Michael Cooper Net Worth and Basketball Career
Michael Cooper, an American basketball coach and former professional player, boasts a net worth of $6 million. Born in Los Angeles, California in April 1956, Cooper's life in basketball has been nothing short of remarkable. Standing at 6'5" and playing both shooting guard and small forward positions, he started his basketball journey at Pasadena High School.
College Career
Cooper played college basketball at Pasadena Community College before transferring to New Mexico. During his tenure at New Mexico, he was an impressive two-time first-team All-WAC selection, showcasing his defensive and offensive prowess.
NBA Career
In the 1978 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Cooper as the 60th overall pick. He played for the Lakers from 1978 to 1990, a period during which he helped secure five NBA championships. Cooper's defensive skills earned him the title of NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. Furthermore, he was a five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection and a three-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection. He concluded his playing career with a season at Virtus Roma in 1990-1991.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Cooper transitioned into coaching, beginning with the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach. He later served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.
Los Angeles Sparks
Cooper was the head coach of the Sparks from 2000 to 2004 and then from 2007 to 2009, leading the team to remarkable success during his tenure.
Other Coaching Endeavors
He also had a stint as the interim head coach for the Denver Nuggets in 2004. From 2009 to 2013, Cooper coached the USC women's basketball team, followed by coaching the WNBA's Atlanta Dream from 2014 to 2017.
Recent Coaching Roles
In 2018, Cooper took on the role of head coach for the Big3 League team, 3's Company, demonstrating his ongoing commitment and influence in basketball.
