0.4+1.2+1.7+0.9+0.6-0.6-1.5+0.1+2.4+.119+1.6+5.0+.100+0.2+0.1+.042
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 1 5.0 5.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.000 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
difference:+2+29.0+5.7+0.7+1.7+2.3+1.3+1.0-2.3-2.3+1.7+4.7+.450+1.0+2.3+3.7+.286
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

Season 4
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Michael Cooper
Season 2022-231981-82
Team Utah Jazz, Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 59 15.0 6.2 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.8 0.5 0.4 0.9 1.5 2.2 5.0 .444 1.0 2.7 .384 0.7 1.0 .667
difference:+17+13.9+5.7+0.8+0.9+1.8+1.2+1.1+0.4-1.1-1.3+2.8+4.8+.073+1.0+2.5+.266+1.1+1.3+.146
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 5 29.6 8.4 0.2 1.8 2.0 1.4 0.6 0.2 0.8 1.8 3.0 7.0 .429 2.0 5.0 .400 0.4 0.6 .667
difference:+9+2.2+3.5+1.2+1.2+2.4+3.0+1.1+0.6-1.3-1.6+2.0+1.9+.136+1.9+4.9+.100+1.4+1.8+.068
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

Season 5
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Michael Cooper
Season 2023-241982-83
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 82 23.4 8.0 0.4 1.6 2.0 2.5 0.8 0.5 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.6 .439 1.6 4.1 .391 0.6 0.8 .800
difference:+2.8+0.2+0.6+0.7+1.3+1.3+0.6+0.1-0.7-0.8+0.3+0.5+.096+1.5+3.8+.153+0.6+0.8+.015
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 16 23.6 7.3 0.3 1.4 1.8 2.3 0.6 0.4 0.9 1.5 2.6 7.0 .366 1.5 5.1 .296 0.6 0.6 1.000
difference:+1+6.6+2.1+0.5+1.7+2.1+0.6+1.1-0.4-2.1+0.9+0.6+.099+1.4+4.6+.153+1.7+2.1+.171
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

Season 6
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Michael Cooper
Season 2024-251983-84
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsLakers Lost NBA 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%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 82 25.3 9.4 0.7 2.6 3.2 2.7 0.6 0.4 1.2 1.7 3.3 7.5 .438 1.7 4.5 .381 1.1 1.4 .780
difference:+3.8+0.4+0.1+0.1+3.2+0.8+0.4-0.6-1.6+0.8+.059+1.2+3.0+.067+0.8+0.9+.058
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Nickeil Alexander-Walker 15 20.7 8.3 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.3 0.4 0.3 1.5 1.6 2.9 7.5 .389 1.5 4.2 .349 1.0 1.1 .882
difference:+6+13.7+3.0+0.5+1.7+2.1+3.4+0.7+0.7-0.1-2.2+1.3+1.6+.072+0.9+2.5+.016+1.4+1.9+.076
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

Additional Years

* Michael Cooper played 6 seasons more than Nickeil Alexander-Walker in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 7 to 12, from 1985 to 1990—Michael Cooper played in 6 Playoffs and won 3 NBA Championships.

In those 6 extra years over Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Michael Cooper got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 3 All-Defensive First Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 1 Defensive Player of the Year
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