Dave DeBusschere vs. Happy Hairston Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Happy Hairston and Dave DeBusschere, 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 DeBusschere played 12 years in the NBA, 1 more than Happy Hairston, who played 11. Dave DeBusschere had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, 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 DeBusschere 12 8 1962-63 to 1973-74
Happy Hairston 11 9 1964-65 to 1974-75

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season
Dave DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1962-631964-65
Team Detroit PistonsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Div SemisRoyals 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 DeBusschere 80 29.4 12.7 - - 8.7 2.6 - - - 3.1 5.1 11.8 .430 - - - 2.6 3.6 .718
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 DeBusschere 4 39.8 20.0 - - 15.8 1.5 - - - 3.5 6.3 14.8 .424 - - - 7.5 11.0 .682
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1963-641965-66
Team Detroit PistonsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards
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 DeBusschere 15 20.3 8.6 - - 7.0 1.5 - - - 2.1 3.5 8.9 .391 - - - 1.7 2.9 .581
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 DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1964-651966-67
Team Detroit PistonsCincinnati Royals
Honors & Awards
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 DeBusschere 79 35.1 16.7 - - 11.1 3.2 - - - 3.1 6.4 15.1 .425 - - - 3.9 5.5 .700
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 DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1965-661967-68
Team Detroit PistonsCincinnati Royals, Detroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 DeBusschere 79 34.1 16.4 - - 11.6 2.6 - - - 3.2 6.6 16.3 .408 - - - 3.2 4.8 .659
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 DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1966-671968-69
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 DeBusschere 78 37.1 18.2 - - 11.8 2.8 - - - 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 - - - 4.6 6.6 .705
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 DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Dave DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1967-681969-70
Team Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Div SemisLakers 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 DeBusschere 80 39.1 17.9 - - 13.5 2.3 - - - 3.8 7.2 16.2 .442 - - - 3.6 5.4 .664
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 DeBusschere 6 43.8 19.3 - - 16.2 2.2 - - - 3.8 7.5 17.7 .425 - - - 4.3 7.5 .578
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1968-691970-71
Team Detroit Pistons, New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsLakers 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 DeBusschere 76 38.7 16.3 - - 11.7 2.5 - - - 3.8 6.7 15.0 .444 - - - 3.0 4.3 .698
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 DeBusschere 10 41.9 16.3 - - 14.8 3.3 - - - 4.3 6.1 17.4 .351 - - - 4.1 5.0 .820
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1969-701971-72
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA 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 DeBusschere 79 33.3 14.6 - - 10.0 2.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 13.7 .451 - - - 2.2 3.2 .688
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 DeBusschere 19 36.9 16.1 - - 11.6 2.4 - - - 3.3 6.8 16.3 .421 - - - 2.4 3.6 .662
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1970-711972-73
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsLakers 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 DeBusschere 81 35.7 15.6 - - 11.1 2.7 - - - 2.9 6.5 15.3 .421 - - - 2.7 3.9 .696
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 DeBusschere 12 40.7 16.4 - - 13.0 1.8 - - - 3.3 7.0 16.8 .416 - - - 2.4 3.7 .659
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 DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1971-721973-74
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA 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 DeBusschere 80 38.4 15.4 - - 11.3 3.6 - - - 2.7 6.5 15.2 .427 - - - 2.4 3.3 .728
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 DeBusschere 16 38.5 16.6 - - 12.1 2.3 - - - 3.2 6.8 15.1 .450 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Season 11
Dave DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1972-731974-75
Team New York KnicksLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Dave DeBusschere 77 36.7 16.3 - - 10.2 3.4 - - - 2.8 6.9 15.9 .435 - - - 2.5 3.4 .746
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 DeBusschere 17 37.2 15.6 - - 10.5 3.4 - - - 3.4 6.9 15.6 .442 - - - 1.8 2.4 .775
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------

Season 12
Dave DeBusschere Happy Hairston
Season 1973-74-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Dave DeBusschere 71 38.0 18.1 1.9 8.8 10.7 3.6 0.9 0.5 - 3.1 7.9 17.1 .461 - - - 2.3 3.1 .756
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 12 33.7 12.0 2.1 6.2 8.3 3.2 0.6 0.3 - 3.0 5.3 13.8 .380 - - - 1.5 2.4 .621
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
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