Lakers honor former Culver City high school coach Michael Cooper

Of all the Lakers retired jerseys hanging in the rafters at the Crypto.Com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, Michael Cooper's number 21, raised into Purple and Gold immortality last Monday night is the most improbable.

Coop, as he was affectionately known by his Laker teammates and Laker fans, overcame one obstacle after another in his life. With some of his former super star Laker teammates standing behind him on the court, the Los Angeles and Pasadena native watched his jersey being hung alongside 13 other retired numbers, knowing his journey was different.

Doctors said Cooper may never walk again after a childhood accident resulted in him receiving over 100 stitches and forced him to wear a metal knee brace for years.

Cooper persevered, becoming a Pasadena high school basketball star. After high school he did not take a direct path to college stardom. He enrolled in Pasadena City College before he became a standout player at the University of New Mexico. Still, he was an afterthought in the 1978 NBA draft, being selected with the 60th overall pick in the 3rd round by the Lakers.

He had no recognition. He wasn't a big-time scorer and he was stick thin. But Cooper worked to become an exceptional defender who became an 8-time All-Defensive member and the 1987 Defensive Player of the Year in the NBA. The great Boston Celtic player Larry Bird said Cooper was the toughest defender that he had ever faced in his career.

Cooper turned himself into a 3 and D player before there were 3 and D players. His famous Coop-a-Loop plays at the Forum in Inglewood enthralled Showtime Laker crowds. With his high knee socks and energetic demeanor, Cooper was a fan favorite.

He did every single little thing on both ends of the court to help the Lakers win. He spent all 12 of his NBA seasons in a Laker jersey and became a 5-time NBA Champion.

An improbable journey with a magical ending. Cooper's legacy is now cemented forever among the Laker greats.

Cooper was the head boys' basketball coach at Culver City High School during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. His son also attended Culver City middle school.