Though the 2014 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class announcement is quickly approaching, Magic Johnson, the legendary member of the Los Angeles Lakers, seems unable to keep his former Showtime teammate Michael Cooper’s status a secret.

Cooper has been a finalist for a few years, but up until this year, he had not been selected.

Johnson announced on social media on Thursday night that Cooper’s induction into the 2024 Hall of Fame is finally imminent, with an official announcement anticipated on Saturday:

Johnson and Cooper were drafted a year apart by the Lakers and played their entire careers together, so the former is certainly a trustworthy source when it comes to this information. James Worthy also provided confirmation on his social media accounts:

For the Los Angeles native, Cooper’s induction into the Hall of Fame will be a well-earned and long-overdue honour.

In the third round, the Lakers selected Cooper, a graduate of the University of New Mexico, with the sixty-first choice. He would go on to play for the Lakers for his whole 12-year NBA career, becoming one of the top defenders on the team.

Five of Cooper’s selections to the first team were made to the eight All-NBA Defensive Teams. In addition, he was a major contributor to the Lakers’ five NBA titles throughout the 1980s and was named the 1986–87 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Alongside Cooper in the 2024 Basketball Hall of Fame class is Jerry West, who served as Cooper’s first NBA head coach. For West, who is entering as an executive, this is a record-tying third Hall of Fame election.

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