James Harden vs. Ish Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ish Smith and James Harden, 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 Harden played 15 years in the NBA, 1 more than Ish Smith, who played 14. James Harden had the first of his seasons in 2009-10, while Ish Smith had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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 Harden 15 15 2009-10 to 2023-24
Ish Smith 14 6 2010-11 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2009-102010-11
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf 1st RdGrizzlies 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 Harden 76 22.9 9.9 0.6 2.6 3.2 1.8 1.1 0.3 1.4 2.6 3.1 7.6 .403 1.2 3.3 .375 2.6 3.2 .808
Ish Smith 43 10.3 2.3 0.2 0.9 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.9 1.0 2.7 .374 0.1 0.2 .300 0.3 0.5 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 20.0 7.7 0.2 2.3 2.5 1.8 1.0 0.2 0.5 2.3 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.7 .375 2.7 3.2 .842
Ish Smith 5 2.0 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2010-112011-12
Team Oklahoma City ThunderGolden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsMagic 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 %
James Harden 82 26.7 12.2 0.5 2.6 3.1 2.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 2.5 3.6 8.3 .436 1.4 4.0 .349 3.5 4.2 .843
Ish Smith 26 9.0 2.8 0.3 1.1 1.3 1.6 0.6 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.2 3.1 .383 0.1 0.3 .333 0.3 0.4 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 31.6 13.0 0.6 4.8 5.4 3.6 1.2 0.8 1.6 2.8 3.9 8.2 .475 1.4 4.5 .303 3.9 4.7 .825
Ish Smith 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2011-122012-13
Team Oklahoma City ThunderOrlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Thunder Lost NBA FinalsBucks 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 %
James Harden 62 31.4 16.8 0.5 3.6 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.2 2.2 2.4 5.0 10.1 .491 1.8 4.7 .390 5.0 6.0 .846
Ish Smith 52 9.9 2.4 0.2 0.9 1.2 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.5 1.1 3.1 .352 0.2 0.5 .296 0.1 0.1 .429
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 20 31.5 16.3 0.7 4.5 5.1 3.4 1.6 0.1 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.7 .435 1.6 3.9 .410 5.4 6.3 .857
Ish Smith 4 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2012-132013-14
Team Houston RocketsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
James Harden 78 38.3 25.9 0.8 4.1 4.9 5.8 1.8 0.5 3.8 2.3 7.5 17.1 .438 2.3 6.2 .368 8.6 10.2 .851
Ish Smith 70 14.4 3.7 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.6 0.7 0.2 0.9 0.9 1.7 4.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .043 0.3 0.6 .564
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.5 26.3 0.8 5.8 6.7 4.5 2.0 1.0 4.5 3.0 7.5 19.2 .391 2.5 7.3 .341 8.8 11.0 .803
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2013-142014-15
Team Houston RocketsOklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
James Harden 73 38.0 25.4 0.8 3.9 4.7 6.1 1.6 0.4 3.6 2.4 7.5 16.5 .456 2.4 6.6 .366 7.9 9.1 .866
Ish Smith 55 15.1 6.1 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.3 0.7 0.1 1.4 0.9 2.6 6.7 .390 0.3 1.1 .300 0.6 1.0 .596
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 43.8 26.8 0.8 3.8 4.7 5.8 2.0 0.2 3.5 3.5 8.3 22.2 .376 2.7 9.0 .296 7.5 8.3 .900
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2014-152015-16
Team Houston RocketsNew Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 Harden 81 36.8 27.4 0.9 4.7 5.7 7.0 1.9 0.7 4.0 2.6 8.0 18.1 .440 2.6 6.9 .375 8.8 10.2 .868
Ish Smith 77 29.1 12.6 0.6 3.4 4.0 6.5 1.1 0.3 2.3 1.7 5.2 12.6 .411 0.7 2.2 .329 1.6 2.3 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 37.4 27.2 0.7 5.0 5.7 7.5 1.6 0.4 4.5 2.9 7.6 17.3 .439 2.4 6.3 .383 9.6 10.5 .916
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2015-162016-17
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets 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 %
James Harden 82 38.1 29.0 0.8 5.3 6.1 7.5 1.7 0.6 4.6 2.8 8.7 19.7 .439 2.9 8.0 .359 8.8 10.2 .860
Ish Smith 81 24.1 9.4 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.2 0.8 0.4 1.4 1.6 4.1 9.2 .439 0.3 1.3 .267 0.9 1.3 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 5 38.6 26.6 1.4 3.8 5.2 7.6 2.4 0.2 5.2 2.6 8.2 20.0 .410 2.6 8.4 .310 7.6 9.0 .844
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 8

