Dennis Johnson vs. Larry Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Larry Smith and Dennis Johnson, 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.

Dennis Johnson played 14 years in the NBA, 1 more than Larry Smith, who played 13. Dennis Johnson had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Larry Smith had his rookie season in 1980-81. 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
Dennis Johnson 14 13 1976-77 to 1989-90
Larry Smith 13 5 1980-81 to 1992-93

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1976-771980-81
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 20.6 9.2 2.0 1.7 3.7 1.5 1.5 0.7 - 2.7 3.5 7.0 .504 - - - 2.2 3.5 .624
Larry Smith 82 31.4 9.6 5.3 6.8 12.1 1.1 0.9 0.8 1.8 3.9 3.7 7.2 .512 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.7 .588
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson ------- --- ----------
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1977-781981-82
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 81 27.3 12.7 1.9 1.8 3.6 2.8 1.5 0.6 2.0 2.6 4.5 10.9 .417 - - - 3.7 5.0 .732
Larry Smith 74 29.9 7.1 3.8 7.2 11.0 1.1 0.9 0.7 1.4 3.9 3.0 5.6 .534 0.0 0.0 .000 1.2 2.1 .553
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 37.6 16.1 2.1 2.5 4.6 3.3 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.9 5.5 13.4 .412 - - - 5.1 7.2 .704
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1978-791982-83
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 34.0 15.9 1.8 2.9 4.7 3.5 1.3 1.2 2.4 2.6 6.0 13.9 .434 - - - 3.8 4.9 .781
Larry Smith 49 29.2 8.4 4.3 5.6 9.9 0.9 0.7 0.4 1.7 3.8 3.7 6.2 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.1 2.0 .535
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 40.1 20.9 2.6 3.5 6.1 4.1 1.6 1.5 3.0 3.7 8.0 17.8 .450 - - - 4.9 6.4 .771
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1979-801983-84
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 81 36.3 19.0 2.1 3.0 5.1 4.1 1.8 1.0 2.8 3.3 7.1 16.8 .422 0.1 0.7 .207 4.7 6.0 .780
Larry Smith 75 27.9 7.8 3.8 5.2 9.0 1.0 0.8 0.3 1.7 3.7 3.3 5.8 .560 0.0 0.0 - 1.3 2.2 .560
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 15 38.8 17.1 1.7 2.6 4.3 3.8 1.8 0.7 2.9 3.2 6.7 16.3 .410 0.3 1.0 .333 3.5 4.1 .839
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1980-811984-85
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Dennis Johnson 79 33.1 18.8 2.0 2.6 4.6 3.7 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.1 6.7 15.4 .436 0.1 0.6 .216 5.2 6.3 .820
Larry Smith 80 31.2 11.1 5.1 5.8 10.9 1.2 1.0 0.7 2.0 3.6 4.6 8.6 .530 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.2 .605
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.1 19.6 1.0 3.7 4.7 2.9 1.3 1.3 2.7 2.6 7.4 15.7 .473 0.1 0.7 .200 4.6 6.0 .762
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1981-821985-86
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 36.7 19.5 1.8 3.4 5.1 4.6 1.3 0.7 2.9 3.2 7.2 15.4 .470 0.1 0.5 .190 5.0 6.2 .806
Larry Smith 77 31.7 9.6 5.0 6.1 11.1 1.2 0.8 0.6 1.8 3.7 4.1 7.6 .536 0.0 0.0 .000 1.5 2.9 .493
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 7 38.7 22.3 1.9 2.6 4.4 4.6 2.1 0.6 3.6 4.0 9.0 18.9 .477 0.0 0.4 .000 4.3 5.6 .769
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1982-831986-87
Team Phoenix SunsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf 1st RdWarriors 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 %
Dennis Johnson 77 33.1 14.2 1.2 3.2 4.4 5.0 1.3 0.5 2.6 2.6 5.2 11.2 .462 0.1 0.4 .161 3.8 4.8 .791
Larry Smith 80 29.7 8.8 4.6 6.9 11.5 1.2 0.9 0.7 1.7 3.7 3.7 6.8 .546 0.0 0.0 .000 1.4 2.5 .574
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 36.0 18.0 2.0 5.7 7.7 5.7 1.7 0.7 2.7 3.0 7.3 16.0 .458 0.0 0.3 .000 3.3 4.0 .833
Larry Smith 10 32.9 10.3 6.1 7.6 13.7 1.7 1.2 0.6 1.4 3.9 4.3 8.1 .531 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.4 .708

