While it was supposed to take place in August, the Hall of Fame ceremony for the 2024 class will finally be held on October 13, in Springfield, Massachusetts. It will be an opportunity to celebrate Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Dick Barnett, Seimone Augustus but also Michael Cooperwho has been waiting his turn for a long time.
Among the best defenders of his generation, and even of history, the five-time champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988) with the “Showtime” Lakers is thus rewarded. To the great delight of his former teammate, Kareem Abdul-Jabbarwho had one word in mind when he learned of the induction of “Coop”.
“Finally. He did a lot of things for us, at crucial moments. He was always ready when we needed him. He was our defensive specialist.” thus recalls “KAJ”. “I remember the crocodile fight I was in with Darryl Dawkins. One time, Darryl goes up to the circle and I go up with him. And we bump into Michael Cooper. His head. He had come there to help.”
Among the two best defenders in history?
For the legendary center, who will serve as Michael Cooper’s godfather at the Hall of Fame ceremony, along with Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Pat Riley and Lisa Leslie, it represents his former teammate well.
“Cooper was willing to do anything, anywhere on the court. Sometimes he would come off the bench and make a couple 3-pointers, especially when we needed it. Whatever we needed, he tried to give it to us. So I’m happy he gets this recognition. He deserves it.”
Retired in 1991, Michael Cooper had to wait, despite the titles, the DPOY trophy in 1987, and the multiple selections in the All-Defensive Teams (five in the first and three in the second). Because defensive specialists take a back seat, especially when Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are there.
“I would put him among the two best defenders in history” concludes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about the one that Larry Bird had admitted was his most difficult defensive duel. I didn’t see KC Jones very often. But they used to play games in the second half at Madison Square Garden. And KC would take Jerry West out of the game. Jerry couldn’t do much offensively because KC was on him. There’s a few guys like that. I’m not going to be able to remember them all. But I’m sure KC will be on everybody’s list, at or near the top, because of what he did consistently. When Dave Bing was a rookie, KC would take him out of the game, too. Those are guys that guys have a lot of respect for.”
