James Bailey vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and James Bailey, 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 / Games against each other

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.

James Bailey played 9 years in the NBA, 1 less than Kenny Smith, who played 10. James Bailey had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kenny Smith had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
James Bailey 9 2 1979-80 to 1987-88
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Seattle SupersonicsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 67 10.8 4.7 1.1 1.9 2.9 0.4 0.3 0.8 1.2 1.7 1.8 4.0 .450 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.5 .673
Kenny Smith 61 35.6 13.8 0.7 1.6 2.3 7.1 1.5 0.1 3.0 2.3 5.4 11.4 .477 0.2 0.6 .308 2.7 3.3 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 12 11.5 4.6 0.7 1.4 2.1 0.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 1.8 1.8 3.7 .477 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.7 .650
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Seattle SupersonicsSacramento Kings
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 %
James Bailey 82 31.0 14.0 2.3 5.1 7.4 1.2 0.9 1.7 2.7 4.0 5.4 10.8 .499 0.0 0.0 .500 3.1 4.4 .709
Kenny Smith 81 38.8 17.3 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.7 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.1 6.8 14.6 .462 0.6 1.6 .359 3.2 4.4 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821989-90
Team Seattle Supersonics, New Jersey NetsSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East 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 %
James Bailey 77 19.1 8.6 1.6 3.4 5.1 0.8 0.5 1.1 1.8 3.5 3.4 6.6 .517 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.9 .612
Kenny Smith 79 30.6 11.9 0.2 1.8 2.0 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.1 1.8 4.8 10.3 .466 0.3 1.1 .313 2.0 2.5 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 2 13.0 2.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 1.5 2.5 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 - 1.0 1.0 1.000
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831990-91
Team New Jersey Nets, Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
James Bailey 75 23.5 13.3 2.3 4.0 6.3 0.9 0.6 0.8 2.6 3.6 5.1 10.3 .497 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .702
Kenny Smith 78 34.6 17.7 0.5 1.6 2.1 7.1 1.4 0.1 3.0 1.7 6.7 12.9 .520 0.6 1.7 .363 3.7 4.4 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 3 37.7 15.3 1.3 1.3 2.7 8.0 1.3 0.3 2.0 1.7 6.0 12.7 .474 0.7 1.3 .500 2.7 3.0 .889

Season 5

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841991-92
Team Houston RocketsHouston Rockets
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 %
James Bailey 73 16.1 8.8 1.4 2.6 4.0 1.1 0.5 0.5 1.4 2.7 3.5 7.1 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.6 .719
Kenny Smith 81 33.8 14.0 0.4 1.8 2.2 6.9 1.3 0.1 2.8 1.4 5.3 11.2 .475 0.7 1.7 .394 2.7 3.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1984-851992-93
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
James Bailey 74 17.5 5.2 1.6 3.0 4.6 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.4 3.9 2.1 4.7 .447 0.0 0.0 .000 1.0 1.5 .676
Kenny Smith 82 29.5 13.0 0.3 1.6 2.0 5.4 1.0 0.1 2.0 1.3 4.7 9.1 .520 1.2 2.7 .438 2.4 2.7 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 12 32.6 14.8 0.2 1.8 2.0 4.2 0.8 0.1 2.2 1.5 5.3 10.7 .492 1.9 3.8 .500 2.3 3.0 .778

Season 7

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861993-94
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 48 25.9 11.1 2.1 4.8 7.0 1.0 0.7 0.8 2.1 4.3 4.2 9.2 .456 0.0 0.1 .000 2.7 3.5 .772
Kenny Smith 78 28.3 11.6 0.3 1.5 1.8 4.2 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.6 4.4 9.1 .480 1.1 2.8 .405 1.7 2.0 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 23 30.3 10.8 0.2 2.1 2.3 4.1 1.0 0.2 1.4 1.7 3.7 8.2 .455 1.5 3.3 .447 1.8 2.3 .808

Season 8

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871994-95
Team New Jersey NetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey 34 15.9 8.3 1.4 2.6 4.0 0.6 0.4 0.7 1.6 3.5 3.3 7.0 .469 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.4 .725
Kenny Smith 81 25.1 10.4 0.3 1.6 1.9 4.0 0.9 0.1 1.5 1.3 3.5 7.3 .484 1.8 4.1 .429 1.6 1.8 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 22 29.6 10.8 0.3 1.9 2.2 4.5 0.6 0.1 1.4 2.1 3.5 8.1 .438 2.1 4.7 .442 1.6 1.8 .900

Season 9

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
James Bailey 65 13.4 4.4 1.1 2.1 3.2 0.6 0.3 0.4 1.1 2.8 1.7 3.7 .452 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .787
Kenny Smith 68 23.8 8.5 0.3 1.1 1.4 3.6 0.7 0.0 1.5 1.7 3.0 6.8 .433 1.3 3.5 .382 1.3 1.6 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 8 23.9 8.9 0.5 1.0 1.5 4.8 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.8 2.9 6.6 .434 1.5 3.9 .387 1.6 1.6 1.000

Season 10

James Bailey Kenny Smith
Season -1996-97
Team -Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
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 %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 48 15.9 6.3 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.5 0.6 2.1 5.0 .423 1.2 2.8 .437 0.8 0.9 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Bailey ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------