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Los Angeles Lakers: The all-time born in California team

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 28: Jamaal Wilkes #52 of the Los Angeles Lakers is honoured in a ceremony retiring his #52 during half time of a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 28, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 28: Jamaal Wilkes #52 of the Los Angeles Lakers is honoured in a ceremony retiring his #52 during half time of a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 28, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

SG: Michael Cooper

If you are a frequent reader here at Lake Show Life then you know that Michael Cooper is one of the most underrated players in Los Angeles Lakers history and we will take any opportunity we get to make sure that our readers know that.

Cooper was somewhat lost in the shuffle during the Showtime Lakers era and he did not have the flashy style of play that Magic Johnson and company had that would have made him appealing. Heck, Cooper was not even a starter on the team, as he started just 94 of his 873 career games with the Lakers.

He got starting minutes, though, averaging 27.1 minutes per game and he makes the starting lineup on this team. Cooper is not just one of the most overlooked players in Lakers’ history, but he is one of the greatest bench role players in league history.

Cooper provided elite defense off the bench for the Lakers and wound up with eight All-Defensive nods and even a Defensive Player of the Year honor. He was easily one of the best defensive players in the league during the 1980s.

Cooper is not going to need to score a lot on this California Lakers team, evident from his career 8.9 points per game. However, what he will do is provide elite defense.

Cooper was born in Los Angeles.

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