Chris Paul vs. Elmore Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Elmore Smith and Chris Paul, 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.

Chris Paul played 19 years in the NBA, 11 more than Elmore Smith, who played 8. Chris Paul had the first of his seasons in 2005-06, while Elmore Smith had his rookie season in 1971-72. 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
Chris Paul 19 15 2005-06 to 2023-24
Elmore Smith 8 4 1971-72 to 1978-79

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19

Rookie Season

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2005-061971-72
Team New Orleans/Oklahoma City HornetsBuffalo Braves
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Chris Paul 78 36.0 16.1 0.8 4.3 5.1 7.8 2.2 0.1 2.3 2.8 5.2 12.1 .430 0.6 2.3 .282 5.1 6.0 .847
Elmore Smith 78 40.8 17.3 - - 15.2 1.4 - - - 3.9 7.4 16.3 .454 - - - 2.5 4.7 .534
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2006-071972-73
Team New Orleans/Oklahoma City HornetsBuffalo Braves
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 %
Chris Paul 64 36.8 17.3 0.8 3.5 4.4 8.9 1.8 0.0 2.5 2.4 6.0 13.6 .437 0.8 2.2 .350 4.6 5.6 .818
Elmore Smith 76 37.2 18.3 - - 12.4 2.5 - - - 3.9 7.9 16.4 .482 - - - 2.5 4.4 .558
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2007-081973-74
Team New Orleans HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
-Achievement Blocks Leader
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hornets Lost West Conf SemisLakers 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 %
Chris Paul 80 37.6 21.1 0.8 3.2 4.0 11.6 2.7 0.1 2.5 2.3 7.9 16.1 .488 1.2 3.1 .369 4.2 4.9 .851
Elmore Smith 81 36.1 12.5 2.5 8.7 11.2 1.9 0.9 4.9 - 3.8 5.4 11.7 .457 - - - 1.8 3.1 .590
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 12 40.5 24.1 1.3 3.6 4.9 11.3 2.3 0.2 1.8 3.6 9.3 18.4 .502 0.4 1.8 .238 5.2 6.6 .785
Elmore Smith 5 34.2 19.2 3.8 6.8 10.6 1.2 1.4 1.6 - 4.0 8.4 17.6 .477 - - - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 4

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2008-091974-75
Team New Orleans HornetsLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hornets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 78 38.5 22.8 0.9 4.7 5.5 11.0 2.8 0.1 3.0 2.7 8.1 16.1 .503 0.8 2.3 .364 5.8 6.7 .868
Elmore Smith 74 31.6 10.9 2.8 8.1 10.9 2.0 1.1 2.9 - 3.4 4.7 9.5 .493 - - - 1.5 3.1 .485
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 5 40.2 16.6 0.8 3.6 4.4 10.4 1.6 0.0 4.8 1.6 6.0 14.6 .411 1.0 3.2 .313 3.6 4.2 .857
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2009-101975-76
Team New Orleans HornetsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 45 38.0 18.7 0.4 3.8 4.2 10.7 2.1 0.2 2.5 2.6 7.0 14.2 .493 1.2 2.8 .409 3.6 4.2 .847
Elmore Smith 78 36.0 15.6 2.6 8.9 11.4 1.2 1.0 3.1 - 3.4 6.4 12.3 .518 - - - 2.8 4.5 .632
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------
Elmore Smith 3 34.7 14.7 1.7 5.7 7.3 0.3 0.7 3.7 - 4.7 5.0 9.0 .556 - - - 4.7 7.0 .667

Season 6

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2010-111976-77
Team New Orleans HornetsMilwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hornets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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 %
Chris Paul 80 36.0 15.9 0.5 3.6 4.1 9.8 2.4 0.1 2.2 2.5 5.4 11.6 .463 0.9 2.3 .388 4.2 4.8 .878
Elmore Smith 70 20.9 8.6 1.6 4.6 6.3 0.6 0.5 2.1 - 3.0 3.4 7.2 .475 - - - 1.7 3.0 .549
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 6 41.7 22.0 0.5 6.2 6.7 11.5 1.8 0.0 3.7 1.8 7.0 12.8 .545 1.5 3.2 .474 6.5 8.2 .796
Elmore Smith 3 18.7 13.7 2.0 6.0 8.0 0.3 1.7 1.0 - 3.3 6.0 11.0 .545 - - - 1.7 2.7 .625

Season 7

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2011-121977-78
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers 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 %
Chris Paul 60 36.4 19.8 0.7 2.9 3.6 9.1 2.5 0.1 2.1 2.3 7.1 14.8 .478 1.3 3.6 .371 4.3 5.0 .861
Elmore Smith 81 24.6 12.5 2.2 6.2 8.4 0.7 0.6 2.2 1.7 3.0 5.0 10.0 .497 - - - 2.5 3.8 .663
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 11 38.5 17.6 0.5 4.5 5.1 7.9 2.7 0.1 3.9 2.7 6.4 14.9 .427 1.2 3.5 .333 3.7 4.3 .872
Elmore Smith 2 28.0 12.5 3.0 6.5 9.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 2.5 4.5 5.5 12.0 .458 - - - 1.5 3.0 .500

