Zydrunas Ilgauskas vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 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.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas played 13 years in the NBA, 3 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Zydrunas Ilgauskas had the first of his seasons in 1997-98, 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
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 7 1997-98 to 2010-11
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 1997-982004-05
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 82 29.0 13.9 3.4 5.4 8.8 0.9 0.6 1.6 1.8 3.5 5.5 10.7 .518 0.0 0.0 .250 2.8 3.7 .762
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 4 36.8 17.3 3.5 4.0 7.5 0.5 0.5 1.3 2.5 5.5 7.0 12.3 .571 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 6.3 .520
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 1998-992005-06
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 5 34.2 15.2 3.4 5.4 8.8 0.8 0.8 1.4 1.8 4.8 5.8 11.4 .509 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 6.0 .600
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Note: Zydrunas Ilgauskas didn't play in 1999-00.

Season 3

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2000-012006-07
Team Cleveland CavaliersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 24 25.7 11.7 2.7 4.0 6.7 0.8 0.6 1.5 2.5 3.3 4.8 9.8 .487 0.0 0.1 .000 2.2 3.3 .679
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2001-022007-08
Team Cleveland CavaliersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 62 21.4 11.1 2.2 3.2 5.4 1.1 0.3 1.4 1.5 3.0 3.9 9.1 .425 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.5 .754
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2002-032008-09
Team Cleveland CavaliersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 81 30.0 17.2 3.0 4.6 7.5 1.6 0.7 1.9 2.6 3.4 6.1 13.9 .441 0.0 0.1 .000 4.9 6.3 .781
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2003-042009-10
Team Cleveland CavaliersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 81 31.3 15.3 3.4 4.6 8.1 1.3 0.5 2.5 2.0 3.4 5.8 11.9 .483 0.0 0.1 .286 3.7 5.0 .746
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2004-052010-11
Team Cleveland CavaliersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 78 33.5 16.9 3.8 4.8 8.6 1.3 0.7 2.1 2.4 4.0 5.9 12.6 .468 0.0 0.1 .286 5.2 6.4 .799
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2005-062011-12
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 78 29.3 15.6 3.1 4.4 7.6 1.2 0.5 1.7 2.0 3.6 5.8 11.4 .506 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 4.9 .834
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 27.2 10.4 2.5 3.8 6.3 0.8 0.4 2.1 1.8 3.5 4.2 9.2 .454 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.8 .750
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2006-072012-13
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 78 27.3 11.9 3.1 4.6 7.7 1.6 0.6 1.3 1.8 3.3 4.9 10.2 .485 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.5 .807
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 20 32.5 12.6 3.3 6.4 9.7 0.9 0.5 0.8 1.6 3.0 4.9 9.9 .492 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 3.4 .838
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2007-082013-14
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 73 30.4 14.1 3.6 5.7 9.3 1.4 0.5 1.6 1.8 3.4 5.7 12.0 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.3 .802
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 13 30.2 13.1 2.5 5.0 7.5 1.6 0.4 1.1 1.6 2.7 5.2 10.8 .479 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.4 .818
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2008-092014-15
Team Cleveland CavaliersNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 65 27.2 12.9 2.4 5.1 7.5 1.0 0.4 1.3 1.4 2.8 5.3 11.1 .472 0.2 0.6 .385 2.1 2.7 .799
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 14 29.1 10.5 1.9 5.9 7.8 1.2 0.4 0.9 0.6 3.4 4.4 9.9 .449 0.1 0.9 .154 1.5 2.4 .636
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2009-102015-16
Team Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 64 20.9 7.4 1.8 3.6 5.4 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 2.9 3.0 6.8 .443 0.2 0.4 .478 1.2 1.6 .743
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 7 9.9 1.7 1.0 0.6 1.6 0.4 0.0 1.0 0.1 1.4 0.7 1.9 .385 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.4 .667
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season 2010-112016-17
Team Miami HeatCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 72 15.9 5.0 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.4 0.3 0.8 0.7 2.6 2.3 4.4 .508 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .783
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas 9 11.6 3.6 1.7 1.9 3.6 0.3 0.0 0.3 1.0 1.8 1.6 3.3 .467 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 0.7 .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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas J.R. Smith
Season -2017-18
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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

Zydrunas Ilgauskas 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Zydrunas Ilgauskas 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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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 %
Zydrunas Ilgauskas ------- --- ----------
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 -