Professional Basketball Player. He was a forward on the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers team that won 33 straight games, the longest winning streak by any team in professional sports, and also won the NBA championship over the New York Knicks in five games. Hairston attended New York University (NYU), where he played basketball with All-American Barry Kramer. Hairston was playing for the Detroit Pistons when he was traded to the Lakers in 1969. He led the Lakers in both rebounds and field-goal percentage during the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. Against the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 15, 1974, he established the NBA record of 13 defensive rebounds in one quarter. In Oct 1975, the Lakers waived him. Happy Hairston died of prostate cancer at age 58 in 2001.
Professional Basketball Player. He was a forward on the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers team that won 33 straight games, the longest winning streak by any team in professional sports, and also won the NBA championship over the New York Knicks in five games. Hairston attended New York University (NYU), where he played basketball with All-American Barry Kramer. Hairston was playing for the Detroit Pistons when he was traded to the Lakers in 1969. He led the Lakers in both rebounds and field-goal percentage during the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. Against the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 15, 1974, he established the NBA record of 13 defensive rebounds in one quarter. In Oct 1975, the Lakers waived him. Happy Hairston died of prostate cancer at age 58 in 2001.
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