Steve Smith vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Steve 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 / 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.

Steve Smith played 14 years in the NBA, 2 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Steve Smith had the first of his seasons in 1991-92, 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
Steve Smith 14 13 1991-92 to 2004-05
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

Rookie Season

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1991-922004-05
Team Miami HeatNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Steve Smith 61 29.6 12.0 1.3 1.8 3.1 4.6 1.0 0.3 2.5 2.7 4.9 10.7 .454 0.7 2.0 .320 1.6 2.1 .748
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 %
Steve Smith 3 33.3 16.0 1.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 1.3 0.3 1.0 0.7 6.0 11.3 .529 2.3 3.7 .636 1.7 2.0 .833
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1992-932005-06
Team Miami HeatNew 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 %
Steve Smith 48 33.5 16.0 1.2 2.9 4.1 5.6 1.0 0.3 2.7 3.1 5.8 12.9 .451 1.1 2.8 .402 3.2 4.1 .787
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 %
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1993-942006-07
Team Miami HeatDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Steve Smith 78 35.6 17.3 2.0 2.5 4.5 5.1 1.1 0.4 2.6 2.8 6.3 13.8 .456 1.2 3.4 .347 3.5 4.2 .835
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 %
Steve Smith 5 38.4 19.2 3.4 2.6 6.0 2.2 0.8 0.4 2.0 2.4 6.6 16.0 .413 1.8 4.4 .409 4.2 5.0 .840
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1994-952007-08
Team Miami Heat, Atlanta HawksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Steve Smith 80 33.3 16.3 1.3 2.2 3.5 3.4 0.8 0.4 1.9 2.8 5.4 12.6 .426 1.7 5.2 .329 3.9 4.6 .841
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 %
Steve Smith 3 36.0 19.0 0.3 2.3 2.7 2.0 2.0 0.3 1.0 4.7 5.7 14.3 .395 2.3 6.0 .389 5.3 6.3 .842
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1995-962008-09
Team Atlanta HawksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Steve Smith 80 35.7 18.1 1.6 2.5 4.1 2.8 0.9 0.2 1.9 2.6 6.2 14.3 .432 1.8 5.3 .331 4.0 4.8 .826
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 %
Steve Smith 10 42.1 21.7 1.5 2.6 4.1 3.2 1.3 1.3 1.6 3.1 7.5 17.1 .439 2.5 6.1 .410 4.2 5.2 .808
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1996-972009-10
Team Atlanta HawksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Steve Smith 72 39.1 20.1 1.3 2.1 3.3 4.2 0.9 0.3 2.4 2.4 6.8 15.9 .429 1.8 5.4 .335 4.6 5.5 .847
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 %
Steve Smith 10 42.0 18.9 1.2 2.7 3.9 1.7 0.4 0.1 2.8 3.8 5.5 13.9 .396 1.8 5.5 .327 6.1 7.4 .824
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1997-982010-11
Team Atlanta HawksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks 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 %
Steve Smith 73 39.1 20.1 1.8 2.4 4.2 4.0 1.0 0.4 2.4 3.0 6.7 15.1 .444 1.3 3.8 .351 5.3 6.2 .855
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 %
Steve Smith 4 40.0 24.8 0.5 2.3 2.8 2.3 0.5 0.8 1.3 4.3 9.8 17.0 .574 2.5 5.0 .500 2.8 4.0 .688
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1998-992011-12
Team Atlanta HawksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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 %
Steve Smith 36 36.5 18.7 1.4 2.8 4.2 3.3 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.8 6.0 15.0 .402 1.3 3.9 .338 5.3 6.3 .849
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 %
Steve Smith 9 39.6 17.3 1.6 1.9 3.4 3.3 1.6 0.2 2.3 3.6 6.0 17.0 .353 1.0 3.7 .273 4.3 4.8 .907
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 1999-002012-13
Team Portland Trail BlazersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 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 %
Steve Smith 82 32.8 14.9 1.5 2.3 3.8 2.5 0.9 0.4 1.4 2.6 5.1 11.0 .467 1.2 2.9 .398 3.5 4.1 .850
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 %
Steve Smith 16 37.8 17.1 0.8 1.7 2.5 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.7 2.8 5.5 11.3 .486 1.8 3.3 .547 4.3 4.9 .885
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 2000-012013-14
Team Portland Trail BlazersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Steve Smith 81 31.4 13.6 1.1 2.3 3.4 2.6 0.6 0.3 1.7 2.5 4.4 9.7 .456 1.0 2.8 .339 3.8 4.3 .890
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 %
Steve Smith 3 40.7 17.0 1.7 2.7 4.3 2.3 0.7 0.3 3.3 1.0 5.3 11.3 .471 1.3 3.7 .364 5.0 5.3 .938
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 2001-022014-15
Team San Antonio SpursNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West 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 %
Steve Smith 77 28.7 11.6 0.6 1.9 2.5 2.0 0.7 0.2 1.4 2.1 4.0 8.9 .455 1.5 3.2 .472 2.1 2.4 .878
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 %
Steve Smith 10 29.8 10.3 1.4 2.0 3.4 1.7 0.8 0.1 0.7 2.0 3.2 8.7 .368 1.0 3.8 .263 2.9 3.0 .967
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 2002-032015-16
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Smith 53 19.5 6.8 0.4 1.5 1.9 1.3 0.5 0.2 0.8 1.5 2.1 5.5 .388 0.7 2.2 .331 1.8 2.2 .833
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 %
Steve Smith 9 7.4 1.8 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 2.7 .208 0.2 1.3 .167 0.4 0.4 1.000
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 2003-042016-17
Team New Orleans HornetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Hornets Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Steve Smith 71 13.1 5.0 0.4 0.8 1.1 0.8 0.2 0.1 0.6 1.3 1.7 4.1 .406 0.6 1.5 .402 1.1 1.2 .928
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 %
Steve Smith 5 9.0 6.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.6 1.0 2.4 5.2 .462 1.2 2.2 .545 0.4 0.6 .667
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season 2004-052017-18
Team Charlotte Bobcats, Miami HeatCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 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 %
Steve Smith 50 15.0 6.3 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.4 0.3 0.1 0.5 1.6 2.0 5.0 .411 0.8 2.1 .390 1.4 1.6 .863
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 %
Steve Smith 3 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
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

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season -2018-19
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 %
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------
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 %
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Steve Smith J.R. Smith
Season -2019-20
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
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 %
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------
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 %
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------
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 -