Dave Cowens vs. Happy Hairston Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Happy Hairston and Dave Cowens, 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.

Dave Cowens and Happy Hairston both played 11 years in the NBA. Dave Cowens had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Happy Hairston had his rookie season in 1964-65. 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
Dave Cowens 11 7 1970-71 to 1982-83
Happy Hairston 11 9 1964-65 to 1974-75

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1970-711964-65
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRoyals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 81 38.0 17.0 - - 15.0 2.8 - - - 4.3 6.8 16.1 .422 - - - 3.4 4.6 .732
Happy Hairston 61 12.1 6.1 - - 4.8 0.4 - - - 1.6 2.1 5.8 .373 - - - 1.8 2.7 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Happy Hairston 3 13.0 4.0 - - 6.7 1.0 - - - 0.7 1.7 6.0 .278 - - - 0.7 1.0 .667

Season 2

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1971-721965-66
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRoyals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 79 40.3 18.8 - - 15.2 3.1 - - - 4.0 8.3 17.2 .484 - - - 2.2 3.1 .720
Happy Hairston 72 24.9 14.1 - - 7.6 0.6 - - - 3.0 5.5 11.3 .489 - - - 3.1 4.5 .685
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 11 40.1 15.5 - - 13.8 3.0 - - - 4.5 6.5 14.2 .455 - - - 2.5 4.3 .596
Happy Hairston 5 30.0 15.4 - - 7.4 0.0 - - - 4.0 5.0 12.4 .403 - - - 5.4 7.6 .711

Season 3

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1972-731966-67
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRoyals Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 82 41.8 20.5 - - 16.2 4.1 - - - 3.8 9.0 20.0 .452 - - - 2.5 3.2 .779
Happy Hairston 79 30.9 14.9 - - 8.0 0.8 - - - 3.5 5.8 12.2 .479 - - - 3.2 4.8 .660
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 13 46.0 21.9 - - 16.6 3.7 - - - 4.2 9.9 21.0 .473 - - - 2.1 3.2 .659
Happy Hairston 4 35.0 16.0 - - 6.8 1.5 - - - 3.8 7.0 13.5 .519 - - - 2.0 3.8 .533

Season 4

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1973-741967-68
Team Boston CelticsCincinnati Royals, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionPistons Lost East Div Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 80 41.9 19.0 3.3 12.4 15.7 4.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.7 8.1 18.4 .437 - - - 2.9 3.4 .832
Happy Hairston 74 34.0 17.9 - - 8.3 1.3 - - - 2.7 6.5 13.3 .487 - - - 4.9 7.1 .699
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 18 42.9 20.5 3.3 10.0 13.3 3.7 1.2 0.9 - 4.7 8.9 20.6 .435 - - - 2.6 3.3 .797
Happy Hairston 6 24.8 11.7 - - 6.2 1.2 - - - 3.7 4.8 11.8 .408 - - - 2.0 3.3 .600

Season 5

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1974-751968-69
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 65 40.5 20.4 3.5 11.2 14.7 4.6 1.3 1.1 - 3.7 8.8 18.4 .475 - - - 2.9 3.8 .783
Happy Hairston 81 35.7 18.1 - - 11.8 1.3 - - - 3.1 6.5 14.0 .469 - - - 5.0 6.8 .731
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 11 43.5 20.5 4.5 12.0 16.5 4.2 1.6 0.5 - 4.5 9.2 21.5 .428 - - - 2.1 2.4 .885
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1975-761969-70
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 78 39.8 19.0 4.3 11.7 16.0 4.2 1.2 0.9 - 4.0 7.8 16.7 .468 - - - 3.3 4.4 .756
Happy Hairston 70 34.7 18.5 - - 11.1 1.7 - - - 3.3 6.9 13.9 .496 - - - 4.7 5.9 .789
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 18 44.3 21.0 4.8 11.6 16.4 4.6 1.2 0.7 - 4.7 8.7 18.9 .457 - - - 3.7 4.8 .759
Happy Hairston 16 18.5 7.4 - - 4.8 1.3 - - - 1.9 2.9 6.8 .435 - - - 1.5 2.2 .686

Season 7

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1976-771970-71
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 50 37.8 16.4 2.9 11.0 13.9 5.0 0.9 1.0 - 3.6 6.6 15.1 .434 - - - 3.2 4.0 .818
Happy Hairston 80 36.5 18.6 - - 10.0 2.1 - - - 3.2 7.2 15.4 .466 - - - 4.2 5.4 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 9 42.1 16.6 3.2 11.7 14.9 4.0 0.9 1.4 - 4.1 7.3 16.4 .446 - - - 1.9 2.4 .773
Happy Hairston 12 39.3 17.0 - - 9.1 2.8 - - - 3.4 6.9 13.7 .506 - - - 3.2 4.2 .760

Season 8

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1977-781971-72
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 77 41.8 18.6 3.2 10.8 14.0 4.6 1.3 0.9 2.8 3.9 7.8 15.8 .490 - - - 3.1 3.7 .842
Happy Hairston 80 34.4 13.1 - - 13.1 2.4 - - - 3.1 4.6 10.0 .461 - - - 3.9 5.0 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Happy Hairston 15 38.5 13.5 - - 13.1 2.1 - - - 2.9 4.9 11.2 .440 - - - 3.6 4.5 .794

Season 9

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1978-791972-73
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayLakers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 68 37.0 16.6 2.2 7.4 9.6 3.6 1.1 0.8 2.6 3.9 7.2 14.9 .483 - - - 2.2 2.8 .807
Happy Hairston 28 33.5 16.3 - - 13.2 2.4 - - - 2.8 5.6 11.7 .482 - - - 5.0 6.4 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Happy Hairston 3 8.7 2.7 - - 1.3 0.3 - - - 0.7 0.3 3.0 .111 - - - 2.0 2.7 .750

Season 10

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1979-801973-74
Team Boston CelticsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 %
Dave Cowens 66 32.7 14.2 1.9 6.2 8.1 3.1 1.0 0.9 1.6 3.3 6.4 14.1 .453 0.0 0.2 .083 1.4 1.8 .779
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens 9 33.4 12.0 2.0 5.3 7.3 2.3 1.0 0.8 0.9 4.1 5.4 11.4 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 1.1 1.2 .909
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

Note: Dave Cowens didn't play in 1980-81 and 1981-82.

Season 11

Dave Cowens Happy Hairston
Season 1982-831974-75
Team Milwaukee BucksLos Angeles Lakers
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 %
Dave Cowens 40 25.4 8.1 1.8 5.0 6.9 2.1 0.8 0.4 1.1 3.4 3.4 7.7 .444 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 1.6 .825
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave Cowens ------- --- ----------
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------