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The 25 Greatest Sixth Men Of All Time

By Carter Johnson

Oct 28, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili (20) reacts after a shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 101-100. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs shooting guard Manu Ginobili (20) reacts after a shot against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at AT&T Center. The Spurs won 101-100. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /
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SEATTLE, WA – CIRCA 1983: Michael Cooper #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers puts the pressure on Phil Smith #20 of the Seattle Super Sonics during an NBA basketball game circa 1983 at the King County Domed Stadium in Seattle Washington. Cooper played for the Lakers from 1978-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – CIRCA 1983: Michael Cooper #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers puts the pressure on Phil Smith #20 of the Seattle Super Sonics during an NBA basketball game circa 1983 at the King County Domed Stadium in Seattle Washington. Cooper played for the Lakers from 1978-90. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

5. Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Lakers

8.8 PPG, 1.2 SPG, 0.6 BPG in 9 seasons as 6th Man

Accolades: 1X Defensive Player of the Year (1986-87), 5X All NBA Defensive First Team (1981-82, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1987-88 and 1988-89), 2X All-Defensive Second Team (1982-83, 1985-86), 4X NBA Champion (1982, 1985, 1987-88)

Michael Cooper is a unique sixth man.

Most teams seek a player with the ability to create and provide instant offense or at least facilitate the second unit to fill the role. Michael Cooper was not that kind of sixth man.

On a list chock full of scorers, Cooper gets into the top five because of his impact on the other end of the court.

As a 6’5″ guard with a wiry 170-pound frame and the ability to guard all three perimeter positions, Cooper served as the primary defensive stalwart on a Showtime team known for its fast paced, exhilarating offense.

Despite his thin stature, he was known to aggravate opponents with his physical nature and was the original chase-down blocker, fervently swatting would-be layups on fast breaks.

Coop was often called upon to defend the opponents’ best wing player, which was a tall task in an decade where the Lakers met Hall of Famers Julius Erving and Larry Bird in multiple NBA Finals. However, the seven time All-NBA defender always rose to the challenge — so much so that Bird deemed Cooper the best defender he’d ever faced in his career.

As respected of a defender he was, Coop was no slouch on the offensive end, either.

Cooper’s high-flying athleticism made him a fan favorite as he would often connect with Magic Johnson on an alley-oop play known as the “Coop-a-loop.” In addition, he often stepped up as a scoring threat for the team in the playoffs, averaging 10.4 points a game and shooting 42.4 percent from three in the team’s four championship runs during his sixth man tenure.

Though often unheralded, Michael Cooper deserves recognition as an important figure for the Showtime Lakers and as one of the best defenders of all time.

Next: Mr. Nice Guy