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2016-172017-18
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Assists Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 81 36.4 29.1 1.2 7.0 8.1 11.2 1.5 0.5 5.7 2.7 8.3 18.9 .440 3.2 9.3 .347 9.2 10.9 .847
Ish Smith 82 24.9 10.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 4.4 0.8 0.2 1.3 1.7 4.7 9.8 .486 0.4 1.2 .347 1.0 1.4 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 37.0 28.5 0.6 4.8 5.5 8.5 1.9 0.5 5.4 3.9 8.2 19.8 .413 2.9 10.5 .278 9.2 10.5 .878
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2017-182018-19
Team Houston RocketsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf FinalsPistons 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 %
James Harden 72 35.4 30.4 0.6 4.8 5.4 8.8 1.8 0.7 4.4 2.3 9.0 20.1 .449 3.7 10.0 .367 8.7 10.1 .858
Ish Smith 56 22.3 8.9 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.6 0.5 0.2 1.1 1.9 3.7 8.7 .419 0.8 2.4 .326 0.8 1.1 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 17 36.5 28.6 0.8 4.4 5.2 6.8 2.2 0.6 3.8 2.7 9.3 22.6 .410 3.1 10.2 .299 6.9 7.8 .887
Ish Smith 4 20.3 6.0 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.5 0.8 0.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 9.5 .263 0.3 1.8 .143 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 10

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2018-192019-20
Team Houston RocketsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 78 36.8 36.1 0.8 5.8 6.6 7.5 2.0 0.7 5.0 3.1 10.8 24.5 .442 4.8 13.2 .368 9.7 11.0 .879
Ish Smith 68 26.3 10.9 0.4 2.8 3.2 4.9 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.6 4.5 10.1 .447 0.9 2.5 .367 0.9 1.3 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.5 31.6 0.8 6.0 6.8 6.6 2.2 0.9 4.6 3.7 9.9 24.0 .413 4.4 12.5 .350 7.5 8.9 .837
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2019-202020-21
Team Houston RocketsWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisWizards 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 %
James Harden 68 36.5 34.3 1.0 5.5 6.6 7.5 1.8 0.9 4.5 3.3 9.9 22.3 .444 4.4 12.4 .355 10.2 11.8 .865
Ish Smith 44 21.0 6.7 0.5 2.9 3.4 3.9 0.7 0.3 0.9 1.4 2.9 6.8 .434 0.4 1.1 .367 0.4 0.8 .576
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 37.3 29.6 1.0 4.6 5.6 7.7 1.5 0.8 3.8 3.6 9.1 19.0 .478 3.3 9.8 .333 8.2 9.7 .845
Ish Smith 5 22.2 6.8 0.2 3.0 3.2 2.8 1.4 0.4 1.0 2.2 3.2 8.6 .372 0.4 1.4 .286 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2020-212021-22
Team Houston Rockets, Brooklyn NetsCharlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 44 36.6 24.6 0.8 7.1 7.9 10.8 1.2 0.8 4.0 2.3 7.8 16.7 .466 2.8 7.6 .362 6.3 7.3 .861
Ish Smith 65 17.3 6.3 0.4 1.8 2.2 3.8 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.2 2.8 6.6 .430 0.4 1.0 .373 0.2 0.4 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 9 35.8 20.2 0.8 5.6 6.3 8.6 1.7 0.7 2.9 2.6 5.7 12.0 .472 2.7 7.3 .364 6.2 6.9 .903
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2021-222022-23
Team Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNBA 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 Harden 65 37.2 22.0 0.8 6.8 7.7 10.3 1.3 0.6 4.4 2.4 6.3 15.3 .410 2.3 6.9 .330 7.2 8.2 .877
Ish Smith 43 9.3 2.5 0.1 1.1 1.3 2.3 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.8 1.2 3.0 .397 0.0 0.3 .167 0.0 0.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 12 39.9 18.6 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.6 0.8 0.7 4.2 2.4 5.3 13.2 .405 2.3 6.3 .368 5.6 6.3 .893
Ish Smith 4 3.0 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2022-232023-24
Team Philadelphia 76ersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Assists Leader-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 58 36.8 21.0 0.7 5.4 6.1 10.7 1.2 0.5 3.4 1.9 6.4 14.5 .441 2.8 7.2 .385 5.4 6.2 .867
Ish Smith 43 17.2 3.2 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.4 0.4 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.5 3.7 .418 0.1 0.2 .500 0.1 0.1 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 11 38.8 20.3 0.5 5.6 6.2 8.3 1.8 0.4 3.2 2.5 6.5 16.6 .393 2.8 7.5 .378 4.4 5.0 .873
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 15

James Harden Ish Smith
Season 2023-24-
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 Harden 72 34.3 16.6 0.5 4.7 5.1 8.5 1.1 0.8 2.6 1.8 4.9 11.4 .428 2.6 6.8 .381 4.2 4.8 .878
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
James Harden 6 40.3 21.2 0.5 4.0 4.5 8.0 1.0 1.0 2.3 2.2 6.7 14.8 .449 3.0 7.8 .383 4.8 5.3 .906
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------