Happy Hairston vs. Kevin Love Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kevin Love 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, 5 less than Kevin Love, who played 16. Happy Hairston had the first of his seasons in 1964-65, while Kevin Love had his rookie season in 2008-09. 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
Kevin Love 16 6 2008-09 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1964-652008-09
Team Cincinnati RoyalsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
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
Kevin Love 81 25.3 11.1 3.4 5.7 9.1 1.0 0.4 0.6 1.5 2.5 3.9 8.5 .459 0.0 0.2 .105 3.3 4.1 .789
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
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1965-662009-10
Team Cincinnati RoyalsMinnesota Timberwolves
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 72 24.9 14.1 - - 7.6 0.6 - - - 3.0 5.5 11.3 .489 - - - 3.1 4.5 .685
Kevin Love 60 28.6 14.0 3.8 7.2 11.0 2.3 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.3 4.9 10.8 .450 0.6 1.8 .330 3.8 4.6 .815
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
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1966-672010-11
Team Cincinnati RoyalsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement Most Improved Player
-Achievement Rebounds Leader
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Kevin Love 73 35.8 20.2 4.5 10.7 15.2 2.5 0.6 0.4 2.1 2.0 6.6 14.1 .470 1.2 2.9 .417 5.8 6.8 .850
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
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1967-682011-12
Team Cincinnati Royals, Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Kevin Love 55 39.0 26.0 4.1 9.2 13.3 2.0 0.9 0.5 2.3 2.8 8.6 19.3 .448 1.9 5.1 .372 6.9 8.4 .824
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
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1968-692012-13
Team Detroit PistonsMinnesota Timberwolves
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
Kevin Love 18 34.3 18.3 3.6 10.4 14.0 2.3 0.7 0.5 2.2 1.9 5.8 16.6 .352 1.1 5.1 .217 5.6 7.9 .704
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1969-702013-14
Team Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles LakersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
-Achievement All-Star Game
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
Kevin Love 77 36.3 26.1 2.9 9.6 12.5 4.4 0.8 0.5 2.5 1.8 8.4 18.5 .457 2.5 6.6 .376 6.8 8.2 .821
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
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1970-712014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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
Kevin Love 75 33.8 16.4 1.9 7.9 9.7 2.2 0.7 0.5 1.6 1.9 5.5 12.7 .434 1.9 5.2 .367 3.4 4.3 .804
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
Kevin Love 4 26.8 14.3 1.5 5.5 7.0 2.5 0.3 0.5 1.5 3.0 4.3 10.3 .415 2.3 5.3 .429 3.5 4.8 .737

Season 8

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1971-722015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Happy Hairston 80 34.4 13.1 - - 13.1 2.4 - - - 3.1 4.6 10.0 .461 - - - 3.9 5.0 .779
Kevin Love 77 31.5 16.0 1.9 8.0 9.9 2.4 0.8 0.5 1.8 2.1 5.3 12.7 .419 2.1 5.7 .360 3.4 4.1 .822
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
Kevin Love 20 30.7 14.7 1.7 7.1 8.8 2.1 0.5 0.4 1.4 1.7 4.6 12.0 .385 2.3 5.6 .414 3.2 3.8 .840

Season 9

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1972-732016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
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
Kevin Love 60 31.4 19.0 2.5 8.6 11.1 1.9 0.9 0.4 2.0 2.1 6.2 14.5 .427 2.4 6.5 .373 4.3 4.9 .871
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
Kevin Love 18 32.1 16.8 2.0 8.6 10.6 1.7 1.2 0.9 1.7 2.6 5.3 12.1 .436 2.8 6.2 .450 3.5 4.2 .840

Season 10

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1973-742017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA 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
Kevin Love 59 28.0 17.6 1.7 7.5 9.3 1.7 0.7 0.4 1.5 2.0 5.7 12.4 .458 2.3 5.6 .415 4.0 4.5 .880
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
Kevin Love 21 31.4 14.9 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.6 0.7 0.4 2.0 2.8 5.2 13.2 .392 1.7 5.0 .340 2.8 3.0 .922

Season 11

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season 1974-752018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersCleveland Cavaliers
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
Kevin Love 22 27.2 17.0 1.5 9.4 10.9 2.2 0.3 0.2 1.9 2.5 5.0 12.9 .385 2.4 6.7 .361 4.7 5.2 .904
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season -2019-20
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 56 31.8 17.6 1.0 8.8 9.8 3.2 0.6 0.3 2.5 1.6 5.8 13.0 .450 2.6 7.0 .374 3.3 3.9 .854
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season -2020-21
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 25 24.9 12.2 0.7 6.8 7.4 2.5 0.6 0.1 1.5 1.0 4.1 10.1 .409 2.3 6.2 .365 1.7 2.0 .824
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season -2021-22
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 74 22.5 13.6 1.2 6.1 7.2 2.2 0.4 0.2 1.3 1.4 4.4 10.3 .430 2.5 6.4 .392 2.2 2.7 .838
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season -2022-23
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 62 20.0 8.2 1.0 5.5 6.4 1.9 0.3 0.2 1.1 1.6 2.7 6.8 .389 1.6 4.8 .334 1.3 1.5 .879
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 20 18.0 6.9 0.7 4.9 5.6 1.2 0.5 0.4 0.5 1.8 2.3 6.0 .378 1.7 4.4 .375 0.7 0.8 .875

Season 16

Happy Hairston Kevin Love
Season -2023-24
Team -Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Heat Lost East 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 ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 55 16.8 8.8 1.1 5.1 6.1 2.1 0.3 0.2 0.9 1.8 2.9 6.5 .440 1.5 4.4 .344 1.5 2.0 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Happy Hairston ------- --- ----------
Kevin Love 5 6.4 1.8 0.2 2.6 2.8 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.8 .444 0.2 0.8 .250 0.0 0.0 -