Season 8

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1983-841987-88
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 33.3 13.2 1.1 2.4 3.5 4.2 1.2 0.7 2.2 3.1 4.8 11.0 .437 0.1 0.4 .125 3.5 4.1 .852
Larry Smith 20 25.0 6.4 4.0 5.2 9.1 1.3 0.6 0.6 1.8 3.2 2.9 6.2 .472 0.0 0.1 .000 0.6 1.4 .407
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 22 36.7 16.6 1.4 2.2 3.6 4.4 1.1 0.3 2.4 3.4 5.9 14.5 .404 0.1 0.3 .429 4.7 5.5 .867
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1984-851988-89
Team Boston CelticsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsWarriors 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 %
Dennis Johnson 80 37.2 15.7 1.1 2.8 4.0 6.8 1.2 0.5 2.7 2.8 6.2 13.3 .462 0.1 0.3 .269 3.3 3.8 .853
Larry Smith 80 23.7 5.7 3.4 4.8 8.2 1.5 0.8 0.7 1.4 3.1 2.7 5.0 .552 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.7 .310
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 21 40.4 17.3 1.1 2.9 4.0 7.3 1.5 0.4 3.4 3.1 6.8 15.2 .445 0.0 0.7 .000 3.8 4.4 .860
Larry Smith 8 18.5 1.0 2.1 2.9 5.0 2.0 0.8 1.4 0.8 3.0 0.5 2.0 .250 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 10

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1985-861989-90
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionRockets 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 %
Dennis Johnson 78 35.0 15.6 0.9 2.6 3.4 5.8 1.4 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.2 13.6 .455 0.1 0.5 .143 3.1 3.8 .818
Larry Smith 74 17.6 3.0 2.4 3.7 6.1 0.9 0.8 0.4 0.9 2.7 1.4 2.9 .474 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.7 .364
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 18 39.7 16.2 1.3 2.9 4.2 5.9 2.2 0.3 2.8 3.2 6.1 13.6 .445 0.3 0.9 .375 3.7 4.7 .798
Larry Smith 4 18.3 3.0 1.8 1.5 3.3 1.3 1.0 0.0 1.3 2.8 1.5 2.0 .750 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 11

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1986-871990-91
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
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 %
Dennis Johnson 79 37.1 13.4 0.6 2.7 3.3 7.5 1.1 0.5 2.2 2.5 5.4 12.1 .444 0.1 0.8 .113 2.6 3.2 .833
Larry Smith 81 23.7 3.3 3.7 5.0 8.8 1.1 1.0 0.3 1.1 3.3 1.6 3.2 .487 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.6 .240
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 23 41.9 18.9 1.0 2.9 4.0 8.9 0.7 0.3 1.9 3.1 7.3 15.7 .465 0.1 1.1 .115 4.2 4.9 .850
Larry Smith 3 19.0 0.7 2.0 2.3 4.3 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 3.7 0.3 1.3 .250 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.3 .000

Season 12

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1987-881991-92
Team Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Dennis Johnson 77 34.7 12.6 0.8 2.3 3.1 7.8 1.2 0.4 2.5 2.6 4.6 10.4 .438 0.2 0.6 .261 3.3 3.9 .856
Larry Smith 45 17.8 2.3 2.4 3.3 5.7 0.7 0.5 0.2 1.0 2.7 1.1 2.0 .543 0.0 0.0 .000 0.1 0.2 .364
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 17 41.3 15.9 0.9 3.6 4.5 8.2 1.4 0.5 2.6 3.0 5.4 12.4 .433 0.4 0.9 .375 4.8 6.1 .796
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1988-891992-93
Team Boston CelticsSan Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
Dennis Johnson 72 32.1 10.0 0.4 2.2 2.6 6.6 1.3 0.3 2.4 2.9 3.8 8.9 .434 0.1 0.7 .140 2.2 2.7 .821
Larry Smith 66 12.6 1.3 1.6 2.5 4.1 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.6 2.0 0.6 1.3 .437 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.3 .409
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 3 19.7 2.7 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.0 1.0 0.0 1.0 2.7 1.3 5.0 .267 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Larry Smith 6 8.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 2.7 0.2 0.7 0.3 0.2 2.7 0.3 0.5 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.5 0.7 .750

Season 14

Dennis Johnson Larry Smith
Season 1989-90-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics 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 %
Dennis Johnson 75 27.1 7.1 0.6 2.0 2.7 6.5 1.1 0.2 1.6 2.4 2.7 6.3 .434 0.0 0.3 .042 1.6 1.9 .843
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dennis Johnson 5 32.4 13.8 0.4 2.4 2.8 5.6 0.4 0.4 2.0 3.4 6.0 12.4 .484 0.4 1.2 .333 1.4 1.4 1.000
Larry Smith ------- --- ----------