“Bird was the secondary thought, McHale was the one” – Michael Cooper on Lakers winning the 1987 NBA Finals originally appeared on Basketball Network.
While it may be natural to assume that any team facing the Boston Celtics in the 1980s would build their game plan around stopping the legendary Larry Bird, Michael Cooper recently revealed a different approach that his team used in the 1987 NBA Finals.
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According to the former Los Angeles Lakers defensive ace, his team’s primary focus wasn’t the three-time MVP, but Kevin McHale.
Moreover, after identifying the “Herman Munster” as the Celtics’ x-factor, Cooper wholeheartedly credited a midseason acquisition for neutralizing the threat that the seven-time All-Star could’ve posed.
How Mychal Thompson helped the Lakers beat the Celtics in the ’87 Finals
Standing at 6’10”, McHale was a power forward whose size gave Boston a major edge in rim protection and rebounding. In the 1986-87 season, he reached peak form, averaging a career-high 26.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game to deservingly earn a place on the All-NBA First Team and All-Defensive First Team. As Bird continued to lead the way, Kevin emerged as a co-star with an equally impactful presence — something that the Purple and Gold couldn’t afford to overlook.
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To counter that threat, Lakers GM Jerry West made a critical move by adding Mychal Thompson to the roster. The goal was clear: have a defensively capable big man who could match McHale’s physicality and limit his influence when the Celtics inevitably clashed with the Lakers in the Finals. The strategy paid off handsomely.
“Sweet Bells” averaged a solid 11.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in the Finals, but more importantly, he limited “Torture Chamber” to 20.5 points, 9.2 rebounds and one block per game – well below his regular-season numbers.
Speaking on his podcast, Coop emphasized that the decision to bring in Thompson specifically to contain McHale was a game-changer in turning the championship tide towards his team in 1987.
“Bird was the secondary thought, we knew, McHale was the one. That’s what the brilliance of Werry West was, to get Mychal Thompson. Mike had played with McHale in Minnesota, in college, so Mike knew his moves,” the former Purple and Gold guard said. “We knew we had to get the ball out of the post… our philosophy was to take the paint away. Let’s give these guys jump shots; let’s see if they can beat us from the jumper.”
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Mychal’s addition gave the Lakers an extra edge
Though the Lakers already had strong contributors like James Worthy and AC Green to support Kareem Abdul Jabbar on the defensive end, what they lacked was a defense-first forward whose sole focus could be shutting down an opposing offensive powerhouse. That’s exactly the role Thompson filled. His presence not only contained McHale but also disrupted “Larry Legend’s” ability to lean on his teammates when he faced pressure, exposing the Celtics’ over-reliance on their frontcourt duo.
That being said, when key players like Coop openly acknowledge Thompson’s presence for helping the Lakers win against their biggest rivals, it shows that not only contributions and impact are evident on the stats sheet. His gritty play, willingness to embrace the dirty work, and ability to shift momentum made him one of the unsung heroes of that iconic rivalry.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.