Bob Lanier vs. Steve Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Steve Smith and Bob Lanier, 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

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.

Bob Lanier and Steve Smith both played 14 years in the NBA. Bob Lanier had the first of his seasons in 1970-71, while Steve Smith had his rookie season in 1991-92. 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
Bob Lanier 14 9 1970-71 to 1983-84
Steve Smith 14 13 1991-92 to 2004-05

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1970-711991-92
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat 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 %
Bob Lanier 82 24.6 15.6 - - 8.1 1.8 - - - 3.3 6.1 13.5 .455 - - - 3.3 4.6 .726
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
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

Season 2

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1971-721992-93
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards 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 %
Bob Lanier 80 38.7 25.7 - - 14.2 3.1 - - - 3.7 10.4 21.1 .493 - - - 4.9 6.3 .768
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
Steve Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1972-731993-94
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayHeat 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 %
Bob Lanier 81 38.9 23.8 - - 14.9 3.2 - - - 3.4 10.0 20.4 .490 - - - 3.8 4.9 .773
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
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

Season 4

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1973-741994-95
Team Detroit PistonsMiami Heat, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Pistons 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 %
Bob Lanier 81 37.6 22.5 3.3 9.9 13.3 4.2 1.4 3.0 - 3.4 9.2 18.3 .504 - - - 4.0 5.0 .797
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 43.3 26.3 3.7 11.6 15.3 3.0 0.6 2.0 - 4.0 11.0 21.7 .507 - - - 4.3 5.4 .789
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

Season 5

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1974-751995-96
Team Detroit PistonsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Conf 1st RdHawks 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 %
Bob Lanier 76 39.3 24.0 3.0 9.1 12.0 4.6 1.0 2.3 - 3.1 9.6 18.9 .510 - - - 4.8 5.9 .802
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 42.7 20.3 1.7 9.0 10.7 6.3 1.3 4.0 - 3.3 8.7 17.0 .510 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
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

Season 6

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1975-761996-97
Team Detroit PistonsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pistons Lost West 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 36.9 21.3 3.4 8.3 11.7 3.4 1.2 1.3 - 3.2 8.5 15.9 .532 - - - 4.4 5.8 .768
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 39.9 26.1 4.3 8.3 12.7 3.3 0.9 2.3 - 3.8 10.6 19.1 .552 - - - 5.0 5.6 .900
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

Season 7

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1976-771997-98
Team Detroit PistonsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost West 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 %
Bob Lanier 64 38.2 25.3 3.1 8.5 11.6 3.3 1.1 2.0 - 2.7 10.6 19.8 .534 - - - 4.1 5.0 .818
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 3 39.3 28.0 4.3 12.3 16.7 2.0 1.0 2.3 - 3.3 11.3 18.0 .630 - - - 5.3 6.3 .842
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

Season 8

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1977-781998-99
Team Detroit PistonsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Bob Lanier 63 36.7 24.5 3.1 8.2 11.3 3.4 1.3 1.5 3.6 2.9 9.9 18.4 .537 - - - 4.7 6.1 .772
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
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

Season 9

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1978-791999-00
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers 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 %
Bob Lanier 53 34.6 23.6 3.1 6.2 9.3 2.6 0.9 1.4 3.3 3.4 9.2 17.9 .515 - - - 5.2 6.9 .749
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier ------- --- ----------
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

Season 10

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1979-802000-01
Team Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee BucksPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost West Conf SemisTrail Blazers 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 %
Bob Lanier 63 33.8 19.2 2.4 6.3 8.8 2.9 1.2 1.4 2.6 3.2 7.4 13.8 .537 0.0 0.1 .167 4.4 5.6 .782
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 36.6 19.3 2.4 6.9 9.3 4.4 1.0 1.1 2.4 3.3 7.4 14.4 .515 0.0 0.0 - 4.4 6.0 .738
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

Season 11

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1980-812001-02
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf SemisSpurs 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 %
Bob Lanier 67 26.2 14.3 1.9 4.3 6.2 2.7 1.1 1.2 2.1 2.7 5.6 10.7 .525 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.1 4.1 .751
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 7 33.7 17.6 1.7 5.7 7.4 4.0 1.7 1.1 2.1 2.6 7.1 12.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.6 .719
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

Season 12

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1981-822002-03
Team Milwaukee BucksSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks 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 %
Bob Lanier 74 26.8 13.5 1.2 4.0 5.2 3.0 1.0 0.8 2.2 2.9 5.5 9.9 .558 0.0 0.0 .000 2.5 3.3 .752
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 6 35.3 16.0 3.0 4.5 7.5 3.7 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.5 6.8 13.3 .513 0.0 0.2 .000 2.3 4.2 .560
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

Season 13

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1982-832003-04
Team Milwaukee BucksNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsHornets 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 %
Bob Lanier 39 25.1 10.7 1.5 3.6 5.1 2.7 0.9 0.6 2.1 3.2 4.2 8.5 .491 0.0 0.0 .000 2.3 3.4 .684
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 9 27.8 13.7 1.9 5.1 7.0 2.6 0.6 1.6 2.3 3.6 5.7 9.9 .573 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 3.9 .600
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

Season 14

Bob Lanier Steve Smith
Season 1983-842004-05
Team Milwaukee BucksCharlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf FinalsHeat Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 72 27.9 13.6 2.0 4.4 6.3 2.6 0.8 0.7 2.3 3.2 5.4 9.5 .572 0.0 0.0 .000 2.7 3.8 .708
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Bob Lanier 16 31.2 12.7 2.0 5.3 7.3 3.4 0.7 0.6 2.4 3.6 5.1 10.7 .480 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 2.8 .886
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 -