What Los Angeles Lakers did to honour retiring Michael Cooper

The Los Angeles Lakers honoured Michael Cooper on Monday night by retiring his No. 21 jersey in a heartfelt halftime ceremony during their game against the San Antonio Spurs. Cooper’s jersey now hangs in the rafters of the Lakers’ downtown arena, proudly displayed between Magic Johnson’s No. 32 and James Worthy’s No. 42, a fitting tribute to his pivotal role in the Showtime Lakers’ dominance during the 1980s.

The Lakers celebrated Cooper’s legacy by giving every fan in attendance a replica No. 21 jersey, making the night even more memorable. The event was the team’s first game since wildfires devastated parts of Los Angeles, including areas close to Cooper’s hometown of Pasadena.

Cooper, who spent his entire NBA career with the Lakers, was deeply moved by the honour. “This is so overwhelming to me because I never expected this at all,” the 68-year-old said. “Tonight is, to me, more special than the Hall of Fame — but both of them are equally important.”

The Lakers’ gesture comes just months after Cooper was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The franchise, which only retires the numbers of Hall of Famers, quickly announced its decision to add Cooper’s jersey to its wall of legends.

During the ceremony, Cooper was joined by his former Lakers coach Pat Riley and several teammates, including Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott, and Norm Nixon. Johnson, speaking at the event, called Cooper “one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.”

The night was emotional for Cooper, who reflected on the wildfires that had recently ravaged his childhood neighbourhood of Altadena. “It’s kind of a happy-sad moment for me,” he said. “Tonight I’m going to enjoy it, but with a heavy heart because so many people lost so many things.”

Michael Cooper, a five-time NBA champion, was celebrated not just for his contributions to the Lakers but also for his broader impact on basketball. Known for his defensive prowess, he was a five-time All-Defensive first-team selection and the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1987.

Cooper’s dedication to team success and his humility were evident as he reflected on his career. “Although I’ve always been on a team with a lot of megastars, sometimes I got overshadowed. But that didn’t bother me, because it was always about the body of work that we were putting together, and winning championships.”

The Lakers’ tribute solidified Cooper’s place among the franchise’s greats, ensuring his contributions to their storied history will never be forgotten.