Patrick Ewing vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Patrick Ewing, 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.

Patrick Ewing played 17 years in the NBA, 1 more than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Patrick Ewing had the first of his seasons in 1985-86, while J.R. Smith had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Patrick Ewing 17 14 1985-86 to 2001-02
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1985-862004-05
Team New York KnicksNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Patrick Ewing 50 35.4 20.0 2.5 6.5 9.0 2.0 1.1 2.1 3.4 3.8 7.7 16.3 .474 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .739
J.R. Smith 76 24.5 10.3 0.5 1.5 2.0 1.9 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.9 9.8 .394 1.1 3.7 .288 1.5 2.1 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1986-872005-06
Team New York KnicksNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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 %
Patrick Ewing 63 35.0 21.5 2.5 6.3 8.8 1.7 1.4 2.3 3.6 3.9 8.4 16.7 .503 0.0 0.1 .000 4.7 6.6 .713
J.R. Smith 55 18.0 7.7 0.3 1.7 2.0 1.1 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.7 .393 0.9 2.5 .371 1.5 1.8 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1987-882006-07
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 31.0 20.2 3.0 5.3 8.2 1.5 1.3 3.0 3.5 4.0 8.0 14.4 .555 0.0 0.0 .000 4.2 5.8 .716
J.R. Smith 63 23.3 13.0 0.5 1.8 2.3 1.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.3 4.5 10.2 .441 2.4 6.1 .390 1.6 2.0 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 38.3 18.8 4.0 8.8 12.8 2.5 1.5 3.3 2.8 4.3 7.0 14.3 .491 0.0 0.3 .000 4.8 5.5 .864
J.R. Smith 4 11.8 4.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.5 1.5 5.5 .273 0.0 3.0 .000 1.5 1.5 1.000

Season 4

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1988-892007-08
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 80 36.2 22.7 2.7 6.6 9.3 2.4 1.5 3.5 3.3 3.9 9.1 16.0 .567 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .746
J.R. Smith 74 19.2 12.3 0.6 1.5 2.1 1.7 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.9 4.2 9.1 .461 2.1 5.3 .403 1.7 2.4 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 9 37.8 19.9 2.6 7.4 10.0 2.2 1.0 2.0 1.7 3.9 7.8 16.0 .486 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.8 .750
J.R. Smith 4 27.0 18.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.8 1.0 0.0 1.3 3.0 5.8 10.8 .535 1.8 5.5 .318 5.0 6.0 .833

Season 5

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1989-902008-09
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 82 38.6 28.6 2.9 8.0 10.9 2.2 1.0 4.0 3.4 4.0 11.2 20.4 .551 0.0 0.0 .250 6.1 7.9 .775
J.R. Smith 81 27.7 15.2 0.5 3.1 3.7 2.8 1.0 0.2 1.9 2.3 5.2 11.7 .446 2.2 5.6 .397 2.5 3.4 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 10 39.5 29.4 2.1 8.4 10.5 3.1 1.3 2.0 2.7 4.1 11.4 21.9 .521 0.1 0.2 .500 6.5 7.9 .823
J.R. Smith 16 27.2 14.9 0.7 2.6 3.3 2.8 1.1 0.3 1.6 3.2 5.5 12.1 .454 2.4 6.6 .358 1.6 2.9 .543

Season 6

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1990-912009-10
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 81 38.3 26.6 2.4 8.8 11.2 3.0 1.0 3.2 3.6 3.5 10.4 20.3 .514 0.0 0.1 .000 5.7 7.7 .745
J.R. Smith 75 27.8 15.4 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.4 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.8 .414 2.1 6.2 .338 1.9 2.7 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 3 36.7 16.7 0.7 9.3 10.0 2.0 0.3 1.7 3.7 4.0 6.0 15.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 4.7 6.0 .778
J.R. Smith 6 26.5 11.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 2.8 3.5 9.5 .368 1.8 5.2 .355 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 7

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1991-922010-11
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Patrick Ewing 82 38.4 24.0 2.8 8.5 11.2 1.9 1.1 3.0 2.5 3.4 9.7 18.6 .522 0.0 0.1 .167 4.6 6.2 .738
J.R. Smith 79 24.9 12.3 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.2 1.2 0.2 1.3 2.2 4.3 9.9 .435 1.6 4.0 .390 2.1 2.8 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 12 40.2 22.7 2.8 8.3 11.1 2.3 0.6 2.6 1.9 4.1 9.1 19.9 .456 0.0 0.1 .000 4.5 6.1 .740
J.R. Smith 5 15.2 9.8 0.2 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.4 0.0 1.6 1.6 3.2 9.0 .356 1.8 4.2 .429 1.6 2.2 .727

Season 8

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1992-932011-12
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 81 37.1 24.2 2.4 9.7 12.1 1.9 0.9 2.0 3.3 3.5 9.6 19.1 .503 0.0 0.1 .143 4.9 6.9 .719
J.R. Smith 35 27.6 12.5 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.4 1.5 0.2 1.3 2.5 4.7 11.6 .407 1.9 5.5 .347 1.1 1.6 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 15 40.3 25.5 2.9 8.1 10.9 2.4 1.1 2.1 2.6 4.0 11.0 21.5 .512 0.1 0.1 1.000 3.4 5.3 .638
J.R. Smith 5 35.0 12.2 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.2 3.8 4.8 15.2 .316 1.0 5.6 .179 1.6 1.6 1.000

