Ben Simmons vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Ben Simmons, 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 / Stats Rankings / 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.

Ben Simmons played 7 years in the NBA, 9 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Ben Simmons had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, 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 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
Ben Simmons 7 4 2017-18 to 2024-25
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2017-182004-05
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Ben Simmons 81 33.7 15.8 1.8 6.3 8.1 8.2 1.7 0.9 3.4 2.6 6.7 12.3 .545 0.0 0.1 .000 2.4 4.2 .560
difference:+5+9.2+5.5+1.3+4.8+6.1+6.3+1.0+0.8-2.0-0.8+2.8+2.5+.151+1.1+3.6+.288+0.9+2.1+.129
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 10 36.9 16.3 1.6 7.8 9.4 7.7 1.7 0.8 4.4 3.4 6.1 12.5 .488 0.0 0.1 .000 4.1 5.8 .707
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2018-192005-06
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Ben Simmons 79 34.2 16.9 2.2 6.6 8.8 7.7 1.4 0.8 3.5 2.6 6.8 12.2 .563 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 5.4 .600
difference:+24+16.2+9.2+1.9+4.9+6.8+6.6+0.7+0.7-2.5-1.0+4.2+5.5+.170+0.9+2.4+.371+1.8+3.6+.222
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 12 35.1 13.9 1.9 5.1 7.0 6.0 1.3 1.0 2.7 3.8 6.0 9.7 .621 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.3 .575
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2019-202006-07
Team Philadelphia 76ersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 57 35.4 16.4 2.0 5.8 7.8 8.0 2.1 0.6 3.5 3.3 6.6 11.4 .580 0.0 0.1 .286 3.2 5.2 .621
difference:+6+12.1+3.4+1.5+4.0+5.5+6.6+1.3+0.5-2.2-1.0+2.1+1.2+.139+2.4+6.0+.104+1.6+3.2+.189
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons DNP------ --- ----------
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
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2020-212007-08
Team Philadelphia 76ersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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%
Ben Simmons 58 32.4 14.3 1.6 5.6 7.2 6.9 1.6 0.6 3.0 2.9 5.6 10.1 .557 0.1 0.2 .300 3.0 4.9 .613
difference:+16+13.2+2.0+1.0+4.1+5.1+5.2+0.8+0.4-1.5-1.0+1.4+1.0+.096+2.0+5.1+.103+1.3+2.5+.106
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 12 33.5 11.9 2.1 5.8 7.9 8.8 1.3 0.8 2.3 3.3 4.9 7.9 .621 0.0 0.1 .000 2.1 6.1 .342
difference:+8+6.5+6.4+1.8+4.3+6.1+7.0+0.3+0.8-1.0-0.3+0.9+2.9+.086+1.8+5.4+.318+2.9+0.1+.491
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

Note: Ben Simmons didn't play in 2021-22.

Season 5
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2022-232008-09
Team Brooklyn NetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 42 26.3 6.9 1.0 5.3 6.3 6.1 1.3 0.6 2.3 3.3 3.2 5.6 .566 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.4 .439
difference:+39+1.4+8.3+0.5+2.2+2.6+3.3+0.3+0.4-0.4-1.0+2.0+6.1+.120+2.2+5.6+1.9+2.0+.315
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons DNP------ --- ----------
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
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2023-242009-10
Team Brooklyn NetsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 15 23.9 6.1 2.1 5.9 7.9 5.7 0.8 0.6 1.8 2.4 2.9 4.9 .581 0.0 0.0 - 0.4 1.0 .400
difference:+60+3.9+9.3+1.7+3.2+4.8+3.3+0.5+0.3-0.1-0.1+2.8+8.9+.167+2.1+6.2+1.5+1.7+.306
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons DNP------ --- ----------
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
Ben Simmons J.R. Smith
Season 2024-252010-11
Team Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles ClippersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Clippers Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 51 22.0 5.0 0.9 3.8 4.7 5.6 0.7 0.5 2.0 2.1 2.3 4.4 .520 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.6 .727
difference:+28+2.9+7.3+0.3+0.3+0.6+3.4+0.5+0.3-0.7-0.1+2.0+5.5+.085+1.6+4.0+1.6+2.2+.011
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Ben Simmons 5 8.4 0.8 0.6 0.8 1.4 0.8 0.2 0.8 0.4 2.2 0.4 1.2 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+6.8+9.0+0.4+1.0+0.6+0.2+0.2+0.8-1.2-0.6+2.8+7.8+.023+1.8+4.2+1.6+2.2
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

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 9 seasons more than Ben Simmons in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 8 to 16, from 2012 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 7 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.

In those 9 extra years over Ben Simmons, J.R. Smith got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Sixth Man of the Year
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