Bill Cartwright vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Bill Cartwright, 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.

Bill Cartwright played 15 years in the NBA, 5 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Bill Cartwright had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, while Kenny Smith had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
Bill Cartwright 15 10 1979-80 to 1994-95
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1979-801987-88
Team New York KnicksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 38.4 21.7 2.4 6.5 8.9 2.0 0.6 1.2 2.7 3.4 8.1 14.8 .547 0.0 0.0 - 5.5 6.9 .797
Kenny Smith 61 35.6 13.8 0.7 1.6 2.3 7.1 1.5 0.1 3.0 2.3 5.4 11.4 .477 0.2 0.6 .308 2.7 3.3 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1980-811988-89
Team New York KnicksSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 35.7 20.1 2.0 5.5 7.5 1.4 0.6 1.0 2.4 3.2 7.5 13.6 .554 0.0 0.0 .000 5.0 6.3 .788
Kenny Smith 81 38.8 17.3 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.7 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.1 6.8 14.6 .462 0.6 1.6 .359 3.2 4.4 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 2 24.5 10.0 2.0 4.5 6.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.5 3.0 8.5 .353 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 6.0 .667
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821989-90
Team New York KnicksSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
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 %
Bill Cartwright 72 28.6 14.4 1.6 4.2 5.8 1.2 0.7 0.9 2.3 2.9 5.4 9.6 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 4.7 .763
Kenny Smith 79 30.6 11.9 0.2 1.8 2.0 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.1 1.8 4.8 10.3 .466 0.3 1.1 .313 2.0 2.5 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831990-91
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East 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 %
Bill Cartwright 82 30.1 15.7 2.3 4.9 7.2 1.7 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.8 5.5 9.8 .566 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.2 .744
Kenny Smith 78 34.6 17.7 0.5 1.6 2.1 7.1 1.4 0.1 3.0 1.7 6.7 12.9 .520 0.6 1.7 .363 3.7 4.4 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 6 28.7 11.2 1.5 4.2 5.7 0.7 0.5 1.2 3.2 4.2 4.2 7.2 .581 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.7 .773
Kenny Smith 3 37.7 15.3 1.3 1.3 2.7 8.0 1.3 0.3 2.0 1.7 6.0 12.7 .474 0.7 1.3 .500 2.7 3.0 .889

Season 5

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841991-92
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Bill Cartwright 77 32.3 17.0 2.5 5.9 8.4 1.4 0.6 1.3 2.6 3.4 5.9 10.5 .561 0.0 0.0 .000 5.2 6.5 .805
Kenny Smith 81 33.8 14.0 0.4 1.8 2.2 6.9 1.3 0.1 2.8 1.4 5.3 11.2 .475 0.7 1.7 .394 2.7 3.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 12 33.2 17.4 2.3 6.0 8.3 0.4 0.2 1.2 2.2 3.7 5.8 10.5 .556 0.0 0.0 - 5.8 6.7 .863
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Note: Bill Cartwright didn't play in 1984-85.

Season 6

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861992-93
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Bill Cartwright 2 18.0 6.0 1.0 4.0 5.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 3.0 1.5 3.5 .429 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 5.0 .600
Kenny Smith 82 29.5 13.0 0.3 1.6 2.0 5.4 1.0 0.1 2.0 1.3 4.7 9.1 .520 1.2 2.7 .438 2.4 2.7 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 12 32.6 14.8 0.2 1.8 2.0 4.2 0.8 0.1 2.2 1.5 5.3 10.7 .492 1.9 3.8 .500 2.3 3.0 .778

Season 7

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871993-94
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
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 %
Bill Cartwright 58 34.3 17.5 2.3 5.4 7.7 1.7 0.7 0.4 2.2 3.2 5.8 10.9 .531 0.0 0.0 - 6.0 7.6 .790
Kenny Smith 78 28.3 11.6 0.3 1.5 1.8 4.2 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.6 4.4 9.1 .480 1.1 2.8 .405 1.7 2.0 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 23 30.3 10.8 0.2 2.1 2.3 4.1 1.0 0.2 1.4 1.7 3.7 8.2 .455 1.5 3.3 .447 1.8 2.3 .808

