Earl Cureton vs. Marcus Smart Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Marcus Smart and Earl Cureton, 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.

Earl Cureton played 12 years in the NBA, 2 more than Marcus Smart, who played 10. Earl Cureton had the first of his seasons in 1980-81, while Marcus Smart had his rookie season in 2014-15. 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
Earl Cureton 12 7 1980-81 to 1996-97
Marcus Smart 10 9 2014-15 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1980-812014-15
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
Earl Cureton 52 10.2 4.2 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.9 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 0.6 1.2 .516
Marcus Smart 67 27.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 3.1 1.5 0.3 1.3 2.6 2.6 7.1 .367 1.4 4.1 .335 1.2 1.9 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 9 4.0 1.3 0.1 0.9 1.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.3 0.7 2.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.2 .000
Marcus Smart 4 22.5 9.8 1.3 1.5 2.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 3.0 3.5 7.3 .483 0.8 3.3 .231 2.0 3.8 .533

Season 2

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1981-822015-16
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsCeltics 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 %
Earl Cureton 66 14.5 5.3 1.4 2.7 4.1 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.7 2.2 2.3 4.6 .487 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.4 .543
Marcus Smart 61 27.3 9.1 1.2 2.9 4.2 3.0 1.5 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 8.7 .348 1.0 4.0 .253 2.1 2.7 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 12 6.3 2.7 1.0 1.2 2.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 1.0 1.1 3.4 .317 0.0 0.1 .000 0.5 0.8 .667
Marcus Smart 6 32.2 12.0 1.3 3.2 4.5 3.0 1.7 0.8 2.5 2.8 3.7 10.0 .367 1.8 5.3 .344 2.8 3.5 .810

Season 3

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1982-832016-17
Team Philadelphia 76ersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 73 13.5 3.4 1.2 2.5 3.7 0.6 0.5 0.3 1.0 2.0 1.5 3.5 .419 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.9 .493
Marcus Smart 79 30.4 10.6 1.0 2.9 3.9 4.6 1.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.4 9.5 .359 1.2 4.2 .283 2.6 3.2 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 5 5.0 0.4 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 1.0 0.2 0.8 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Marcus Smart 18 29.9 8.6 1.3 3.4 4.7 4.7 1.5 0.9 2.1 2.8 2.6 7.4 .351 1.6 4.1 .397 1.8 2.8 .640

Season 4

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1983-842017-18
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 73 12.4 2.6 1.2 2.8 3.9 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.8 2.0 1.1 2.4 .458 0.0 0.0 .000 0.4 0.8 .525
Marcus Smart 54 29.9 10.2 0.8 2.7 3.5 4.8 1.3 0.4 2.4 2.5 3.5 9.5 .367 1.4 4.6 .301 1.8 2.5 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 5 18.6 6.4 2.8 3.8 6.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 1.0 1.8 3.0 6.2 .484 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.2 .333
Marcus Smart 15 29.9 9.8 0.9 2.8 3.7 5.3 1.7 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 9.5 .336 1.0 4.5 .221 2.4 3.3 .735

Season 5

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1984-852018-19
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 81 20.3 6.1 2.1 3.1 5.2 1.0 0.7 0.5 1.4 2.7 2.6 5.3 .484 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.8 .569
Marcus Smart 80 27.5 8.9 0.7 2.2 2.9 4.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.0 7.1 .422 1.6 4.3 .364 1.3 1.6 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 9 14.8 4.1 1.1 3.4 4.6 0.4 1.0 0.2 0.4 2.2 1.8 3.8 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.0 .556
Marcus Smart 2 16.0 3.5 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.5 5.5 .091 0.5 5.5 .091 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 6

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1985-862019-20
Team Detroit PistonsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 80 25.2 8.6 2.5 3.8 6.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 1.9 3.0 3.6 7.1 .505 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.6 .555
Marcus Smart 60 32.0 12.9 0.7 3.1 3.8 4.9 1.7 0.5 1.7 2.7 4.3 11.4 .375 2.3 6.6 .347 2.1 2.5 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 4 31.5 9.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 1.3 3.5 4.3 7.8 .548 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 2.0 .250
Marcus Smart 17 38.1 14.5 0.6 4.6 5.2 4.6 1.2 0.5 2.6 3.2 4.6 11.6 .394 2.4 7.2 .333 2.9 3.3 .875

Season 7

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1986-872020-21
Team Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Earl Cureton 78 25.3 7.3 2.7 3.1 5.8 1.6 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.4 3.1 6.5 .476 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.9 .539
Marcus Smart 48 32.9 13.1 0.8 2.7 3.5 5.7 1.5 0.5 2.0 2.6 4.2 10.6 .398 1.9 5.9 .330 2.7 3.4 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart 5 36.6 17.8 0.8 3.6 4.4 6.0 1.0 0.2 2.8 2.8 5.8 13.2 .439 3.2 8.6 .372 3.0 4.2 .714

Season 8

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1987-882021-22
Team Los Angeles ClippersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 69 16.3 4.3 1.4 2.5 3.9 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.8 2.0 1.9 4.5 .429 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.9 .524
Marcus Smart 71 32.3 12.1 0.6 3.2 3.8 5.9 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.3 4.2 10.1 .418 1.7 5.1 .331 2.0 2.5 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart 21 36.2 15.4 1.0 3.6 4.5 5.9 1.2 0.2 2.5 3.4 5.4 13.3 .405 2.3 6.5 .350 2.4 3.0 .806

Season 9

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1988-892022-23
Team Charlotte HornetsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 82 25.0 6.5 2.3 3.7 6.0 1.6 0.6 0.7 1.4 2.8 2.8 5.7 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 0.8 1.5 .537
Marcus Smart 61 32.1 11.5 0.8 2.4 3.1 6.3 1.5 0.4 2.3 2.8 4.1 9.9 .415 1.9 5.6 .336 1.4 1.9 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart 20 34.0 14.9 1.1 3.0 4.0 5.1 1.3 0.3 2.3 1.9 5.1 11.2 .453 2.2 6.1 .361 2.6 3.3 .800

Note: Earl Cureton didn't play in 1989-90.

Season 10

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1990-912023-24
Team Charlotte HornetsMemphis Grizzlies
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 %
Earl Cureton 9 17.7 1.9 0.7 3.3 4.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.8 0.9 2.7 .333 0.0 0.1 .000 0.1 0.3 .333
Marcus Smart 20 30.3 14.5 0.3 2.4 2.7 4.3 2.1 0.3 3.1 2.7 5.1 11.9 .430 2.1 6.7 .313 2.2 2.8 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------

Note: Earl Cureton didn't play in 1991-92 and 1992-93.

Season 11

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1993-94-
Team Houston Rockets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA Champion-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 2 15.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.0 1.0 4.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 1.0 .000
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton 10 10.0 1.8 0.6 2.3 2.9 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 2.0 0.8 1.0 .800 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------

Note: Earl Cureton didn't play in 1994-95 and 1995-96.

Season 12

Earl Cureton Marcus Smart
Season 1996-97-
Team Toronto Raptors-
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 %
Earl Cureton 9 5.1 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.0 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.1 1.1 0.3 0.9 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .333
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Earl Cureton ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------