Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here are the details for Happy Hairston:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Harold A. Hairston
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Deceased (born May 31, 1942 – died May 1, 2001, at age 58)
  • Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 meters)
  • Weight: 225 pounds (102 kg) during his playing career
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 8 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 15 (US)
  • Number: Wore 22, 52, and 31 during his NBA career
  • Position: Power Forward / Small Forward
  • High School: Atkins High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • College: New York University (NYU) (1960–1964)
  • NBA Draft: 1964 NBA Draft, 2nd round, 11th overall pick by the Cincinnati Royals
  • Teams Played For:
    • Cincinnati Royals (1964–1968)
    • Detroit Pistons (1968–1969)
    • Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1975)
  • Championship Rings: 1 (1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers)
  • Kids: Information on children is not widely documented
  • Siblings: Information on siblings is not widely documented

Happy Hairston’s player archetype was that of a rugged rebounding power forward, a high-motor interior worker who made his biggest impact through second-effort plays, physical defense, and control of the glass. Defensively, he operated as a tough frontcourt presence who battled in the paint, finished possessions with rebounds, and gave opposing forwards very little room to work. Offensively, he was more of a complementary scorer than a featured option, relying on putbacks, close-range finishes, hustle points, screens, and opportunistic interior touches instead of shot creation. At about 6-foot-7 with a strong, durable build, Hairston played bigger than his height because of his timing, strength, and relentless activity around the basket. His overall style was unglamorous but highly effective: hard-nosed, physical, team-first basketball built on rebounding, interior toughness, and doing the dirty work that helped winning teams function.

Fun Facts

  • He was a key member of the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers team that won the NBA championship and set a record with a 33-game winning streak.

Sources:

Los Angeles Times — 1971-72 LAKERS TALK . . . ON THE RECORD
Los Angeles Times — 50 years ago: Lakers win record-setting 33rd game in a row
Los Angeles Times — 75 greatest Lakers players: Magic, Kobe and Kareem top The Times’ list