Los Angeles Lakers: Comparing Alex Caruso to other title role players
By Jason Reed
Unsung hero from the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers: Happy Hairston
Happy Hairston is such an unsung hero that this is the only picture of him that we had to use and he is not even the focus point of the picture — Wilt Chamberlain is. Hairston is the gentleman (number 52) standing with the towel over his shoulders.
The 1972 Lakers were the only team to get over the hump and win the NBA Championship with Jerry West. It is easy to talk about the stars from that team; West, Wilt Chamberlain and Gail Goodrich have all gone down as Lakers legends.
One player that nobody talks about is Happy Hairston. In fact, I would not be surprised if younger readers on this article have not heard of Hairston, and quite frankly, I don’t blame you.
Hairston played the fifth-most minutes per game in the playoffs in 1972 and was a double-double machine. Hairston averaged 13.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game in the playoffs that season.
Hairston did not accumulate any solo accolades and this was the one NBA Championship that he did win and he was dang good for the Lakers. He scored in double figures in 13 of the 15 games and recorded 10 double-doubles.
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So when you are thinking about the lone championship-winning team that Jerry West played for, don’t forget about the unsung hero, Happy Hairston.