He didn't flinch as the crowd applauded before the third quarter.

A slight, crooked smile was buried in his fingers as his jaw rested on his palm. Meanwhile, the public announcer urged the fans to show gratitude to the Albuquerque Thunderbirds coach.

The announced crowd of 4,370 clapped. Michael Cooper didn't.

Cooper was leaving his NBA-Development League team exactly the way he welcomed them - as the cool, calm Los Angeles Lakers star.

This farewell lacked drama, heart-gripping hugs and bow-taking as the Thunderbirds won their season's home finale 134-123 over the Bakersfield Jam on Wednesday, Cooper's last game in Tingley Coliseum.

"It's emotional, but it's a business," Cooper said. "There are still things to take care of, but this isn't just a job where you come and go. It's a job I truly care about. We tried to create a family atmosphere from day one."

The man who eagerly awaits the day he can lead his alma mater, the University of New Mexico, will move on to coach the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA for a second time. Friday's game at Colorado and a likely playoff berth still remain for Cooper and the T-Birds (23-26).

Everyone from the ball boys to the front office to the players to the assistant coaches raved after the game about how Cooper made sure a small, upstart franchise mattered in his two years here.

The T-Birds won the D-League title in Cooper's first year.

He did it with care and a winning touch, point guard Tony Bland said.

"He's been everything to me," said Bland, who played the last two seasons with Cooper in Albuquerque. "I came here as a young player and can leave here one of the smartest guys out here thanks to Cooper. He taught me how to be a run an offense, how to make the right pass, how to play with pride and how to be a leader on and off the court."

In a way, the tribute to Cooper was really the Thunderbirds product Cooper envisioned since the team's inception last season.

The attendance easily marked a franchise high. The season average was around 2,300, President Billy Widner said. Chants of "Coop, Coop" echoed in Tingley three different times.

Players wore Phoenix Suns jerseys in honor of one of the team's affiliates.

Cooper body-slammed an inflated sumo wrestler - a 100-pound kid in a pudgy suit - between the third and fourth quarter.

Fun stuff.

Too bad most of Albuquerque didn't turn out regularly to see it or its hero, a former Lobos star in the late Õ70s.

"I expected it to be like this every night (when I first started)," said Cooper, who will stay on as a minority owner of the team. "This is a great basketball city, but we came in under tough circumstances because of other teams that didn't make it here. That's why I'm going to be around. I want to see this thing through. I helped get it off the ground. The WNBA season is only three months long, so I can be here for the other eight or nine months if I wanted to."

Widner said Cooper helped set the T-Birds apart from the previous basketball flops in town - anyone remember the New Mexico Slam? Widner refers to Cooper as "instant credibility."

Joe Harge, Cooper's current assistant and a former St. Pius X star, said he'd like to replace Cooper. Widner said Harge, son of former Lobos great Ira Harge, is "definitely in the mix," though a decision likely won't be made in the next four months.

Harge's idea is to connect with the Lobos and high school basketball programs across the state to improve the T-Birds' future.

As far as coaching, Harge's professional prospects were strengthened by Cooper, Harge said.

"I'm 10 times the coach I was before I came here because of him," Harge said. "His understanding of the game, how he motivates players, how to show them what it takes to make it to the NBA. He's the total package.

"Whoever didn't get to witness how he coached here was really missing out."

On this night, all but 4,370 missed that chance. Though maybe he'll be strolling another sideline, The Pit sideline, one day.

Cooper said last week he plans to lead the Lobos to their first NCAA title.