OT: Michael Cooper HOF?

[Huskybass]

Michael Cooper was a First Team All American in 1978, won 5 NBA titles with the Lakers, was a 5 time All NBA Defensive First Team member and won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. I hope he gets in. Seems like a no brainier.

 

[Fishy]

I think he's a seriously long shot here, but I feel like he should be in.

He's in just a weird spot - ultimate team guy who sacrificed his own stats for the team which is used against him. Great defender - great.

You forget that he also coached the Sparks to two WNBA titles.

 

[Griffman]

Not just one of the best on ball defenders but I would vote him in alone for his knee-high trademark socks!!

 

[uconngb]

Michael Cooper was a First Team All American in 1978, won 5 NBA titles with the Lakers, was a 5 time All NBA Defensive First Team member and won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. I hope he gets in. Seems like a no brainier.

I say no. He was on some great teams, but I think those teams could have won without him. I actually don't think it's close. Great defensive player, but all-time great NBAer? Not to me.

 

[Fishy]

I say no. He was on some great teams, but I think those teams could have won without him.

But they didn't.

 

[Huskybass]

But they didn't.

Larry Bird said Coop was the best defender he ever faced. That had to play an important role in those 5 Championships.

 

[Fishy]

Larry Bird said Coop was the best defender he ever faced. That had to play an important role in those 5 Championships.

Exactly.

But I would agree that there will be people on both sides with good arguments. If there is a good argument for a guy and a good argument against a guy, I would always be for the argument in favor.

It's sports, not anything important.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I can see putting him as a coach for the two WNBA championships. It's the basketball HoF not the NBA HoF. Putting him in as a player? Pass. And I loved the knee high socks and Coop A Loop dunks from Magic.

He had two seasons where he averaged double digits points. As a great defender, his high in steals is 1.6 spg and that was twice. For his career he averaged 1.2 spg. He got one Defensive POY award. Not enough on the defensive side to get him in HoF.

Michael Cooper Stats | Basketball-Reference.com (basketball-reference.com)

 

[uconngb]

But they didn't.

I said they could have. Of course, we will never know. We'll also never know if they could have won without their team doctor, their cheerleaders, their announcers, etc. Point being, he was not close to being the most important person on a great, all-time team. Nor the 2nd, nor the 3rd. Not taking away his greatness as a defender, just not sure he would be HOF worthy if he was on just an ok team. Am saying I don't think HE made the team great.

 

[donyell34]

Had too dig into my memory bank too fully appreciate his play. Great defender but imo Close but no.

 

[Dove]

Put him in. Deserving.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

He had a 5-6 year stretch where je may have been the best wing defender in the game. He won 5 rings as a player and 2 as a coach (as stated above). His overall resume is better than Reggie Miller's in my opinion.

I also think Rip should get in based on his College and Pro career. He was the best player on a national championship team, and the second best scorer for an NBA champion. Though, i can understand if he doesn't make it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Michael Cooper was a First Team All American in 1978, won 5 NBA titles with the Lakers, was a 5 time All NBA Defensive First Team member and won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. I hope he gets in. Seems like a no brainier.

No. I was a showtime Lakers fan. That was my team. Still think he’s just outside the HOF. He was basically a role player, never a star. Sure he won titles, but I think Magic, Kareem, Worthy and even Byron Scott were the keys to those.

 

[Chin Diesel]

He had a 5-6 year stretch where je may have been the best wing defender in the game. He won 5 rings as a player and 2 as a coach (as stated above). His overall resume is better than Reggie Miller's in my opinion.

I also think Rip should get in based on his College and Pro career. He was the best player on a national championship team, and the second best scorer for an NBA champion. Though, i can understand if he doesn't make it.

I agree on RIP. It's Basketball HoF. He was a McD's AA, NCAA Champ, FF MOP, 1st Team AA and was best player on a NBA championship team.

Sustained excellence at all 3 levels of competitive basketball.

 

[RichZ]

No. I was a showtime Lakers fan. That was my team. Still think he’s just outside the HOF. He was basically a role player, never a star. Sure he won titles, but I think Magic, Kareem, Worthy and even Byron Scott were the keys to those.

maybe I value defense more than the average fan, but Cooper would be in way before Byron
Scott in my book.

 

[TyroneShoo]

No..

 

[Deepster]

I'm going to be loose on the details, here, but I remember reading an article about the Celtics/Lakers rivalry once. Coop covered Bird, shut him down and the Lakers won the title. Bird worked all offseason on his left hand because he saw that Cooper knew that was a weakness and exploited it.

Next season, Bird got the better of Cooper and the left hand was a big part of that. Celts won the title. Cooper went on a family vacation after the finals with his family and spent the entire vacation in his hotel watching tape of how Bird beat him.

That type of stuff simply doesn't happen anymore. I know that makes me sound like "Okay Boomer" guy but it's true.

 

[TyroneShoo]

Neither are hall of Famers.....good players on successful teams but that’s it.

 

[Deepster]

Cooper reminds me of Bobby Jones from the Sixers. Defensive specialist. Glue guy. Made the team better in all the ways that a box score doesn't really capture. Not one of the best overall players in their generation though.

 

[Dove]

He's no Paige Bueckers.

 

[Scoe]

The Hall of very good, thats what the name should be changed too. All time great glue guy extremely underrated and not talked about enough but HOF? It opens up pandoras box where do you draw the line? Now if Cooper gets in then shouldn't Rip, Caron, Cliff, Kemba right now. Being part of a dynasty type of team holds a lot of weight if the Pistons win it all in 2005 Rip is probably a shoe in for the HOF.

Those Lakers teams would probably have a title or 2 without him but definitely not 5 or back to back titles. Will be happy for him if he gets in but to answer the question of is he a HOF no. Next time I drive up to Springfield I will say wanna go to the basketball Hall of very good.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

If Grant Hill made the Hall, why not Rip or Cooper? Media hype aside, both had better pro careers, and Rip's college career wasn't far off.

 

[Scoe]

If Grant Hill made the Hall, why not Rip or Cooper? Media hype aside, both had better pro careers, and Rip's college career wasn't far off.

I disagree about Rip and Coop having better pro careers then Grant Hill but I hope it happens because it helps Rips case of getting in. If we go there then you make an argument for Cliff getting in, then Caron and Kemba already. From a homer perspective I hope it happens.

 

[superjohn]

Raymond Lewis scored 56 points on Michael Cooper through three quarters in the pro summer league.

 

[ZenConn]

Watched him play and was a very good defender. He wasn't an all-time great player and didn't change the game enough to warrant induction. But the Hall of Fame across all sports are watered down so yes.