Showtime Podcast with Michael Cooper - 5x NBA Lakers Champion

Legendary Lakers swingman, "Coop," lends his view on today’s NBA game in comparison to how basketball was played in the 1980s. From lighthearted comments to serious analytics he and a co-host Nick Gelso as well as guests including Showtime Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Byron Scott, will discuss current basketball games both from a player and a coaches perspective. Known for his defensive skills, highlight dunks and tenacious defense, Coop will break down the do's and don’ts of the game of basketball. Coop shares a ‘view from the bench’ with intimate stories from the Laker days and from the WNBA, D-league and the Big 3 as a head coach. On occasion current events in and around the sports world will also be covered e.g. behaviors off and on the court, the business of sports, travel youth ball, high school ball and his experience as a coach in the Big3. As the only person to win a championship, as either a coach or a player, in the NBA, WNBA, and the NBA D-League, Coop’s positive outlook on life and infectious personality is sure to provide unique and humorous insights as a podcaster. Topics: Basketball, Showtime, Coop 5’Ds, Student-athletes/Education, Attitude/Motivation, Success/Failure, Teamwork/Teambuilding, Black in America/Race, Spirituality/Purpose, Giving Back and Overcoming Challenges (cancer, Injuries, divorce, Bankruptcy etc.)

  1. 2D AGO

    Michael Cooper's TOUGHEST NBA Opponents

    In the world of basketball, defense is just as important as offense. And when it comes to locking down the opposing team's top scorers, few players in NBA history can match the skills of 5x champion as a key member of the Showtime Lakers and 1987 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Cooper. In this video, Coop takes us on a deep dive into his top five defensive assignments. From guarding the likes of Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas, to shutting down George Gervin and Alex English, Cooper proved time and time again that he was one of the best defenders to ever step onto the court. But what made Cooper so special? It wasn't just his quick hands or his ability to read the offense. It was his commitment to studying his opponents and understanding their tendencies. Cooper knew that defense was about more than just stopping a player from scoring - it was about disrupting their rhythm, throwing them off their game, and forcing them to make mistakes. Throughout this video, he breaks down each of defensive assignment and provides insights into his techniques, strategies, and mindset. We'll see how he used his length and agility to frustrate top scorers in the 1980’s NBA. So if you're ready to go inside the mind of an NBA defensive legend, join in and explore Michael Cooper's top five defensive assignments in NBA history. You won't be disappointed! Showtime w/ Coop on CLNS is Powered by:  💰 Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS 📲Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min
  2. FEB 20

    The Insane Story Behind the Coaches of Showtime

    Coop and Ari Temkin discuss the 1980 season, Magic's rookie year, and the loss of the father of Showtime Jack McKinney to a head injury that saw Paul Westhead become the coach. The story of how the Lakers found Pat Riley is crazy with twists and turns along the way. Pat Riley is synonymous with Showtime, but he wasn't meant to be Showtime's coach at first! 0:00 - 1:32 - Intro 1:33 - 5:52 - The 1979 Lakers and the coaching situation they were dealing with, how an injury kept Coop in Los Angeles his rookie season, sharing the court with Magic in summer league 5:53 - 8:12 - Jack McKinney as the Lakers head coach 8:13 - 12:34 - How McKinney, not Pat Riley, acted as the father of the Showtime Lakers and heavily influenced the way they played, McKinney’s bike accident and how it affected the Lakers 12:35 - 14:21 - The Lakers locker room reaction to Paul Westhead being named the new coach in place of McKinney following the accident 14:22 - 16:50 - Playing Philadelphia during the 1980 NBA Finals, Spencer Haywood’s dismissal from the team during the Finals 16:51 - 22:08 - The factors that aligned against the Lakers in the 1980 NBA season and how they had to battle to overcome the obstacles, Kareem’s sprained ankle in the Finals, Magic’s emergence as a leader for the team 22:09 - 24:02 - Magic taking his play to the next level after Kareem’s injury 24:03 - 26:49 - How the coaching style of Paul Westhead changed after the Lakers won the 1980 NBA Finals 26:50 - 28:51 - What was the issue with Westhead and what made the 1981 season so difficult for the Lakers? 28:52 - 33:15 - Pat Riley becoming Westhead’s assistant and the struggles for the Lakers in 1983 33:16 - 35:33 - The firing of Paul Westhead and what actually happened form Coop’s perspective 35:34 - 37:06 - How Magic needed to be free to play through his feel and Westhead affected that from happening 37:07 - 38:16 - Coop’s impressions of Pat Riley before he became the head coach of the Lakers 38:17 - 39:24 - How did Riley change from being the assistant coach to the head coach 39:25 - 44:38 - How did the offense and scheme change when Riley took over the head coaching role for Westhead, what was Riley best at as a head coach 44:39 - 50:07 - Do the Lakers still win five championships if Jack McKinney is the head coach the entire time? Plus some more on Riley’s greatness as a head coach 50:08 - 50:22 - Outro Showtime with Coop is Powered by:  💰 Prize Picks - https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS 📲Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    56 min

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
81 Ratings

About

Legendary Lakers swingman, "Coop," lends his view on today’s NBA game in comparison to how basketball was played in the 1980s. From lighthearted comments to serious analytics he and a co-host Nick Gelso as well as guests including Showtime Lakers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Pat Riley and Byron Scott, will discuss current basketball games both from a player and a coaches perspective. Known for his defensive skills, highlight dunks and tenacious defense, Coop will break down the do's and don’ts of the game of basketball. Coop shares a ‘view from the bench’ with intimate stories from the Laker days and from the WNBA, D-league and the Big 3 as a head coach. On occasion current events in and around the sports world will also be covered e.g. behaviors off and on the court, the business of sports, travel youth ball, high school ball and his experience as a coach in the Big3. As the only person to win a championship, as either a coach or a player, in the NBA, WNBA, and the NBA D-League, Coop’s positive outlook on life and infectious personality is sure to provide unique and humorous insights as a podcaster. Topics: Basketball, Showtime, Coop 5’Ds, Student-athletes/Education, Attitude/Motivation, Success/Failure, Teamwork/Teambuilding, Black in America/Race, Spirituality/Purpose, Giving Back and Overcoming Challenges (cancer, Injuries, divorce, Bankruptcy etc.)

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