‘Showtime’ Lakers add Cooper and West to Hall of Fame

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 13 inductees in the Class of 2024 to be celebrated during this year’s Enshrinement festivities on August 16-17. The Class Announcement was made in Glendale, Ariz., the site of the 2024 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

Part of the Class of 2024 include Los Angeles Lakers greats. Michael Cooper, who served as the defensive stopper for the “Showtime” Lakers, finally made it into the Hall of Fame. The driving force behind the glam of the “Showtime” Lakers was Jerry West, who was recognized in his capacity as an executive.

West is already in the Hall of Fame as a player.

“Without a shadow of doubt, the accomplishments of the 2024 class stand as a testament to unparalleled excellence,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “From showcasing unrivaled prowess on the courts and sidelines, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks, to steering the course of basketball across an entire continent and to orchestrating a pair of dynasties, we are honored to pay tribute to these remarkable individuals alongside our esteemed award recipients.”

The Class of 2024 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., the Birthplace of Basketball, as well as the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., on August 16-17. VIP packages and single-event tickets to the 2024 Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend are now available at hoophall.com/events/enshrinement-2024.

Here is a quick rundown of some of the accomplishments of Cooper and West.

 MICHAEL COOPER – Cooper was named to eight NBA All-Defensive Teams, taking home First-Team accolades five times and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1987. The former third-round draft pick (60th overall) out of the University of New Mexico spent his entire 12-year NBA career (1978-90) with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships while routinely matching up with the opponent’s top shooter.

Following his playing career, Cooper entered the coaching ranks and earned WNBA Coach of the Year accolades in 2000 with the Los Angeles Sparks before winning back-to-back WNBA titles in 2001-02.

JERRY WEST – Previously enshrined as a player and as a member of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Team, West then went on to establish himself off the court as one of the most successful executives in the sport’s history. West played a pivotal role as the architect of a pair of Los Angeles Lakers’ dynasties during the 1980s and 2000s, drafting key players like Magic Johnson and James Worthy, acquiring Kobe Bryant, signing free agent Shaquille O’Neal, and hiring head coach Phil Jackson.

He totaled eight NBA championships in Los Angeles (1980, ‘82, ‘85, ‘87-88, 2000-02) and was named Executive of the Year twice (1995, 2004). Following his time in the Lakers’ front office (1979-2000), West served as GM of the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-07 before earning two additional NBA championships as an executive with the Golden State Warriors (2015, ‘17). West is the first member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to be inducted as both a player and a contributor.

Photo Caption

“Showtime” Los Angeles Lakers star Michael Cooper is photographed during the grand opening of the Ramona Gardens basketball court in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. California is keeping its rules for wearing face masks in place until the state more broadly lifts its pandemic restrictions on June 15. (Ringo Chiu via AP)