Alex Caruso vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Alex Caruso, 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.

Alex Caruso played 8 years in the NBA, 2 less than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Alex Caruso had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, 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 achievements, 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
Alex Caruso 8 4 2017-18 to 2024-25
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Rookie Season

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2017-181987-88
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 37 15.2 3.6 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.0 0.6 0.3 1.1 1.4 1.4 3.1 .431 0.4 1.2 .302 0.6 0.8 .700
difference:+24+20.4+10.2+0.3+0.2+0.5+5.1+0.9+0.2-1.9-0.9+4.0+8.3+.046+0.2+0.6+.006+2.1+2.5+.119
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
* Neiher Alex Caruso nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2018-191988-89
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 25 21.2 9.2 0.8 1.9 2.7 3.1 1.0 0.4 1.7 2.2 3.1 6.9 .445 1.0 2.0 .480 2.0 2.6 .797
difference:+56+17.6+8.1+0.2+0.3+0.1+4.6+0.3+0.3-1.4-0.1+3.7+7.7+.017+0.4+0.4+.121+1.2+1.8+.060
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
* Neiher Alex Caruso nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2019-201989-90
Team Los Angeles LakersSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 64 18.4 5.5 0.3 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.1 0.3 0.8 1.5 1.9 4.5 .412 0.6 1.9 .333 1.1 1.5 .734
difference:+15+12.2+6.4+0.1+0.1+0.1+3.7+0.1+0.2-1.3-0.3+2.9+5.8+.054+0.3+0.8+.020+0.9+1.0+.087
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 21 24.3 6.5 0.7 1.6 2.3 2.8 1.1 0.6 1.5 2.6 2.3 5.4 .425 0.8 2.9 .279 1.1 1.4 .800
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2020-211990-91
Team Los Angeles LakersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 58 21.0 6.4 0.5 2.4 2.9 2.8 1.1 0.3 1.3 1.9 2.3 5.3 .436 0.9 2.4 .401 0.8 1.3 .645
difference:+20+13.6+11.3+0.8+0.8+4.3+0.3+0.2-1.7-0.2+4.4+7.6+.084+0.3+0.7+.038+2.9+3.1+.199
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 6 20.2 5.8 0.3 1.0 1.3 0.5 0.2 0.7 1.2 2.0 2.3 6.3 .368 0.8 2.8 .294 0.3 0.3 1.000
difference:+3+17.5+9.5+1.0+0.3+1.4+7.5+1.1+0.4-0.8-0.3+3.7+6.4+.106+0.1+1.5+.206+2.4+2.7+.111
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

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2021-221991-92
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 41 28.0 7.4 0.8 2.8 3.6 4.0 1.7 0.4 1.4 2.6 2.5 6.2 .398 1.0 3.1 .333 1.4 1.8 .795
difference:+40+5.8+6.6+0.4+1.0+1.4+2.9+0.4+0.3-1.4-1.2+2.8+5.0+.077+0.3+1.4+.061+1.3+1.3+.071
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 4 28.3 6.3 0.5 2.3 2.8 4.3 1.3 1.0 0.3 2.8 2.3 5.8 .391 1.8 4.5 .389 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 6

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2022-231992-93
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 67 23.5 5.6 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.9 1.5 0.7 1.1 2.4 1.9 4.3 .455 0.8 2.3 .364 0.9 1.1 .808
difference:+15+6.0+7.4+0.3+0.7+0.9+2.5+0.5+0.6-0.9-1.1+2.8+4.8+.065+0.4+0.4+.074+1.5+1.6+.070
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
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

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2023-241993-94
Team Chicago BullsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 71 28.7 10.1 0.9 3.0 3.8 3.5 1.7 1.0 1.4 2.5 3.6 7.6 .468 1.9 4.7 .408 1.0 1.4 .760
difference:+7+0.4+1.5+0.6+1.5+2.0+0.7+0.9+0.9-0.2-0.9+0.8+1.5+.012+0.8+1.9+.003+0.7+0.6+.111
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso DNP------ --- ----------
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

Alex Caruso Kenny Smith
Season 2024-251994-95
Team Oklahoma City ThunderHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 54 19.3 7.1 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.5 1.6 0.6 0.7 1.9 2.6 5.8 .446 1.1 3.1 .353 0.8 0.9 .824
difference:+27+5.8+3.3+0.4+0.6+1.0+1.5+0.7+0.5-0.8-0.6+0.9+1.5+.038+0.7+1.0+.076+0.8+0.9+.027
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Alex Caruso 23 24.4 9.2 0.7 2.0 2.7 2.2 2.0 0.6 0.8 2.7 3.1 7.0 .450 1.6 3.9 .411 1.3 1.7 .795
difference:+1+5.2+1.6+0.4+0.1+0.5+2.3+1.4+0.5-0.6-0.6+0.4+1.1+.012+0.5+0.8+.031+0.3+0.1+.105
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

Additional Years

* Kenny Smith played 2 seasons more than Alex Caruso in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 9 to 10, from 1996 to 1997—Kenny Smith played in one postseason.