Larry Nance vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Larry Nance, 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.

Larry Nance played 13 years in the NBA, 3 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Larry Nance had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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
Larry Nance 13 8 1981-82 to 1993-94
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

Rookie Season

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 80 14.8 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.1 2.8 5.5 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.5 .641
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 %
Larry Nance 7 18.3 7.7 1.9 2.7 4.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.6 5.9 .610 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .500
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.5 16.7 2.9 5.7 8.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 2.3 3.1 7.2 13.0 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 2.4 3.5 .672
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 %
Larry Nance 3 34.3 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.7 11.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Phoenix SunsSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.4 17.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 2.6 1.0 2.1 2.2 3.3 7.3 12.7 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .707
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 %
Larry Nance 17 37.2 16.9 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.5 6.9 11.8 .590 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .671
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Phoenix SunsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Larry Nance 61 36.1 19.9 3.2 5.6 8.8 2.6 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.0 8.4 14.4 .587 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.2 .709
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Phoenix SunsHouston 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 %
Larry Nance 73 34.0 20.2 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 1.0 1.8 2.9 3.4 8.0 13.7 .581 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 6.1 .698
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871992-93
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 %
Larry Nance 69 37.2 22.5 2.7 6.0 8.7 3.4 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.2 8.5 15.4 .551 0.0 0.1 .200 5.5 7.1 .773
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Phoenix Suns, Cleveland CavaliersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 67 35.6 19.1 2.9 6.2 9.1 3.1 0.9 2.4 2.3 3.6 7.3 13.7 .529 0.0 0.1 .333 4.5 5.8 .779
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 %
Larry Nance 5 40.0 16.8 2.0 5.2 7.2 3.6 0.4 2.2 2.8 2.6 6.8 12.8 .531 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.6 .889
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

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Cleveland CavaliersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 73 34.6 17.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 2.2 0.8 2.8 1.6 2.5 6.8 12.6 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.6 .799
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 %
Larry Nance 5 39.0 19.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.2 0.6 2.4 1.8 2.4 7.6 13.8 .551 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 6.4 .656
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

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Cleveland CavaliersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Larry Nance 62 33.3 16.3 2.6 5.7 8.3 2.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.0 6.6 13.0 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.0 3.9 .778
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 %
Larry Nance 5 31.8 12.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 2.4 0.6 2.0 0.8 4.0 5.2 9.0 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .750
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

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Cleveland CavaliersDetroit 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 %
Larry Nance 80 36.6 19.2 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.0 0.8 2.5 1.6 2.7 7.9 15.1 .524 0.0 0.1 .250 3.3 4.1 .803
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1991-92-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 81 35.6 17.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 2.9 1.0 3.0 1.1 2.5 6.9 12.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.0 .822
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 17 40.1 18.0 2.6 6.6 9.2 2.5 0.8 2.7 1.5 3.3 7.3 14.8 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .829
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1992-93-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 77 35.8 16.5 2.4 6.3 8.7 2.9 0.7 2.6 1.4 2.9 6.9 12.6 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.2 .818
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 9 36.6 16.1 3.9 4.3 8.2 2.3 0.9 1.6 0.7 3.7 6.8 12.0 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .767
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Nance Kenny Smith
Season 1993-94-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Larry Nance 33 27.5 11.2 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.5 0.8 1.7 1.2 2.9 4.6 9.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .753
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------