Sports In America with David Greene
WHYY | PRX Sports in America explores stories that shape athletes and fans alike. Each week, David Greene hosts in-depth conversations with people across the world of sports – from the star who hits the game winner to the millions of us whose lives are touched by the game.
Sports in America explores stories that shape athletes and fans alike. Each week, David Greene hosts in-depth conversations with people across the world of sports – from the star who hits the game winner to the millions of us whose lives are touched by the game.
You Don’t Need to Be Flashy To Become a Legend. Just Ask Michael Cooper
There are just two teams left in the fight to become NBA champions this year, and they are two teams that no one expected to get this far: the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. What can we expect from this underdog matchup? We’ll talk it out with Marcus Thompson, a lead columnist who covers the NBA at The Athletic.
Then we’ll hear from someone who’s no stranger to NBA championships: Michael Cooper. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the ‘80s, during an era of basketball defined by flashy moves and a run-and-gun style of play. Powerhouse players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson were at the forefront. But in the background was Michael Cooper, silently but consistently delivering a defense that cemented their legacy.
This week, we sit down with Michael Cooper to learn about how he turned a behind-the-scenes role into one worthy of a highlight reel. He’ll also talk through the insecurity he faced as a young player making it in the league, and how he moved past it to become an NBA Hall of Famer.
Show Notes
- COOP: The Making of a Showtime Lakers Legend | Michael Cooper and Jake Uitti
- Michael Cooper’s Defensive Career Highlights | Basketball Action
- Despite His Success in 12 Years With Lakers, Michael Cooper Never Quite Believed He Was Good Enough For them | LA Times
- The Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals seemed unlikely before the playoffs. They saw it coming | The Athletic
- Victor Wembanyama on Gregg Popovich after Game 7: "He goes through some things we can't even imagine | YouTube
Show Credits
Host: David Greene
Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler
Senior Producer: Michael Olcott
Producer: Michaela Winberg
Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa
Talent Booker: Britt Kahn
Engineers: Mike Villers, Charlie Kaier
Tile Art: Bea Walling
Theme Song: Emma Munger
Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network.