Danny Ainge vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Danny Ainge, 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.

Danny Ainge played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Danny Ainge had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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
Danny Ainge 14 12 1981-82 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

Rookie Season

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821987-88
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Danny Ainge 53 10.6 4.1 0.5 0.6 1.1 1.6 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.6 1.5 4.2 .357 0.1 0.3 .294 1.1 1.2 .862
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 %
Danny Ainge 10 12.9 5.0 0.6 0.7 1.3 1.1 0.2 0.1 1.1 2.1 1.9 4.5 .422 0.2 0.4 .500 1.0 1.3 .769
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831988-89
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 25.6 9.9 1.0 1.6 2.7 3.1 1.4 0.1 1.2 3.2 4.5 9.0 .496 0.1 0.4 .172 0.9 1.2 .742
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 %
Danny Ainge 7 28.7 9.4 0.3 1.7 2.0 3.6 0.7 0.1 0.9 3.4 4.0 10.3 .389 0.3 0.7 .400 1.1 1.6 .727
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841989-90
Team Boston CelticsSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 71 16.3 5.4 0.4 1.2 1.6 2.3 0.6 0.1 1.0 2.0 2.3 5.1 .460 0.1 0.3 .273 0.6 0.8 .821
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 %
Danny Ainge 19 13.3 4.8 0.2 0.6 0.8 2.0 0.5 0.1 0.7 1.9 2.2 4.7 .456 0.1 0.5 .222 0.4 0.5 .700
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1984-851990-91
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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 %
Danny Ainge 75 34.2 12.9 1.0 2.6 3.6 5.3 1.6 0.1 2.0 3.0 5.6 10.6 .529 0.2 0.7 .268 1.6 1.8 .868
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 %
Danny Ainge 21 32.7 11.0 1.0 1.8 2.8 5.8 1.5 0.0 1.5 3.6 4.6 9.9 .466 0.3 0.8 .438 1.4 1.9 .769
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

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861991-92
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 80 30.1 10.7 0.6 2.4 2.9 5.1 1.2 0.1 1.6 2.6 4.4 8.8 .504 0.3 0.9 .356 1.5 1.7 .904
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 %
Danny Ainge 18 36.2 15.6 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.2 2.3 0.1 1.7 3.2 5.9 10.7 .554 0.8 1.9 .412 2.9 3.3 .867
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871992-93
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA 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 %
Danny Ainge 71 35.2 14.8 0.7 2.7 3.4 5.6 1.4 0.2 2.0 2.7 5.8 11.9 .486 1.2 2.7 .443 2.1 2.3 .897
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 %
Danny Ainge 20 38.1 14.8 0.7 2.0 2.6 4.6 1.2 0.2 2.1 3.1 5.8 11.9 .487 1.6 3.7 .438 1.6 1.8 .861
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

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1987-881993-94
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 81 37.3 15.7 0.7 2.3 3.1 6.2 1.4 0.2 1.9 2.5 6.0 12.1 .491 1.8 4.4 .415 2.0 2.2 .878
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 %
Danny Ainge 17 39.4 11.6 0.9 2.2 3.1 6.4 0.5 0.1 2.4 3.8 4.2 10.8 .386 1.1 3.4 .328 2.2 2.5 .881
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

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1988-891994-95
Team Boston Celtics, Sacramento KingsHouston 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 %
Danny Ainge 73 32.6 17.5 1.0 2.5 3.5 5.5 1.3 0.1 2.0 2.5 6.6 14.4 .457 1.6 4.2 .380 2.8 3.3 .854
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 %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
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

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1989-901995-96
Team Sacramento KingsHouston 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 %
Danny Ainge 75 36.4 17.9 0.9 3.4 4.3 6.0 1.5 0.2 2.5 3.2 6.7 15.4 .438 1.4 3.9 .374 3.0 3.6 .831
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 %
Danny Ainge ------- --- ----------
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

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1990-911996-97
Team Portland Trail BlazersDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West 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 %
Danny Ainge 80 21.4 11.1 0.6 2.0 2.6 3.6 0.8 0.2 1.3 2.4 4.2 8.9 .472 1.3 3.1 .406 1.4 1.7 .826
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 %
Danny Ainge 16 17.3 8.0 0.1 1.7 1.8 1.9 0.8 0.3 1.5 2.1 2.9 6.6 .448 0.7 2.3 .306 1.4 1.8 .821
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1991-92-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 81 19.7 9.7 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.5 0.9 0.2 0.9 1.8 3.7 8.3 .442 1.0 2.8 .339 1.3 1.6 .824
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 21 21.4 10.6 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.3 0.7 0.0 1.2 2.8 3.9 8.0 .479 1.0 2.5 .404 1.9 2.2 .830
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1992-93-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 80 27.0 11.8 0.6 2.1 2.7 3.3 0.9 0.1 1.4 2.2 4.2 9.1 .462 1.9 4.7 .403 1.5 1.8 .848
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 24 24.6 8.1 0.8 1.7 2.5 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.9 2.5 2.7 7.1 .376 1.4 3.3 .413 1.4 1.6 .872
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1993-94-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Danny Ainge 68 22.9 8.9 0.4 1.5 1.9 2.6 0.8 0.1 1.2 2.1 3.3 7.9 .417 1.2 3.6 .328 1.1 1.4 .830
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 23.0 8.6 0.7 1.6 2.3 2.1 0.6 0.1 0.5 2.6 2.7 5.9 .458 1.7 4.0 .425 1.5 2.1 .714
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Danny Ainge Kenny Smith
Season 1994-95-
Team Phoenix Suns-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Danny Ainge 74 18.6 7.7 0.3 1.1 1.5 2.8 0.6 0.1 1.1 2.1 2.6 5.7 .460 1.1 2.9 .364 1.4 1.8 .808
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Danny Ainge 10 13.7 6.0 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.6 1.5 1.9 3.8 .500 1.2 2.6 .462 1.0 1.1 .909
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------