Kenny Smith vs. Ricky Sobers Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ricky Sobers and Kenny Smith, 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.

Kenny Smith played 10 years in the NBA, 1 less than Ricky Sobers, who played 11. Kenny Smith had the first of his seasons in 1987-88, while Ricky Sobers had his rookie season in 1975-76. 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
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97
Ricky Sobers 11 3 1975-76 to 1985-86

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1987-881975-76
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlaySuns Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers 78 24.3 9.2 1.0 2.3 3.3 2.8 1.4 0.1 - 3.2 3.6 8.0 .449 - - - 2.0 2.5 .823
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers 19 29.6 13.0 1.1 2.3 3.3 4.2 0.9 0.3 - 4.1 5.1 10.8 .468 - - - 2.9 3.5 .833

Season 2

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1988-891976-77
Team Sacramento KingsPhoenix Suns
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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 79 25.4 13.6 1.0 1.9 3.0 3.0 1.2 0.2 - 3.3 5.2 10.6 .496 - - - 3.1 3.7 .841
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1989-901977-78
Team Sacramento Kings, Atlanta HawksIndiana Pacers
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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 79 38.2 18.2 1.2 3.0 4.1 7.4 2.2 0.3 4.5 3.9 7.0 15.5 .453 - - - 4.2 5.1 .825
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1990-911978-79
Team Houston RocketsIndiana Pacers
Honors & Awards
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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 81 34.9 17.3 1.5 2.3 3.7 5.6 1.7 0.3 3.8 3.9 6.8 14.7 .463 - - - 3.7 4.2 .882
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1991-921979-80
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 82 32.6 14.2 0.9 2.0 3.0 5.2 1.7 0.2 3.4 3.6 5.7 12.2 .469 0.3 0.8 .309 2.4 2.9 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1992-931980-81
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisBulls 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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 71 25.4 13.5 0.6 1.4 2.0 4.0 1.4 0.2 2.9 3.2 5.0 10.8 .462 0.2 0.9 .258 3.3 3.5 .935
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers 6 27.0 13.2 0.5 1.3 1.8 3.7 0.7 0.0 2.5 4.3 5.8 13.5 .432 0.2 1.0 .167 1.3 1.5 .889

Season 7

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1993-941981-82
Team Houston RocketsChicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers 80 24.2 11.8 0.5 1.3 1.8 3.8 0.9 0.2 2.7 3.0 4.5 10.0 .453 0.2 1.0 .250 2.4 3.2 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1994-951982-83
Team Houston RocketsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers 41 35.1 15.7 0.9 1.6 2.5 5.3 1.5 0.3 3.6 3.9 5.7 13.0 .438 0.6 1.3 .418 3.8 4.5 .832
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1995-961983-84
Team Houston RocketsWashington Bullets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost West Conf SemisBullets 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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 81 32.4 15.6 0.6 1.6 2.2 4.7 1.4 0.2 2.7 3.4 6.3 13.8 .456 0.4 1.4 .261 2.7 3.3 .837
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
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
Ricky Sobers 4 37.5 15.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 4.0 1.3 0.5 2.3 4.8 6.3 14.3 .439 0.8 2.5 .300 2.0 2.5 .800

Season 10

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season 1996-971984-85
Team Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver NuggetsSeattle Supersonics
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 %
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
Ricky Sobers 71 21.0 9.9 0.4 1.1 1.5 3.5 0.7 0.1 2.2 2.2 3.9 8.8 .446 0.1 0.4 .286 1.9 2.3 .815
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Kenny Smith Ricky Sobers
Season -1985-86
Team -Seattle Supersonics
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 %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers 78 16.4 7.7 0.4 0.9 1.3 2.3 0.6 0.0 1.1 1.8 3.1 6.9 .444 0.2 0.6 .302 1.4 1.6 .880
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Ricky Sobers ------- --- ----------