Michael Jerome Cooper, nicknamed "Coop," is an American basketball coach and former professional player who spent his entire National Basketball Association (NBA) playing career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Born in 1956, Cooper became a defensive anchor for the Lakers during their famous "Showtime" era in the 1980s. Over his career, he helped the franchise secure five NBA championships and earned a reputation as one of the league's premier defenders. He was selected to the NBA All-Defensive Team eight times, including five first-team selections, and was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. His contributions to the sport were cemented with his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2024, followed by the retirement of his No. 21 jersey by the Lakers in 2025.
Following his retirement as a player, Cooper transitioned into a highly successful coaching career across various professional and developmental leagues. He led the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) to two consecutive championships and guided the Albuquerque Thunderbirds to an NBA G League title. His coaching journey also included tenures in the NBA, the NBA Development League, and high school basketball at Culver City High School. In the mid-2020s, Cooper joined the men's basketball program at California State University, Los Angeles, serving first as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach of the Golden Eagles in 2026.
