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Part 13: Michael Cooper on Helping Jerry West Scout Kobe Bryant, Explains Why He Checked into Rehab
Part 1: Michael Cooper on His Stepfather Killing His Mom's Boyfriend, Mom Leaving Family to Escape
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Michael Cooper shared insights from his time leading the LA Sparks to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002. Cooper praised the professionalism and quick learning ability of female players, highlighting how coaching women differed positively from coaching men. Central to those Sparks’ titles was Lisa Leslie, whom Cooper calls the greatest female basketball player ever. He reminisced about Leslie’s dedication—working out extensively even during pregnancy—and her pioneering achievement as the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game. Cooper credited Leslie’s all-around game, combining dominant defense, rebounding, and perimeter shooting. Cooper’s time with the Sparks, including fierce rivalry battles with the Houston Comets, significantly shaped the WNBA’s early history and underscored Leslie’s legendary status.
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