Ricky Rubio vs. Ish Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ish Smith and Ricky Rubio, 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.

Ricky Rubio played 12 years in the NBA, 2 less than Ish Smith, who played 14. Ricky Rubio had the first of his seasons in 2011-12, 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
Ricky Rubio 12 3 2011-12 to 2022-23
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

Rookie Season
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2011-122010-11
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesHouston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayGrizzlies 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 %
Ricky Rubio 41 34.2 10.6 0.5 3.7 4.2 8.2 2.2 0.2 3.2 2.4 3.4 9.5 .357 0.8 2.3 .340 3.1 3.8 .803
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2012-132011-12
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesGolden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayMagic 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 %
Ricky Rubio 57 29.7 10.7 0.8 3.2 4.0 7.3 2.4 0.1 3.0 2.5 3.2 9.0 .360 0.5 1.6 .293 3.7 4.6 .799
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2013-142012-13
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesOrlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
Ricky Rubio 82 32.2 9.5 0.7 3.4 4.2 8.6 2.3 0.1 2.7 2.7 3.1 8.2 .381 0.5 1.6 .331 2.8 3.5 .802
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2014-152013-14
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesPhoenix 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 %
Ricky Rubio 22 31.5 10.3 0.9 4.8 5.7 8.8 1.7 0.0 2.9 2.7 3.5 10.0 .356 0.6 2.3 .255 2.6 3.2 .803
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2015-162014-15
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesOklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers
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 %
Ricky Rubio 76 30.6 10.1 0.5 3.8 4.3 8.7 2.1 0.1 2.5 2.6 2.9 7.7 .374 0.8 2.5 .326 3.5 4.1 .847
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2016-172015-16
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesNew Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers
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 %
Ricky Rubio 75 32.9 11.1 0.9 3.2 4.1 9.1 1.7 0.1 2.6 2.7 3.5 8.7 .402 0.8 2.6 .306 3.4 3.8 .891
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2017-182016-17
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Ricky Rubio 77 29.3 13.1 0.6 4.0 4.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.7 2.7 4.5 10.7 .418 1.2 3.5 .352 2.9 3.3 .866
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 %
Ricky Rubio 6 30.2 14.0 0.8 6.5 7.3 7.0 1.3 0.5 3.0 2.2 4.7 13.2 .354 1.7 5.3 .313 3.0 3.8 .783
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 8
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2018-192017-18
Team Utah JazzDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Jazz 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 %
Ricky Rubio 68 27.9 12.7 0.5 3.1 3.6 6.1 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.6 4.3 10.7 .404 1.2 3.7 .311 2.9 3.4 .855
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 %
Ricky Rubio 5 33.6 15.4 0.6 2.6 3.2 8.6 2.4 0.2 3.0 2.8 5.6 13.2 .424 0.8 4.0 .200 3.4 4.0 .850
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2019-202018-19
Team Phoenix SunsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayPistons 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 %
Ricky Rubio 65 31.0 13.0 0.7 4.0 4.7 8.8 1.4 0.2 2.7 2.6 4.4 10.6 .415 1.2 3.3 .361 3.0 3.5 .863
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2020-212019-20
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesWashington Wizards
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 %
Ricky Rubio 68 26.1 8.6 0.4 2.9 3.3 6.4 1.4 0.1 1.6 2.0 2.8 7.3 .388 1.0 3.1 .308 1.9 2.2 .867
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2021-222020-21
Team Cleveland CavaliersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayWizards 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 %
Ricky Rubio 34 28.5 13.1 0.4 3.7 4.1 6.6 1.4 0.2 2.6 2.2 4.4 12.1 .363 1.7 5.1 .339 2.6 3.0 .854
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season 2022-232021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersCharlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Ricky Rubio 33 17.2 5.2 0.3 1.8 2.1 3.5 0.8 0.2 0.9 1.5 1.8 5.4 .343 0.6 2.5 .256 0.8 1.1 .800
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 %
Ricky Rubio 3 5.7 0.0 0.7 1.3 2.0 1.0 0.3 0.0 1.7 1.7 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season -2022-23
Team -Denver Nuggets
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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
Ricky Rubio Ish Smith
Season -2023-24
Team -Charlotte Hornets
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
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 %
Ricky Rubio ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------
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