Former Lobo Michael Cooper's '21' to hang in rafters with Laker legends
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Though he wore No. 22 when he starred for the UNM Lobos, Michael Cooper was known to the most of the basketball world as the Los Angeles Laker defensive stopper and world champion who donned No. 21.
The recently named Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer will have that No. 21 jersey retired this coming season by the Los Angeles, the team has announced.
The Lakers have set a jersey retirement ceremony for Cooper for Jan. 13.
5x Champion. Defensive specialist. Showtime Coooooop.
鈥� Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers)
1/13/25 - We raise Michael Cooper鈥檚 jersey into the rafters amongst the Laker greats.
While starring in the 1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons for Norm Ellenberger鈥檚 UNM Lobo teams, Cooper was a two-time All-WAC selection and in 1978 he was an All-America pick after averaging 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
Alongside scoring machine Marvin 鈥淎utomatic鈥� Johnson, who ironically wore No. 21 at UNM, the Lobos won the 1978 WAC Championship and the duo is considered one of the best 1-2 punches in UNM men鈥檚 basketball history.
Cooper, now 68, was a third-round selection (No. 60 overall) of the Lakers in 1978. He played a key role on both ends of the floor for the Los Angeles dynasty of the 1980s, though he primarily was known for defending the other team鈥檚 top scorer. He played for the Lakers for 11 seasons, won five NBA championships, was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, won Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and finished his professional career with more than 1,000 steals and more than 500 blocks.
He later coached the WNBA鈥檚 Los Angeles Sparks, the USC women鈥檚 basketball team and the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA D-League (now the G-League) for three seasons including the team鈥檚 2006 championship.
