Michael Cooper had a cool and composed response to learning that Michael Jordan was not happy about him winning the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year award. Cooper, who earned his reputation as one of the best perimeter defenders of his era, won the prestigious award while helping the Los Angeles Lakers secure another dominant season.
“You know what? If that was any other Michael I would say something but that’s MJ. That’s MJ. So I’m going to leave that alone. But you know what Mike was a force in his own but he’s more of like stealing.”
“He was a good on-ball defender but Mike would play that passing lanes and doing all that. Mike wasn’t a denier and he wasn’t all that. But s**t as great as he became on that offensive end he had to conserve some energy. I wasn’t a great offensive scorer so I had to use all my energy on the defensive end.”
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But, Jordan, who was rapidly emerging as the best player in the league, felt that the award should have gone to him instead. During a recent appearance on All The Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Cooper was read a quote from Jordan back in 1987, where the Bulls superstar criticized the way the league awarded defensive honors.
Cooper was taken aback by the comment, as he had never heard about it before. But rather than fire back at Jordan, the Lakers legend simply laughed it off. His respect for Jordan was evident in his response, but he also took the opportunity to break down the differences between their defensive styles. Cooper acknowledged that Jordan was a tremendous defender but pointed out that their approaches were distinct.
Cooper, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024, prided himself on his ability to lock down opposing perimeter threats. He was the Lakers’ designated stopper, often assigned to guard elite scorers such as Jordan, Larry Bird, and Dominique Wilkins. His ability to deny the ball and disrupt offenses played a crucial role in the Lakers’ success during the Showtime era.
Jordan, of course, used criticism and perceived slights as motivation throughout his career. The Last Dance documentary revealed how much he thrived on proving people wrong, and Cooper’s DPOY win in 1987 was likely another moment that fueled his competitive fire.
In the end, Cooper may have beaten Jordan for the award that year, but MJ’s career speaks for itself. He proved his defensive greatness the very next season, and by the early ’90s, he had solidified himself as the best two-way player in basketball. Still, for one season, Michael Cooper got the upper hand—and Jordan, true to form, didn’t forget it.
Statistically, Jordan had the edge in 1987, finishing second in the league in steals with 236 while also posting 125 blocks—an absurd number for a guard.
But, many at the time believed that some of Jordan’s defensive numbers were inflated by home scorekeepers. The following season, Jordan won the Defensive Player of the Year award after securing 259 steals and 131 blocks, proving that he was more than capable on the defensive end when he locked in.
Cooper, meanwhile, finished his 1987 DPOY campaign with 78 steals and 43 blocks, but his impact went beyond numbers. His defensive intensity and ability to make life miserable for opposing stars were key reasons why he earned the award. He was the kind of defender who thrived on shutting down the league’s best offensive players.
In the end, Cooper may have beaten Jordan for the award that year, but MJ’s career speaks for itself. He proved his defensive greatness the very next season, and by the early ’90s, he had solidified himself as the best two-way player in basketball. Still, for one season, Michael Cooper got the upper hand—and Jordan, true to form, didn’t forget it.
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