Michael Cooper, who coached the Los Angeles Sparks to two WNBA championships, is leaving to become an assistant coach with the NBA's Denver Nuggets.

Nuggets spokesman Eric Sebastian confirmed Tuesday that Cooper, a former standout player and assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers, will fill one of two vacancies on the coaching staff. T.R. Dunn left to join the Sacramento Kings and John MacLeod resigned to check out head-coaching opportunities.

Cooper, who also starred at New Mexico and lived for a time in Corrales, N.M., will coach the Sparks in their three games this week before leaving the job in the hands of assistants Karleen Thompson and Ryan Weisenberg.

"The success we've had with the Sparks has led to this opportunity," Cooper said. "This is a great opportunity for me. The timing is just right. To come back [to the NBA] is very gratifying for me."

Cooper played for the Lakers for 11 seasons before retiring in 1990 and was a member of five NBA championship teams. He joined the Sparks as an assistant coach in 1999 and took over as head coach the next season.

The Sparks are 11-6 this season and 116-31 overall under Cooper. They won championships in 2001-2002 and lost to Detroit in the WNBA Finals last year.

"It's tough -- very, very tough. I leave with sad, sad feelings," he said. "I believe in timing in my life. Everything happens for a reason. I'm just looking forward to the challenge of working with the Denver Nuggets."