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Michael Cooper: When the guru of defense knocks on the door of the Hall of Fame
The picture comes from the Internet
The doors of the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame are about to open, and five people who have made outstanding contributions to basketball will join hands to enter this hall of glory: Vince Carter, the "demigod" who integrated the aesthetics of violence into dunking; Chauncey Billups, the strategic course commander; Walter Davis, Suns' all-time leading scorer; As well as two legends in the field of coaching, NCAA champion coach Marianne · Washington and WNBA legendary coach George Lavelly, there is one name on the star-studded list, Michael Cooper, the hero behind the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty
Cooper's selection is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples, compared to the dazzling personal data and accolades of several other inductees, Cooper's career seems a little "bleak", he is not a super scorer on the court, he averages only 8.9 points per game in his career, and has never even been selected to the All-Star team, so what makes him a member of the Hall of Fame and stand shoulder to shoulder with those star-studded names?
Time back to the eighties and nineties of the last century, when the NBA stage was full of stars, the Los Angeles Lakers in the "Showtime" era were undoubtedly the most eye-catching focus, Magic Johnson's gorgeous pass, Abdul-Jabbar's "Sky Hook" was unstoppable, Worthy's fast offensive was unstoppable, they set off waves of frenzy on the offensive end, and dedicated countless classic games to fans
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Few people notice that behind the Lakers' gorgeous offensive performance, there is a defensive guru who uses tough defense and never give up to work for the team's victory, and he is Michael Cooper
Cooper's physical condition is not outstanding, only 1.96 meters tall, he is not dominant in the NBA arena, but he makes up for his physical shortcomings with diligence and hard work, he studies every movement of the opponent, every habit, and based on this to develop a targeted defensive strategy, he is like an airtight net, tightly blocking the opponent's offensive arrows
"He's the best defender I've ever met," Magic Johnson once said of Cooper, "He can defend anywhere on the court, from point guard to center, he can keep opponents at bay"
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The Magic's assessment is also reflected in Cooper's defensive stats, as he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team five times, the All-Defensive Second Team three-time All-Defensive Team, and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, and was the cornerstone of the Lakers dynasty, which won the team five championships
"Defense wins the championship", this famous saying on the basketball court, is best reflected in Cooper, who proved with practical actions that even if there are no gorgeous statistics and dazzling honors, even if it is just an obscure defensive giant, it can win the final victory for the team and leave a strong mark in basketball history
Cooper's selection has also triggered people's thinking about the selection criteria for the Hall of Fame, data and honors are important, but basketball games are not just a pile of data and honors, those players who quietly dedicate themselves to the team, stand up at critical moments, and give everything for victory are also worthy of being remembered and should also have a place in the Basketball Hall of Fame
The picture comes from the Internet
Cooper's selection is an affirmation of all unknown basketball heroes, and it is also the best interpretation of the spirit of basketball, his story tells us that even if there is no talent, even if there is no attention, as long as you have the love of basketball and have the fighting spirit of never giving up, you can create your own glory on the court and win the respect of everyone
Cooper's selection also sets an example for young people who are chasing their dreams on the road of basketball, basketball, not only scoring, not only individual performances, but more importantly, teamwork, fighting spirit, and the belief of never giving up
As Cooper said when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame: "It's not an honor for me alone, it's an honor for all those who have worked hard for basketball."
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