LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: Michael Cooper Jr. speaks during a ceremony celebrating his induction into the basketball hall of fame at halftime of a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena on April 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
NBA LIVE: Michael Cooper officially jump into the main court” after magic Johnson’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & James worthy publicly opened the dream big Gate” after 1986–1987 monster action’ inspiration for young lads…..
Some of the best basketball players in history have played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the Showtime era. This dynasty was led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, with James Worthy taking up much of the slack towards the end of the period. Michael Cooper, though, was one of that team’s less talked-about members.
Cooper was the Showtime era’s rock on defense. He spent his whole 12-year NBA career playing with the Lakers. During that period, he was named to eight NBA Defensive teams and took home the 1986–1987 Defensive Player of the Year title. His admission into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is his ultimate prize for his contributions to the Showtime dynasty’s five championship victories.
Cooper has more than earned his place in the Hall of Fame. Further demonstrating his significance to one of the greatest sports dynasties are the several players and coaches he worked with, such as Worthy, Johnson, and Abdul-Jabbar, who are assisting in the enshrinement ceremony:
Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Worthy are the headliners of this induction, alongside one of the greatest basketball minds of all time in Pat Riley and another all-time great player in Lisa Leslie. All of these five people have incredible personal and professional relationships with Cooper and is arguably a perfect group to enshrine him.
Cooper is one of the last people of the Showtime Lakers era to get this honor despite being involved heavily in all five championships. But it’s better late than never for one of the best perimeter defenders the game of basketball has ever seen, and he will also get his No. 21 jersey retired this season as a result.
Jeanie Buss discusses how Lakers can silence doubters
The Lakers have been the subject of a lot of criticism this offseason, and rightfully so as they did not make any changes to their roster coming off a first-round postseason loss.
It’s no secret that the clock is ticking on the LeBron James and Anthony Davis era, and if the Lakers are gonna compete for more championships then they will need to give them more help. L.A. is coming off back-to-back playoff losses to the Denver Nuggets after fighting their way through the Play-In Tournament.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is aware that there is only one way to silence those naysayers, and that is through their performance on the court this season.
