Michael Cooper’s No. 21 joined the hall of fame of Lakers legends, taking its place between Magic Johnson’s No. 32 and James Worthy’s No. 42. For a player who made his career as a defensive stalwart and team-first glue guy, the moment was both humbling and overwhelming.
The Los Angeles Lakers honored one of their unsung heroes, raising Michael Cooper’s No. 21 jersey to the rafters at Crypto.com Arena. A key figure in the Showtime era, Cooper finally took center stage, receiving the recognition he so often deferred to his more celebrated teammates.
“This is so overwhelming to me, because I never expected this at all,” said Cooper, now 68, with a mix of joy and disbelief. “I always played for the love of the game, the team, and winning championships. Tonight is, to me, more special than the Hall of Fame — but both of them are equally important.”
Cooper’s contributions during the Lakers’ dominance in the 1980s cannot be overstated. While the spotlight often shone on superstars like Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, it was Cooper’s tenacious defense and timely shooting that solidified five championship runs. A five-time All-Defensive First Team selection and the 1987 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Cooper embodied the grit behind the Showtime glamour.
The ceremony was made even more poignant by recent events in Los Angeles, as wildfires ravaged areas close to Cooper’s Pasadena roots. Fans in the packed arena honored him with resounding ovations and chants of “Cooooooop,” but the devastation weighed heavy on the night’s festivities.
“It’s kind of a happy-sad moment for me,” Cooper admitted. “A lot of the landmarks, a couple of the middle schools I went to, those are all gone now. Tonight I’m going to enjoy it, but with a heavy heart because so many people lost so many things.”
The celebration was a reunion of Lakers greats, with Pat Riley, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and others in attendance to salute their former teammate. Johnson took the microphone first, calling Cooper “one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball,” a sentiment echoed by the thunderous applause.
Cooper’s legacy extends beyond his playing career. After leaving the Lakers, he led the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks to two championships, further cementing his impact on the game.