Season 9

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1993-942012-13
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsKnicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 37.6 24.5 2.8 8.4 11.2 2.3 1.1 2.7 3.3 3.5 9.4 19.0 .496 0.1 0.2 .286 5.6 7.4 .765
J.R. Smith 80 33.5 18.1 0.8 4.5 5.3 2.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 2.8 6.6 15.6 .422 1.9 5.5 .356 3.0 3.9 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 25 41.3 21.9 3.5 8.2 11.7 2.6 1.3 3.0 3.3 3.8 8.4 19.2 .437 0.2 0.4 .364 4.9 6.5 .755
J.R. Smith 11 31.9 14.3 0.5 4.2 4.7 1.4 1.0 0.5 1.8 2.5 4.9 14.8 .331 1.6 6.0 .273 2.8 3.9 .721

Season 10

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1994-952013-14
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 37.0 23.9 2.0 9.0 11.0 2.7 0.9 2.0 3.2 3.4 9.2 18.4 .503 0.1 0.3 .286 5.3 7.1 .750
J.R. Smith 74 32.7 14.5 0.5 3.5 4.0 3.0 0.9 0.3 1.5 2.6 5.4 12.9 .415 2.6 6.5 .394 1.2 1.9 .652
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 11 36.3 19.0 1.5 8.1 9.6 2.5 0.5 2.3 2.7 4.6 7.3 14.2 .513 0.1 0.3 .333 4.4 6.4 .686
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1995-962014-15
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 76 36.6 22.5 2.1 8.5 10.6 2.1 0.9 2.4 2.9 3.3 8.9 19.2 .466 0.1 0.4 .143 4.6 6.1 .761
J.R. Smith 70 29.7 12.1 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.4 2.3 4.5 10.8 .417 2.3 6.1 .383 0.8 1.0 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 8 41.0 21.5 1.4 9.3 10.6 1.9 0.1 3.1 3.8 2.8 8.1 17.1 .474 0.1 0.3 .500 5.1 7.9 .651
J.R. Smith 18 31.1 12.8 0.5 4.2 4.7 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.8 3.0 4.6 11.4 .403 2.8 7.9 .359 0.8 1.1 .700

Season 12

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1996-972015-16
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Patrick Ewing 78 37.0 22.4 2.2 8.4 10.7 2.0 0.9 2.4 3.4 3.2 8.4 17.2 .488 0.0 0.1 .222 5.6 7.5 .754
J.R. Smith 77 30.7 12.4 0.6 2.3 2.8 1.7 1.1 0.3 0.8 2.6 4.6 11.0 .415 2.6 6.6 .400 0.6 0.9 .634
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 9 39.7 22.6 2.9 7.7 10.6 1.9 0.3 2.4 3.0 3.3 9.8 18.6 .527 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.7 .643
J.R. Smith 21 34.8 11.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.5 2.6 3.9 9.0 .436 3.1 7.2 .430 0.6 1.0 .619

Season 13

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1997-982016-17
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 26 32.6 20.8 2.3 7.9 10.2 1.1 0.6 2.2 3.0 2.8 7.8 15.5 .504 0.0 0.1 .000 5.2 7.2 .720
J.R. Smith 41 29.0 8.6 0.4 2.3 2.8 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.6 1.9 3.0 8.7 .346 2.3 6.6 .351 0.2 0.4 .667
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 33.3 14.0 2.3 5.8 8.0 1.3 0.8 1.3 2.5 4.0 5.0 14.0 .357 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.8 .593
J.R. Smith 18 27.1 8.1 0.3 2.1 2.3 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.3 2.8 5.5 .505 2.2 4.4 .500 0.3 0.6 .455

Season 14

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1998-992017-18
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 38 34.2 17.3 1.9 8.0 9.9 1.1 0.8 2.6 2.6 2.8 6.5 14.9 .435 0.0 0.1 .000 4.3 6.1 .706
J.R. Smith 80 28.1 8.3 0.4 2.6 2.9 1.8 0.9 0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.4 .403 1.8 4.8 .375 0.5 0.7 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 11 31.5 13.1 1.3 7.5 8.7 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.9 3.2 5.3 12.3 .430 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 3.3 .778
J.R. Smith 22 32.1 8.7 0.5 2.3 2.7 1.1 1.0 0.2 0.9 2.5 3.0 8.5 .348 2.0 5.5 .367 0.8 1.0 .773

Season 15

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 1999-002018-19
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Patrick Ewing 62 32.8 15.0 2.3 7.5 9.7 0.9 0.6 1.4 2.3 3.2 5.8 12.5 .466 0.0 0.0 .000 3.3 4.6 .731
J.R. Smith 11 20.2 6.7 0.0 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.5 7.2 .342 1.1 3.5 .308 0.7 0.9 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 14 32.9 14.6 2.1 7.4 9.5 0.4 1.1 1.4 1.9 3.4 5.1 12.1 .418 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.4 .697
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 2000-012019-20
Team Seattle SupersonicsLos Angeles Lakers
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 %
Patrick Ewing 79 26.7 9.6 1.6 5.8 7.4 1.2 0.7 1.2 1.9 2.9 3.7 8.7 .430 0.0 0.0 .000 2.2 3.2 .685
J.R. Smith 6 13.2 2.8 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.7 0.8 1.2 3.7 .318 0.2 1.8 .091 0.3 0.3 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 10 7.5 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.1 0.7 2.6 .269 0.6 2.2 .273 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Patrick Ewing J.R. Smith
Season 2001-02-
Team Orlando Magic-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Magic 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 %
Patrick Ewing 65 13.9 6.0 0.9 3.1 4.0 0.5 0.3 0.7 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .444 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.1 .701
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Patrick Ewing 4 17.0 6.5 1.3 4.3 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.0 0.5 3.0 2.0 6.3 .320 0.0 0.3 .000 2.5 4.3 .588
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------