Season 8

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1987-881994-95
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 82 20.4 11.1 1.5 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.6 2.9 3.5 6.4 .544 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 5.2 .798
Kenny Smith 81 25.1 10.4 0.3 1.6 1.9 4.0 0.9 0.1 1.5 1.3 3.5 7.3 .484 1.8 4.1 .429 1.6 1.8 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 4 19.0 7.3 2.0 2.8 4.8 1.5 0.0 0.8 2.0 3.0 2.3 4.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.8 .733
Kenny Smith 22 29.6 10.8 0.3 1.9 2.2 4.5 0.6 0.1 1.4 2.1 3.5 8.1 .438 2.1 4.7 .442 1.6 1.8 .900

Season 9

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1988-891995-96
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsRockets 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 %
Bill Cartwright 78 29.9 12.4 1.9 4.7 6.7 1.2 0.3 0.5 2.4 3.0 4.7 9.8 .475 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 3.9 .766
Kenny Smith 68 23.8 8.5 0.3 1.1 1.4 3.6 0.7 0.0 1.5 1.7 3.0 6.8 .433 1.3 3.5 .382 1.3 1.6 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 34.3 11.8 1.9 5.2 7.1 1.2 0.5 0.7 2.4 4.1 4.2 8.7 .486 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.7 .700
Kenny Smith 8 23.9 8.9 0.5 1.0 1.5 4.8 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.8 2.9 6.6 .434 1.5 3.9 .387 1.6 1.6 1.000

Season 10

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1989-901996-97
Team Chicago BullsDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 71 30.4 11.4 1.9 4.6 6.5 2.0 0.5 0.5 1.7 3.4 4.1 8.4 .488 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.9 .811
Kenny Smith 48 15.9 6.3 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.5 0.6 2.1 5.0 .423 1.2 2.8 .437 0.8 0.9 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 16 28.9 8.1 1.6 3.1 4.7 1.0 0.3 0.3 1.6 3.3 3.1 7.6 .413 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.7 .674
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1990-91-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 79 28.8 9.6 2.1 4.0 6.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 1.4 2.1 4.0 8.2 .490 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.3 .697
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 17 30.1 9.5 1.5 3.2 4.7 1.9 0.5 0.4 1.2 3.2 4.1 7.9 .519 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 1.9 .688
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1991-92-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 64 23.0 8.0 1.5 3.6 5.1 1.4 0.3 0.2 1.2 2.0 3.3 7.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 2.5 .604
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 22 27.8 5.6 1.3 3.1 4.5 1.7 0.5 0.2 1.2 3.2 2.5 5.3 .474 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .419
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1992-93-
Team Chicago Bulls-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 63 19.9 5.6 1.3 2.4 3.7 1.3 0.3 0.2 1.0 2.4 2.2 5.4 .411 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 1.6 .735
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 19 23.4 6.3 1.5 3.0 4.5 1.5 0.6 0.2 0.7 2.7 2.4 5.2 .465 0.0 0.0 - 1.5 1.9 .778
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1993-94-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls 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 %
Bill Cartwright 42 18.6 5.6 1.0 2.6 3.6 1.4 0.2 0.2 1.2 2.0 2.3 4.5 .513 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.4 .684
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright 9 21.0 4.6 2.1 2.8 4.9 1.2 0.3 0.2 0.7 2.9 1.6 4.8 .326 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 1.8 .813
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Bill Cartwright Kenny Smith
Season 1994-95-
Team Seattle Supersonics-
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 %
Bill Cartwright 29 14.8 2.4 0.9 2.1 3.0 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 2.4 0.9 2.4 .391 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.8 .625
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bill Cartwright ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------