Michael “Coop” Cooper, a key contributor to the successful Showtime Lakers era that secured five NBA championships, has been honored with induction into the prestigious NBA Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024.  During his playing days, Coop, as he was affectionately known by fans, dedicated his entire 12-year professional career to the Lakers. Alongside basketball icons such as Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, he played a pivotal role in winning five titles from 1979 to 1991. Recognized for his exceptional defensive skills, Cooper was selected eight times for the NBA All-Defensive team and received the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1987. His defensive prowess was so formidable that Larry Bird, a legendary basketball figure, once acknowledged Cooper as the most formidable defender he faced throughout his own career.

Throughout his tenure with the Lakers, Coop developed a distinctive on-court style, famously sporting knee-high socks. He maintained impressive statistics, averaging 8.9 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game.

 His shooting percentages were commendable, with a 47 percent success rate from the field and 34 percent from three-point range.

Following his retirement from playing, Cooper transitioned to coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the Lakers and the Nuggets, in addition to holding the position of head coach for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and Atlanta Dream. From 2009 to 2013, he also led the women‘s basketball team at USC as their head coach. Notable individuals joining Cooper in the NBA’s 2024 Hall of Fame class include Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Seimone Augustus, Bo Ryan, and others.

Jerry West, a revered Lakers legend, will achieve a remarkable feat by being inducted into the Hall of Fame for the third time. Already recognized for his playing career in 1979 and his contribution as an executive in 2010, West’s third induction acknowledges his extraordinary accomplishments in the realm of basketball. Specifically, it celebrates his involvement with the 1960 United States Olympics men‘s basketball team.