Showtime Laker Michael Cooper says speech during jersey retirement ceremony (Billy Montgomery/L.A. Sentinel)

The Los Angeles Lakers celebrated a bittersweet evening on January 13, as they retired the iconic No. 21 jersey of Michael Cooper in a game against the San Antonio Spurs. Although the Lakers lost 126-102, the night was a historic tribute to his impressive legacy at Crypto.com Arena.

The Los Angeles native Cooper spent his 12-year playing career with the Lakers, earning five NBA championships and establishing himself as a defensive powerhouse. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer also made a name for himself as a coach, leading the Los Angeles Sparks to two championships and winning an NBA D-League title.

Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) scored 30 points and 13 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs (Billy Montgomery/L.A. Sentinel)

The spotlight shifted to the rafters during halftime, where his jersey took its rightful place among Lakers legends. The emotional ceremony featured tributes from former teammates, including Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and coach Pat Riley.

“Wherever basketball is going to be played in LA, that jersey will always be up there,” said a teary-eyed Cooper, capturing the gravity of the moment.

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Lakers forward Rui Hachimura speaks during the post-game interview. (Credit: Nathan J. Lee)

The Lakers entered the game with a 20-16 record, eager to return to the court after two postponed matchups. Despite an energetic start, leading the Spurs 62-53 at halftime, the team struggled to maintain momentum in the second half.

San Antonio forward Keldon Johnson nailed a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 89-89 by the end of the third quarter. With 9:25 remaining in the fourth, the Spurs took the lead, pushing the score to 99-93. The Lakers faltered as the clock wound down, allowing the Spurs to dominate the final minutes and secure the victory. Forward Rui Hachimura acknowledged how the team has defensive lapses.

Cooper helped the Lakers win five championships and played for the Lakers for his entire career (Billy Montgomery/L.A. Sentinel)

“We have to be more physical, and everybody has to have a mentality of protecting the rim,” Hachimura said. “We’ve got to start playing together again, like what we had in December, and get back on track.”

Hachimura also pointed to recent challenges, including wildfire evacuations and scheduling disruptions, as distractions that impacted their play.

The No. 21 jersey of Cooper is in between the jerseys of his former teammates: Magic Johnson (32) and James Worthy (42) (Billy Montgomery/L.A. Sentinel)

Despite the loss, fans in attendance received commemorative No. 21 jerseys in honor of Cooper. Additionally, the Lakers announced donation drives at their upcoming games on January 15 and 17 to support wildfire relief efforts in Southern California.

Even in defeat, the Lakers celebrated the unparalleled contributions of Cooper, proving that some nights are about more than just the score.

The Lakers wore warmup shirts that honored first responders of the L.A. Wildfires (Billy Montgomery/L.A. Sentinel)