Longtime Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers center Wayne Cooper died on Monday, the Nuggets announced.
He was 65.
We are saddened to hear of the passing of a great Nugget, teammate, and person, Wayne Cooper.
He will be sorely missed, and our thoughts are with his family at this time.
Rest In Peace🙏 pic.twitter.com/N3gxzc9WSI
— x – Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 12, 2022
The circumstances around Cooper's death are unknown.
Cooper spent 14 seasons in the NBA, starting in 1978 after he was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the draft. He then had a few short stints with the Utah Jazz and Dallas Mavericks and Trail Blazers before joining the Nuggets in 1984. While in Denver, Cooper averaged 9.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while helping the Nuggets reach at least the Western Conference semifinals three separate times.
He retired in 1992 after three final seasons with the Trail Blazers. In total, Cooper averaged 7.9 points and 6.2 rebounds in 984 games throughout his career.
After his playing career, Cooper spent time as an assistant with the Sacramento Kings before moving into their front office and serving as their vice president of basketball operations for nearly two decades.
Wayne Cooper was gentle giant. In NBA galaxy long ago, he took cub reporter under wing. Wrote playoff diary for Post in '85. After L to Lakers during WCF, was knock at my hotel room door. "Is it too late to re-write?" Coop asked. "Thought of better way to start it."
RIP, Coop. https://t.co/GNfP3cuSS6
— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) April 12, 2022
NBA sadness tonight … can still picture Wayne Cooper with those non-stop Doug Moe teams of the ‘80s. #RIPhttps://t.co/RICCwatSuP
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 12, 2022
Crushed to hear that Wayne Cooper has passed. Amazing giant of a man literally and figuratively who had a respectable career as a player and a front office executive. No ego. Great Louisiana people who cared about others. Brilliant. Will miss him dearly. https://t.co/M9j0ncitue
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) April 12, 2022
Just found out about the passing of former @nuggets big man Wayne Cooper (standing second from left).
Another legend from my youth gone too soon.
I was a Nuggets ball boy in the 80’s. Moe used to scream at Coop to “hit the damn glass.” Coop always took it like a champ. #RIPpic.twitter.com/G0vMdZLMsz
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) April 12, 2022
Oh man, hate hearing this. Coop was a gem. No matter the situation, he seemed to always choose kindness. Thoughts and prayers to his family. https://t.co/qClF7TL8PT
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) April 12, 2022
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