Detroit Pistons: 10 best power forwards in team history
By Amaar Burton
7. Happy Hairston (1968-69)
Happy Hairston is probably best known as the double-double machine who helped the Los Angeles Lakers win a championship in 1972, but before that he averaged 17.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game over parts of three seasons wit the Pistons.
Detroit acquired Hairston from the Cincinnati Royals midway through the 1967-68 season. He helped the Pistons make the playoffs that year, where they lost in the opening round to the eventual champion Boston Celtics.
The next season, the Pistons went 30-52 despite having three Hall-of-Famers on the roster: point guard Dave Bing, center Walt Bellamy and small forward Dave DeBusschere (who was traded during the season). Even with all of that talent on the court, Hairston managed to put up 18.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
Early in the 1969-70 season, Detroit traded Hairston to the Lakers, where he again found himself leading the supporting cast of three Hall-of-Famers: Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.