Former Los Angeles Lakers guard and Sparks coach Michael Cooper will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Sunday, culminating a career that saw the LA native win five NBA titles as a player, and two WNBA titles and one NBA G League title as a coach.
Legendary Lakers guard Jerry West, who died on June 12 at age 86, will also be inducted Sunday for third time. West, who was inducted as a player and as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, will become the first person inducted as both a player and a contributor.
Others being inducted in Springfield, Mass., Sunday include Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups and Walter Davis.
Sunday’s induction ceremonies will have a strong Los Angeles flavor, as legendary LA “Super Fans” Jack Nicholson and Billy Crystal will be added to the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery. The honor is given to those who have made a “profound impact on the game through their loyalty, passion, and dedication,” according to the organization.
“Well, I guess this means I’m not getting in as a player. Very grateful to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for this honor. I merely represent all devoted fans of the game we love,” Crystal said.
The 76-year-old Crystal is representing the Clippers, while Nicholson, 87, has long been known for his passionate love for the Lakers.
They will be joined in Sunday’s honor by New York Knicks fan and filmmaker Spike Lee and Alan Horwitz, a businessman and longtime supporter of the Philadelphia 76ers.
“We are excited to welcome Billy Crystal, Alan Horwitz, Spike Lee, and Jack Nicholson into our SuperFan family,” Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame President and CEO John Doleva said. “These individuals have not only been passionate fans but have also significantly contributed to the rich culture of basketball. Their unwavering dedication to the game and their ability to connect with fans make them truly deserving of this recognition.”
The 68-year-old Cooper played at Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College before attending New Mexico from 1976-78. He was drafted by the Lakers in the third round of 1978’s NBA draft and played his entire 12-year NBA career with the team.
The lanky Cooper was known for his tenacious defense, usually drawing the opponent’s toughest scorer. His battles with Boston Celtics’ star Larry Bird during the teams’ three meetings in the NBA Finals were particularly memorable, and Bird once said Cooper was the toughest defender he played against.
The 6-foot-7 inch Cooper was named to the NBA’s all-defensive first team five times, and won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award in 1987. He was also especially skilled at two features of the modern NBA game — the three-point shot and the alley-oop dunk.
After his playing days ended, Cooper became head coach of the Sparks in November 1999, and led the team to consecutive WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002.
He coached the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBA’s D-League from 2005-07, leading that team to a championship in 2006, and returned to coach the Sparks again from 2007-09. He was later head coach of the USC women’s basketball team and the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.