Richard Jefferson vs. Josh Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Josh Smith and Richard Jefferson, 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.

Richard Jefferson played 17 years in the NBA, 4 more than Josh Smith, who played 13. Richard Jefferson had the first of his seasons in 2001-02, while Josh 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
Richard Jefferson 17 12 2001-02 to 2017-18
Josh Smith 13 8 2004-05 to 2017-18

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

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2001-022004-05
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second TeamAchievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 79 24.3 9.4 1.1 2.6 3.7 1.8 0.8 0.6 1.4 2.7 3.4 7.5 .457 0.2 0.7 .232 2.4 3.4 .713
Josh Smith 74 27.7 9.7 2.0 4.2 6.2 1.7 0.8 1.9 1.8 2.1 3.7 8.1 .455 0.1 0.3 .174 2.2 3.2 .688
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 20 22.1 7.0 0.8 3.8 4.6 1.3 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.0 2.7 5.7 .465 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 3.0 .550
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2002-032005-06
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 80 36.0 15.5 1.9 4.6 6.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 2.0 2.7 5.7 11.4 .501 0.1 0.3 .250 4.1 5.5 .743
Josh Smith 80 32.0 11.3 2.2 4.4 6.6 2.4 0.8 2.6 2.0 3.3 4.1 9.7 .425 0.4 1.4 .309 2.6 3.7 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 20 35.7 14.1 1.5 4.9 6.4 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.3 3.4 5.5 11.6 .476 0.0 0.2 .000 3.1 4.3 .718
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2003-042006-07
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Richard Jefferson 82 38.2 18.5 1.3 4.3 5.7 3.8 1.1 0.3 2.4 2.7 6.8 13.6 .498 0.6 1.6 .364 4.4 5.7 .763
Josh Smith 72 36.8 16.4 2.3 6.3 8.6 3.3 1.4 2.9 3.2 3.3 6.1 13.8 .439 0.5 2.1 .250 3.7 5.4 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 11 41.6 19.8 1.3 5.0 6.3 3.8 1.3 0.7 3.9 3.2 6.0 14.4 .418 0.8 3.0 .273 7.0 9.8 .713
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2004-052007-08
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 33 41.1 22.2 1.5 5.8 7.3 4.0 1.0 0.5 4.0 3.3 7.2 17.1 .422 0.9 2.7 .337 6.9 8.2 .844
Josh Smith 81 35.5 17.2 2.0 6.2 8.2 3.4 1.5 2.8 3.0 3.3 6.4 14.0 .457 0.3 1.2 .253 4.1 5.8 .710
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 4 35.5 15.8 2.0 3.5 5.5 2.3 0.8 0.0 2.0 3.5 5.0 12.5 .400 0.5 2.5 .200 5.3 7.8 .677
Josh Smith 7 33.9 15.7 1.0 5.4 6.4 2.9 1.7 2.9 3.7 3.7 5.0 12.6 .398 0.4 2.6 .167 5.3 6.3 .841

Season 5

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2005-062008-09
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 78 39.2 19.5 1.2 5.6 6.8 3.8 0.8 0.2 2.2 2.5 6.3 12.9 .493 0.8 2.4 .319 6.0 7.4 .812
Josh Smith 69 35.1 15.6 1.9 5.3 7.2 2.4 1.4 1.6 2.3 2.7 6.1 12.3 .492 0.4 1.3 .299 3.1 5.2 .588
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 11 39.7 22.2 0.6 3.5 4.1 4.1 0.9 0.4 2.7 2.9 8.2 15.0 .545 1.1 2.6 .414 4.7 5.7 .825
Josh Smith 11 37.3 17.1 2.2 5.3 7.5 2.2 1.1 1.5 1.9 3.3 6.1 14.5 .421 0.2 1.4 .133 4.7 6.5 .732

Season 6

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2006-072009-10
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Playoffs Nets Lost East Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 55 35.6 16.3 0.9 3.5 4.4 2.7 0.6 0.1 2.2 2.2 5.5 12.1 .456 0.9 2.6 .359 4.3 5.9 .733
Josh Smith 81 35.4 15.7 2.8 6.0 8.7 4.2 1.6 2.1 2.4 3.0 6.2 12.3 .505 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 5.2 .618
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 12 40.8 19.7 0.3 5.3 5.6 2.3 0.8 0.4 2.3 2.0 6.8 14.0 .482 1.1 3.3 .325 5.1 5.5 .924
Josh Smith 11 35.6 14.1 3.4 5.6 9.0 2.6 1.2 1.7 1.5 2.7 5.6 11.7 .481 0.2 0.5 .333 2.6 4.0 .659

Season 7

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2007-082010-11
Team New Jersey NetsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 82 39.0 22.6 1.1 3.0 4.2 3.1 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 7.5 16.2 .466 0.9 2.6 .362 6.6 8.3 .798
Josh Smith 77 34.4 16.5 1.7 6.8 8.5 3.3 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.8 6.5 13.5 .477 0.7 2.0 .331 3.0 4.1 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Josh Smith 12 36.5 15.1 1.5 7.0 8.5 2.9 1.1 2.1 2.2 3.3 5.8 14.3 .404 0.3 2.0 .125 3.3 5.6 .597

