Happy Hairston vs. Gordon Hayward Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Gordon Hayward and Happy Hairston, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Happy Hairston played 11 years in the NBA, 3 less than Gordon Hayward, who played 14. Happy Hairston had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, while Gordon Hayward had his rookie season in 2010-11. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player		 Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Happy Hairston 11 9 1964-65 to 1974-75
Gordon Hayward 14 5 2010-11 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1964-652010-11
Team Cincinnati RoyalsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 61 12.1 6.1 - - 4.8 0.4 - - - 1.6 2.1 5.8 .373 - - - 1.8 2.7 .667
Gordon Hayward 72 16.9 5.4 0.6 1.4 1.9 1.1 0.4 0.3 1.0 1.5 2.0 4.1 .485 0.5 1.0 .473 1.0 1.3 .711
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 3 13.0 4.0 - - 6.7 1.0 - - - 0.7 1.7 6.0 .278 - - - 0.7 1.0 .667
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 2
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1965-662011-12
Team Cincinnati RoyalsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div SemisJazz Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 72 24.9 14.1 - - 7.6 0.6 - - - 3.0 5.5 11.3 .489 - - - 3.1 4.5 .685
Gordon Hayward 66 30.5 11.8 0.9 2.6 3.5 3.1 0.8 0.6 1.7 1.6 4.0 8.9 .456 0.8 2.4 .346 2.9 3.5 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 5 30.0 15.4 - - 7.4 0.0 - - - 4.0 5.0 12.4 .403 - - - 5.4 7.6 .711
Gordon Hayward 4 30.8 7.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 3.0 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.0 1.5 8.3 .182 0.3 3.0 .083 4.0 4.0 1.000

Season 3
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1966-672012-13
Team Cincinnati RoyalsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 79 30.9 14.9 - - 8.0 0.8 - - - 3.5 5.8 12.2 .479 - - - 3.2 4.8 .660
Gordon Hayward 72 29.2 14.1 0.7 2.4 3.1 3.0 0.8 0.5 1.7 1.7 4.7 10.7 .435 1.4 3.4 .415 3.4 4.1 .827
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 4 35.0 16.0 - - 6.8 1.5 - - - 3.8 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 2.0 3.8 .533
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 4
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1967-682013-14
Team Cincinnati Royals, Detroit PistonsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 74 34.0 17.9 - - 8.3 1.3 - - - 2.7 6.5 13.3 .487 - - - 4.9 7.1 .699
Gordon Hayward 77 36.4 16.2 0.8 4.3 5.1 5.2 1.4 0.5 2.8 2.0 5.5 13.4 .413 1.1 3.6 .304 4.0 4.9 .816
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 6 24.8 11.7 - - 6.2 1.2 - - - 3.7 4.8 11.8 .408 - - - 2.0 3.3 .600
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1968-692014-15
Team Detroit PistonsUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 81 35.7 18.1 - - 11.8 1.3 - - - 3.1 6.5 14.0 .469 - - - 5.0 6.8 .731
Gordon Hayward 76 34.4 19.3 0.7 4.2 4.9 4.1 1.4 0.4 2.7 1.7 6.4 14.3 .445 1.6 4.3 .364 4.9 6.1 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1969-702015-16
Team Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 70 34.7 18.5 - - 11.1 1.7 - - - 3.3 6.9 13.9 .496 - - - 4.7 5.9 .789
Gordon Hayward 80 36.2 19.7 0.8 4.2 5.0 3.7 1.2 0.3 2.5 2.3 6.5 15.0 .433 1.8 5.1 .349 4.9 6.0 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 16 18.5 7.4 - - 4.8 1.3 - - - 1.9 2.9 6.8 .435 - - - 1.5 2.2 .686
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1970-712016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersUtah Jazz
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsJazz Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 80 36.5 18.6 - - 10.0 2.1 - - - 3.2 7.2 15.4 .466 - - - 4.2 5.4 .782
Gordon Hayward 73 34.5 21.9 0.7 4.7 5.4 3.5 1.0 0.3 1.9 1.6 7.5 15.8 .471 2.0 5.1 .398 5.0 5.9 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 12 39.3 17.0 - - 9.1 2.8 - - - 3.4 6.9 13.7 .506 - - - 3.2 4.2 .760
Gordon Hayward 11 37.4 24.1 0.6 5.5 6.1 3.4 0.9 0.3 2.2 2.1 7.5 17.1 .441 2.5 6.2 .412 6.5 6.9 .934

Season 8
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1971-722017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 80 34.4 13.1 - - 13.1 2.4 - - - 3.1 4.6 10.0 .461 - - - 3.9 5.0 .779
Gordon Hayward 1 5.0 2.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 15 38.5 13.5 - - 13.1 2.1 - - - 2.9 4.9 11.2 .440 - - - 3.6 4.5 .794
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1972-732018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 28 33.5 16.3 - - 13.2 2.4 - - - 2.8 5.6 11.7 .482 - - - 5.0 6.4 .787
Gordon Hayward 72 25.9 11.5 0.7 3.8 4.5 3.4 0.9 0.3 1.5 1.4 4.1 8.8 .466 1.1 3.2 .333 2.2 2.6 .834
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 3 8.7 2.7 - - 1.3 0.3 - - - 0.7 0.3 3.0 .111 - - - 2.0 2.7 .750
Gordon Hayward 9 29.7 9.6 0.3 3.7 4.0 2.4 0.7 0.3 1.6 1.8 3.2 7.8 .414 1.0 2.7 .375 2.1 2.1 1.000

Season 10
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1973-742019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 77 34.2 14.5 4.4 9.2 13.5 2.7 0.8 0.2 - 3.4 5.0 9.9 .507 - - - 4.5 5.8 .771
Gordon Hayward 52 33.5 17.5 1.1 5.6 6.7 4.1 0.7 0.4 1.8 1.8 6.7 13.5 .500 1.6 4.3 .383 2.4 2.8 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 5 34.4 9.2 3.0 7.4 10.4 3.8 1.0 0.2 - 1.6 3.0 7.2 .417 - - - 3.2 3.6 .889
Gordon Hayward 5 31.4 10.8 0.6 3.4 4.0 2.8 1.4 0.4 1.4 2.0 4.0 10.0 .400 1.4 4.8 .292 1.4 1.6 .875

Season 11
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season 1974-752020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston 74 30.9 10.3 4.1 8.7 12.8 2.3 0.7 0.1 - 2.9 3.7 7.2 .506 - - - 2.9 3.7 .801
Gordon Hayward 44 34.0 19.6 0.8 5.0 5.9 4.1 1.2 0.3 2.1 1.7 7.1 15.0 .473 1.9 4.7 .415 3.5 4.2 .843
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season -2021-22
Team -Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward 49 31.9 15.9 0.8 3.8 4.6 3.6 1.0 0.4 1.7 1.7 5.8 12.6 .459 1.8 4.5 .391 2.6 3.0 .846
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season -2022-23
Team -Charlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward 50 31.5 14.7 0.7 3.6 4.3 4.1 0.8 0.2 2.0 1.4 5.5 11.6 .475 1.0 3.2 .325 2.6 3.2 .811
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward ------- --- ----------

Season 14
Happy Hairston Gordon Hayward
Season -2023-24
Team -Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Thunder Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward 51 24.4 9.8 0.7 2.8 3.5 3.1 0.8 0.3 1.3 1.3 3.7 7.9 .464 0.7 1.8 .411 1.7 2.4 .742
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Gordon Hayward 7 6.6 0.0 0.1 1.7 1.9 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.4 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Share: