Cooper to Lead Italian South All-Star Team
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ROME — The NBA is holding a reunion in Rome on Saturday. It’s called the Italian League All-Star Game.
Michael Cooper, Darryl Dawkins and Darren Daye were among the group of some 20 former NBA players selected for Italy’s annual showcase for foreign stars.
Cooper was the leading vote-getter in balloting by fans for the south squad. He is averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game for Messaggero, which is tied for second place with a 9-3 record.
Cooper won five NBA titles with the Lakers but never made the league’s all-star team.
“It’s a great honor making the all-stars no matter what league you’re in,” Cooper said. “I feel guilty that after being in the so-called elite of basketball for so long it took me such such a short time to become an all-star here.”
Ex-Sacramento King Vinny Del Negro, who led all vote-getters, was nursing an ankle injury.
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