James Edwards vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and James Edwards, 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 Edwards played 19 years in the NBA, 9 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. James Edwards had the first of his seasons in 1977-78, 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 Edwards 19 11 1977-78 to 1995-96
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1977-781987-88
Team Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana PacersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement 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 %
James Edwards 83 29.0 15.2 2.4 5.0 7.4 1.0 0.6 0.9 2.0 3.9 6.0 13.2 .453 - - - 3.3 5.1 .646
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1978-791988-89
Team Indiana PacersSacramento 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 Edwards 82 31.0 16.7 2.2 6.3 8.5 1.1 0.7 1.3 2.0 4.4 6.5 13.0 .501 - - - 3.6 5.4 .676
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1979-801989-90
Team Indiana PacersSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
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 Edwards 82 28.2 15.7 2.2 4.9 7.0 1.5 0.7 1.3 1.6 4.0 6.4 12.6 .512 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 4.1 .681
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1980-811990-91
Team Indiana PacersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdRockets 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 Edwards 81 29.3 15.6 2.4 4.7 7.0 2.6 0.4 1.6 2.0 3.8 6.3 12.4 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.3 .703
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 Edwards 2 28.0 7.0 2.0 5.0 7.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 2.0 4.0 3.5 12.0 .292 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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 Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821991-92
Team Cleveland CavaliersHouston 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 Edwards 77 33.0 16.7 2.5 5.1 7.5 1.6 0.3 1.5 2.1 4.5 6.9 13.4 .511 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.4 .684
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831992-93
Team Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets 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 Edwards 31 21.5 10.5 1.8 3.2 5.0 1.3 0.4 0.6 1.6 3.5 4.1 8.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .639
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 Edwards 3 18.0 9.3 2.0 4.0 6.0 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.7 2.3 3.7 8.7 .423 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
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 Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841993-94
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 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 %
James Edwards 72 26.3 14.7 1.5 3.3 4.8 2.6 0.3 0.4 1.9 3.5 6.1 11.3 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.5 .720
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 Edwards 17 27.2 13.8 1.3 4.1 5.4 1.6 0.2 0.6 1.8 3.6 5.5 11.1 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 4.0 .706
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 Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1984-851994-95
Team Phoenix SunsHouston 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 Edwards 70 25.5 14.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 2.2 0.4 0.7 2.3 3.4 5.5 10.9 .501 0.0 0.0 .000 3.9 5.3 .746
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
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 Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861995-96
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 Edwards 52 25.3 16.3 1.5 4.3 5.8 1.4 0.4 0.6 2.5 3.8 6.1 11.3 .542 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.8 .702
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
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 Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871996-97
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
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 Edwards 14 21.7 12.0 1.4 2.9 4.3 1.4 0.4 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.1 7.9 .518 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.0 .771
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 Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1987-88-
Team Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 69 24.7 11.8 1.7 4.2 6.0 1.1 0.2 0.5 1.9 3.1 4.4 9.3 .470 0.0 0.0 .000 3.0 4.7 .654
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 22 14.0 6.3 1.0 2.0 3.1 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.5 2.5 2.5 5.0 .509 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 1.9 .659
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1988-89-
Team Detroit Pistons-
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 %
James Edwards 76 16.5 7.3 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.9 3.0 2.8 5.6 .500 0.0 0.0 .000 1.8 2.6 .686
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 17 18.6 7.1 0.6 1.5 2.1 0.7 0.1 0.5 0.9 3.1 2.4 5.0 .471 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 3.0 .784
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1989-90-
Team Detroit Pistons-
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 %
James Edwards 82 27.8 14.5 1.4 2.8 4.2 0.8 0.3 0.5 1.6 3.6 5.6 11.3 .498 0.0 0.0 .000 3.2 4.3 .749
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 20 26.8 14.3 1.2 2.4 3.6 0.7 0.3 0.6 1.6 3.7 5.7 11.6 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 4.8 .604
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1990-91-
Team Detroit Pistons-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
James Edwards 72 26.4 13.6 1.3 2.6 3.8 0.9 0.2 0.4 1.8 3.5 5.3 11.0 .484 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.1 .729
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 15 23.0 10.7 1.0 1.5 2.5 0.6 0.1 0.2 1.6 2.9 4.1 10.0 .407 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.7 .691
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1991-92-
Team Los Angeles Clippers-
Honors & Awards
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 %
James Edwards 72 20.0 9.7 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.7 0.3 0.5 1.0 3.3 3.5 7.5 .465 0.0 0.0 .000 2.8 3.8 .731
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 5 17.4 6.4 1.0 1.6 2.6 0.6 0.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.0 4.8 .417 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.8 .632
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1992-93-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 Edwards 52 11.9 6.3 0.6 1.3 1.9 0.8 0.2 0.1 1.0 2.3 2.3 5.2 .452 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .712
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 3 4.7 2.0 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.3 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 17

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1993-94-
Team Los Angeles Lakers-
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 Edwards 45 10.4 4.7 0.2 1.2 1.4 0.5 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.0 1.7 3.7 .464 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .684
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 18

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1994-95-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail 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 %
James Edwards 28 9.5 2.7 0.4 1.2 1.5 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 1.6 1.1 3.0 .386 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.6 .647
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 19

James Edwards Kenny Smith
Season 1995-96-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 %
James Edwards 28 9.8 3.5 0.5 0.9 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.8 2.2 1.5 3.9 .373 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.9 .615
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Edwards 6 4.7 1.8 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 1.7 0.7 1.5 .444 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------