Elgin Baylor vs. Steve Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Smith and Elgin Baylor, 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.

Elgin Baylor and Steve Smith both played 14 years in the NBA. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Steve Smith had his rookie season in 1991-92. 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
Steve Smith 14 13 1991-92 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1958-591991-92
Team Minneapolis LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHeat 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
Steve Smith 61 29.6 12.0 1.3 1.8 3.1 4.6 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 10.7 .454 0.7 2.0 .320 1.6 2.1 .748
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 42.8 25.5 - - 12.0 3.3 - - - 4.0 9.4 23.3 .403 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Steve Smith 3 33.3 16.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 6.0 11.3 .529 2.3 3.7 .636 1.7 2.0 .833

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1959-601992-93
Team Minneapolis LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
Steve Smith 48 33.5 16.0 1.2 2.9 4.1 5.6 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.1 5.8 12.9 .451 1.1 2.8 .402 3.2 4.1 .787
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 9 45.3 33.4 - - 14.1 3.4 - - - 4.2 12.3 26.0 .474 - - - 8.8 10.4 .840
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1960-611993-94
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsHeat 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 %
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
Steve Smith 78 35.6 17.3 2.0 2.5 4.5 5.1 1.1 0.4 2.6 2.8 6.3 13.8 .456 1.2 3.4 .347 3.5 4.2 .835
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 12 45.0 38.1 - - 15.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 14.2 30.2 .470 - - - 9.8 11.8 .824
Steve Smith 5 38.4 19.2 3.4 2.6 6.0 2.2 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.4 6.6 16.0 .413 1.8 4.4 .409 4.2 5.0 .840

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1961-621994-95
Team Los Angeles LakersMiami Heat, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
Steve Smith 80 33.3 16.3 1.3 2.2 3.5 3.4 0.8 0.4 1.9 2.8 5.4 12.6 .426 1.7 5.2 .329 3.9 4.6 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.9 38.6 - - 17.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 14.3 32.7 .438 - - - 10.0 12.9 .774
Steve Smith 3 36.0 19.0 0.3 2.3 2.7 2.0 2.0 0.3 1.0 4.7 5.7 14.3 .395 2.3 6.0 .389 5.3 6.3 .842

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1962-631995-96
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
Steve Smith 80 35.7 18.1 1.6 2.5 4.1 2.8 0.9 0.2 1.9 2.6 6.2 14.3 .432 1.8 5.3 .331 4.0 4.8 .826
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.2 32.6 - - 13.6 4.5 - - - 3.7 12.3 27.8 .442 - - - 8.0 9.7 .825
Steve Smith 10 42.1 21.7 1.5 2.6 4.1 3.2 1.3 1.3 1.6 3.1 7.5 17.1 .439 2.5 6.1 .410 4.2 5.2 .808

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1963-641996-97
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
Steve Smith 72 39.1 20.1 1.3 2.1 3.3 4.2 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.4 6.8 15.9 .429 1.8 5.4 .335 4.6 5.5 .847
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 5 44.2 24.2 - - 11.6 5.6 - - - 3.4 9.0 23.8 .378 - - - 6.2 8.0 .775
Steve Smith 10 42.0 18.9 1.2 2.7 3.9 1.7 0.4 0.1 2.8 3.8 5.5 13.9 .396 1.8 5.5 .327 6.1 7.4 .824

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1964-651997-98
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
Steve Smith 73 39.1 20.1 1.8 2.4 4.2 4.0 1.0 0.4 2.4 3.0 6.7 15.1 .444 1.3 3.8 .351 5.3 6.2 .855
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 1.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Steve Smith 4 40.0 24.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 2.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 4.3 9.8 17.0 .574 2.5 5.0 .500 2.8 4.0 .688

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1965-661998-99
Team Los Angeles LakersAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsHawks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
Steve Smith 36 36.5 18.7 1.4 2.8 4.2 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.8 6.0 15.0 .402 1.3 3.9 .338 5.3 6.3 .849
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 14 41.9 26.8 - - 14.1 3.7 - - - 2.7 10.4 23.4 .442 - - - 6.1 7.5 .810
Steve Smith 9 39.6 17.3 1.6 1.9 3.4 3.3 1.6 0.2 2.3 3.6 6.0 17.0 .353 1.0 3.7 .273 4.3 4.8 .907

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1966-671999-00
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
Steve Smith 82 32.8 14.9 1.5 2.3 3.8 2.5 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.6 5.1 11.0 .467 1.2 2.9 .398 3.5 4.1 .850
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 3 40.3 23.7 - - 13.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 9.3 25.3 .368 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750
Steve Smith 16 37.8 17.1 0.8 1.7 2.5 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.8 5.5 11.3 .486 1.8 3.3 .547 4.3 4.9 .885

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1967-682000-01
Team Los Angeles LakersPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsTrail Blazers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
Steve Smith 81 31.4 13.6 1.1 2.3 3.4 2.6 0.6 0.3 1.7 2.5 4.4 9.7 .456 1.0 2.8 .339 3.8 4.3 .890
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 15 42.2 28.5 - - 14.5 4.0 - - - 2.7 11.7 25.1 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .679
Steve Smith 3 40.7 17.0 1.7 2.7 4.3 2.3 0.7 0.3 3.3 1.0 5.3 11.3 .471 1.3 3.7 .364 5.0 5.3 .938

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1968-692001-02
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsSpurs 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
Steve Smith 77 28.7 11.6 0.6 1.9 2.5 2.0 0.7 0.2 1.4 2.1 4.0 8.9 .455 1.5 3.2 .472 2.1 2.4 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 35.6 15.4 - - 9.2 4.1 - - - 3.1 5.9 15.4 .385 - - - 3.5 5.6 .630
Steve Smith 10 29.8 10.3 1.4 2.0 3.4 1.7 0.8 0.1 0.7 2.0 3.2 8.7 .368 1.0 3.8 .263 2.9 3.0 .967

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1969-702002-03
Team Los Angeles LakersSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
Steve Smith 53 19.5 6.8 0.4 1.5 1.9 1.3 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.5 2.1 5.5 .388 0.7 2.2 .331 1.8 2.2 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 37.1 18.7 - - 9.6 4.6 - - - 2.8 7.7 16.4 .466 - - - 3.3 4.5 .741
Steve Smith 9 7.4 1.8 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 2.7 .208 0.2 1.3 .167 0.4 0.4 1.000

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1970-712003-04
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHornets 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 %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Steve Smith 71 13.1 5.0 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.6 1.3 1.7 4.1 .406 0.6 1.5 .402 1.1 1.2 .928
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Steve Smith 5 9.0 6.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 1.0 2.4 5.2 .462 1.2 2.2 .545 0.4 0.6 .667

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Steve Smith
Season 1971-722004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat 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 %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
Steve Smith 50 15.0 6.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.4 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.6 2.0 5.0 .411 0.8 2.1 .390 1.4 1.6 .863
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Steve Smith 3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -