Michael Cooper believes the Los Angeles Lakers should retire LeBron James’ jersey and eventually honor him with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena, telling Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson in an exclusive interview.
Cooper, a five-time NBA champion with the Showtime Lakers, said James’ 2020 championship with Los Angeles makes him deserving of both honors. James is no longer with the Lakers after joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I think when he retires, yeah,” Cooper said about retiring James’ jersey. He also pointed to Wilt Chamberlain, whose jersey has been retired by multiple franchises, as an example of how a player’s legacy can be recognized by more than one team.
On the possibility of a statue, Cooper said the decision would take time but supported the idea. He cited James’ championship in Los Angeles and his standing as a player as reasons to recognize him outside the arena.
James spent eight seasons with the Lakers, winning the 2020 NBA championship and earning the 2023-24 NBA Cup MVP award. He averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 71 games during the 2023-24 regular season, then recorded 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 60 appearances in 2025-26.
Cooper also reflected on the Lakers retiring his No. 21 jersey and his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He described the jersey retirement as the greatest honor of his career after winning five championships with the franchise.
The interview also included a lighter exchange about the high-socks style Cooper popularized. He named Bob McAdoo as the player who wore the look best, while joking that Keith Van Horn did not pull it off.