Season 8

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2008-092011-12
Team Milwaukee BucksAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayHawks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 82 35.8 19.6 0.7 3.9 4.6 2.4 0.8 0.2 2.0 3.1 6.5 14.9 .439 1.4 3.6 .397 5.1 6.3 .805
Josh Smith 66 35.3 18.8 2.1 7.5 9.6 3.9 1.4 1.7 2.5 2.6 7.6 16.7 .458 0.4 1.7 .257 3.1 4.9 .630
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Josh Smith 5 39.2 16.8 2.0 11.6 13.6 4.8 0.6 1.0 3.0 2.8 6.8 17.6 .386 0.0 0.8 .000 3.2 4.2 .762

Season 9

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2009-102012-13
Team San Antonio SpursAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisHawks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 81 31.1 12.3 0.7 3.7 4.4 2.0 0.6 0.5 1.3 2.2 4.5 9.6 .467 0.7 2.3 .316 2.6 3.5 .735
Josh Smith 76 35.3 17.5 1.8 6.7 8.4 4.2 1.2 1.8 3.0 2.3 7.2 15.6 .465 0.8 2.6 .303 2.2 4.2 .517
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 10 33.4 9.4 0.8 4.5 5.3 1.8 0.6 0.6 1.5 2.0 3.4 7.0 .486 0.1 0.5 .200 2.5 3.3 .758
Josh Smith 6 33.2 17.0 1.7 5.8 7.5 3.5 1.8 0.5 2.7 3.5 6.5 15.0 .433 0.8 3.3 .250 3.2 6.0 .528

Season 10

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2010-112013-14
Team San Antonio SpursDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Richard Jefferson 81 30.4 11.0 0.7 3.2 3.8 1.3 0.5 0.4 1.1 2.0 3.8 7.9 .474 1.7 3.8 .440 1.8 2.4 .759
Josh Smith 77 35.5 16.4 1.3 5.4 6.8 3.3 1.4 1.4 2.6 2.6 6.7 16.0 .419 0.9 3.4 .264 2.1 3.9 .532
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 6 29.3 6.5 0.3 3.8 4.2 0.8 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.0 5.2 .387 1.0 2.8 .353 1.5 1.8 .818
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2011-122014-15
Team San Antonio Spurs, Golden State WarriorsDetroit Pistons, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Richard Jefferson 63 27.7 9.2 0.4 3.1 3.5 1.4 0.6 0.3 0.8 1.9 3.2 7.7 .416 1.8 4.3 .420 0.9 1.3 .694
Josh Smith 83 27.7 12.4 1.8 4.6 6.4 3.3 1.0 1.4 2.5 2.7 5.0 11.9 .419 0.9 2.7 .316 1.5 3.1 .498
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Josh Smith 17 23.3 13.5 1.5 4.1 5.6 2.7 0.5 1.0 2.2 2.4 5.0 11.4 .438 1.6 4.2 .380 1.9 4.4 .432

Season 12

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2012-132015-16
Team Golden State WarriorsLos Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisRockets 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 %
Richard Jefferson 56 10.1 3.1 0.1 1.4 1.5 0.6 0.3 0.1 0.4 0.8 1.1 2.4 .456 0.3 0.8 .311 0.7 0.9 .717
Josh Smith 55 16.0 6.0 0.9 2.6 3.5 1.6 0.6 0.9 1.4 2.1 2.3 6.3 .364 0.7 2.6 .287 0.7 1.2 .552
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 7 5.6 1.9 0.3 0.7 1.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.7 0.6 1.3 .444 0.3 0.4 .667 0.4 1.3 .333
Josh Smith 4 9.5 4.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.3 1.3 1.8 1.5 3.3 .462 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.5 .000

Note: Josh Smith didn't play in 2016-17.

Season 13

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2013-142017-18
Team Utah JazzNew Orleans Pelicans
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 %
Richard Jefferson 82 27.0 10.1 0.2 2.5 2.7 1.6 0.7 0.2 1.1 2.0 3.6 8.0 .450 1.5 3.7 .409 1.5 2.0 .741
Josh Smith 3 4.0 0.7 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2014-15-
Team Dallas Mavericks-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Mavericks 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 %
Richard Jefferson 74 16.8 5.8 0.3 2.1 2.5 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.7 1.6 1.9 4.4 .444 0.9 2.1 .426 1.1 1.5 .684
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 4 12.8 3.8 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.0 0.8 2.3 1.3 3.5 .357 0.8 2.0 .375 0.5 0.5 1.000
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2015-16-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
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 %
Richard Jefferson 74 17.9 5.5 0.2 1.5 1.7 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.6 1.7 1.9 4.2 .458 0.9 2.3 .382 0.8 1.2 .667
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 21 18.1 5.4 0.8 2.8 3.5 0.7 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.6 2.1 4.0 .524 0.5 1.3 .393 0.7 1.0 .750
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2016-17-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 79 20.4 5.7 0.4 2.2 2.6 1.0 0.3 0.1 0.7 1.9 1.9 4.3 .446 0.8 2.4 .333 1.0 1.4 .741
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson 14 12.8 3.9 0.7 1.1 1.8 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.6 2.1 1.1 2.7 .421 0.4 1.4 .263 1.3 2.0 .643
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Richard Jefferson Josh Smith
Season 2017-18-
Team Denver Nuggets-
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 %
Richard Jefferson 20 8.2 1.5 0.1 0.8 0.9 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.4 .444 0.1 0.4 .286 0.2 0.4 .571
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Richard Jefferson ------- --- ----------
Josh Smith ------- --- ----------