Season 8

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2012-131978-79
Team Los Angeles ClippersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 70 33.4 16.9 0.8 3.0 3.7 9.7 2.4 0.1 2.3 2.0 5.9 12.2 .481 1.1 3.3 .328 4.1 4.6 .885
Elmore Smith 24 13.8 6.5 1.9 2.5 4.4 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.8 2.5 2.9 5.4 .531 - - - 0.8 1.1 .692
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 6 37.3 22.8 0.5 3.5 4.0 6.3 1.8 0.0 1.5 2.8 8.2 15.3 .533 1.0 3.2 .316 5.5 6.2 .892
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2013-14-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Chris Paul 62 35.0 19.1 0.6 3.7 4.3 10.7 2.5 0.1 2.3 2.5 6.5 14.0 .467 1.3 3.4 .368 4.8 5.6 .855
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 13 36.3 19.8 0.9 3.3 4.2 10.3 2.8 0.0 3.0 3.8 7.1 15.2 .467 2.5 5.4 .457 3.2 4.1 .774
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2014-15-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers 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 %
Chris Paul 82 34.8 19.1 0.6 4.0 4.6 10.2 1.9 0.2 2.3 2.5 6.9 14.3 .485 1.7 4.3 .398 3.5 3.9 .900
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 12 37.1 22.1 0.6 3.8 4.4 8.8 1.8 0.3 2.2 3.1 7.9 15.8 .503 2.3 5.4 .415 4.0 4.3 .941
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2015-16-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 74 32.7 19.5 0.5 3.7 4.2 10.0 2.1 0.2 2.6 2.5 7.0 15.1 .462 1.6 4.4 .371 4.0 4.4 .896
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 4 31.3 23.8 1.0 3.0 4.0 7.3 2.3 0.0 1.0 3.0 9.3 19.0 .487 1.5 5.0 .300 3.8 3.8 1.000
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2016-17-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 61 31.5 18.1 0.7 4.3 5.0 9.2 2.0 0.1 2.4 2.4 6.1 12.9 .476 2.0 5.0 .411 3.8 4.3 .892
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 7 37.1 25.3 0.6 4.4 5.0 9.9 1.7 0.1 2.7 3.4 9.6 19.3 .496 2.0 5.4 .368 4.1 4.7 .879
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2017-18-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Chris Paul 58 31.8 18.6 0.6 4.8 5.4 7.9 1.7 0.2 2.2 2.4 6.3 13.8 .460 2.5 6.5 .380 3.5 3.8 .919
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 15 34.5 21.1 0.6 5.3 5.9 5.8 2.0 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.9 17.1 .459 2.5 6.6 .374 2.9 3.5 .830
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2018-19-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
Chris Paul 58 32.0 15.6 0.6 3.9 4.6 8.2 2.0 0.3 2.6 2.5 5.2 12.4 .419 2.2 6.1 .358 3.0 3.5 .862
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 11 36.1 17.0 1.3 5.1 6.4 5.5 2.2 0.6 3.4 3.3 6.0 13.5 .446 1.5 5.7 .270 3.5 4.1 .844
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2019-20-
Team Oklahoma City Thunder-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 70 31.5 17.6 0.4 4.6 5.0 6.7 1.6 0.2 2.3 2.3 6.2 12.7 .489 1.6 4.3 .365 3.6 4.0 .907
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 7 37.3 21.3 0.4 7.0 7.4 5.3 1.6 0.4 3.3 2.6 7.9 16.0 .491 2.3 6.1 .372 3.3 3.7 .885
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2020-21-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 70 31.4 16.4 0.4 4.1 4.5 8.9 1.4 0.3 2.2 2.4 6.3 12.6 .499 1.5 3.7 .395 2.4 2.6 .934
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 20 34.2 19.2 0.5 3.1 3.5 8.6 1.2 0.2 2.2 2.4 7.5 15.0 .497 1.5 3.3 .446 2.9 3.3 .877
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2021-22-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Chris Paul 65 32.9 14.7 0.3 4.0 4.4 10.8 1.9 0.3 2.4 2.1 5.6 11.3 .493 1.0 3.1 .317 2.6 3.1 .837
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 13 34.5 17.5 0.5 3.6 4.2 8.3 1.5 0.2 2.4 3.1 6.7 11.9 .561 1.5 3.8 .388 2.7 2.8 .946
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 18

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2022-23-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Chris Paul 59 32.0 13.9 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.9 1.5 0.4 1.9 2.1 5.0 11.3 .440 1.7 4.4 .375 2.3 2.7 .831
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul 7 35.7 12.4 0.7 4.3 5.0 7.4 1.7 0.7 1.0 2.3 5.4 13.0 .418 1.3 4.0 .321 0.3 0.6 .500
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 19

Chris Paul Elmore Smith
Season 2023-24-
Team Golden State Warriors-
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 %
Chris Paul 58 26.4 9.2 0.3 3.6 3.9 6.8 1.2 0.1 1.3 1.9 3.6 8.1 .441 1.3 3.6 .371 0.7 0.9 .827
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Chris Paul ------- --- ----------
Elmore Smith ------- --- ----------