Dikembe Mutombo vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Dikembe Mutombo, 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.

Dikembe Mutombo played 18 years in the NBA, 8 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Dikembe Mutombo had the first of his seasons in 1991-92, 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
Dikembe Mutombo 18 13 1991-92 to 2008-09
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

Rookie Season

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1991-921987-88
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
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%
Dikembe Mutombo 71 38.3 16.6 4.5 7.8 12.3 2.2 0.6 3.0 3.5 3.8 6.0 12.2 .493 0.0 0.0 - 4.5 7.0 .642
difference:+10+2.7+2.8+3.8+6.2+10.0+4.9+0.9+2.9-0.5-1.5+0.6+0.8+.016+0.2+0.6+1.8+3.7+.177
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 Dikembe Mutombo nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1992-931988-89
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.9 13.8 4.2 8.9 13.0 1.8 0.5 3.5 2.6 3.5 4.9 9.5 .510 0.0 0.0 - 4.1 6.0 .681
difference:+1+1.9+3.5+3.6+6.7+10.2+5.9+0.8+3.4-0.5-1.4+1.9+5.1+.048+0.6+1.6+0.9+1.6+.056
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 Dikembe Mutombo nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1993-941989-90
Team Denver NuggetsSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 82 34.8 12.0 3.5 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.7 4.1 2.5 3.2 4.5 7.8 .569 0.0 0.0 - 3.1 5.4 .583
difference:+3+4.2+0.1+3.3+6.6+9.8+4.1+0.3+4.0-0.4-1.4+0.3+2.5+.103+0.3+1.1+1.1+2.9+.238
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%
Dikembe Mutombo 12 42.6 13.3 3.3 8.7 12.0 1.8 0.7 5.8 2.5 3.5 4.2 9.0 .463 0.0 0.0 - 4.9 8.2 .602
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1994-951990-91
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nuggets 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 82 37.8 11.5 3.9 8.7 12.5 1.4 0.5 3.9 2.3 3.5 4.3 7.7 .556 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.6 .654
difference:+4+3.2+6.2+3.4+7.1+10.4+5.7+0.9+3.8-0.7-1.8+2.4+5.2+.036+0.6+1.7+0.7+0.2+.190
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%
Dikembe Mutombo 3 28.0 6.0 1.3 5.0 6.3 0.3 0.0 2.3 2.3 5.0 2.0 3.3 .600 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.0 .667
difference:+9.7+9.3+3.7+3.6+7.7+1.3+2.0-0.3-3.3+4.0+9.4+.126+0.7+1.3+0.7+.222
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

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1995-961991-92
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Blocks Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 74 36.7 11.0 3.4 8.4 11.8 1.5 0.5 4.5 2.0 3.5 3.8 7.7 .499 0.0 0.0 - 3.3 4.8 .695
difference:+7+2.9+3.0+3.0+6.6+9.6+5.4+0.8+4.4-0.8-2.1+1.5+3.5+.024+0.7+1.7+0.6+1.7+.171
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
* Neiher Dikembe Mutombo nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1996-971992-93
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisRockets 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 80 37.2 13.3 3.4 8.3 11.6 1.4 0.6 3.3 2.3 3.1 4.8 9.0 .527 0.0 0.0 - 3.8 5.4 .705
difference:+2+7.7+0.3+3.1+6.7+9.6+4.0+0.4+3.2-0.3-1.8+0.1+0.1+.007+1.2+2.7+1.4+2.7+.173
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%
Dikembe Mutombo 10 41.5 15.4 3.7 8.6 12.3 1.3 0.1 2.6 2.0 3.0 5.4 8.6 .628 0.0 0.0 - 4.6 6.4 .719
difference:+2+8.9+0.6+3.5+6.8+10.3+2.9+0.7+2.5-0.2-1.5+0.1+2.1+.136+1.9+3.8+2.3+3.4+.059
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

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1997-981993-94
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf 1st RdNBA 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 82 35.6 13.4 3.4 8.0 11.4 1.0 0.4 3.4 2.0 3.1 4.9 9.1 .537 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.5 .670
difference:+4+7.3+1.8+3.1+6.5+9.6+3.2+0.4+3.3-0.4-1.5+0.5+.057+1.1+2.8+2.0+3.5+.201
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%
Dikembe Mutombo 4 34.0 8.0 3.3 9.5 12.8 0.3 0.3 2.3 2.0 2.5 2.8 6.0 .458 0.0 0.0 - 2.5 4.0 .625
difference:+19+3.7+2.8+3.1+7.4+10.5+3.8+0.7+2.1-0.6-0.8+0.9+2.2+.003+1.5+3.3+0.7+1.7+.183
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

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1998-991994-95
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Playoffs Hawks Lost East Conf SemisNBA 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%
Dikembe Mutombo 50 36.6 10.8 3.8 8.4 12.2 1.1 0.3 2.9 1.9 2.9 3.5 6.8 .512 0.0 0.0 - 3.9 5.7 .684
difference:+31+11.5+0.4+3.5+6.8+10.3+2.9+0.6+2.8-0.4-1.6+0.5+.028+1.8+4.1+2.3+3.9+.167
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%
Dikembe Mutombo 9 42.2 12.6 4.0 9.9 13.9 1.2 0.6 2.6 2.0 3.1 4.4 7.9 .563 0.0 0.0 - 3.7 5.2 .702
difference:+13+12.6+1.8+3.7+8.0+11.7+3.3+2.5-0.6-1.0+0.9+0.2+.125+2.1+4.7+2.1+3.4+.198
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

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 1999-001995-96
Team Atlanta HawksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dikembe Mutombo 82 36.4 11.5 3.7 10.4 14.1 1.3 0.3 3.3 2.1 3.0 3.9 7.0 .562 0.0 0.0 - 3.6 5.1 .708
difference:+14+12.6+3.0+3.4+9.3+12.7+2.3+0.4+3.3-0.6-1.3+0.9+0.2+.129+1.3+3.5+2.3+3.5+.113
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dikembe Mutombo DNP------ --- ----------
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

Dikembe Mutombo Kenny Smith
Season 2000-011996-97
Team Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ersDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Rebounds Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dikembe Mutombo 75 34.5 10.0 4.1 9.4 13.5 1.0 0.4 2.7 1.9 2.7 3.6 7.4 .484 0.0 0.0 - 2.8 3.9 .725
difference:+27+18.6+3.7+4.0+8.6+12.6+1.4+2.7-0.4-2.1+1.5+2.4+.061+1.2+2.8+2.0+3.0+.142
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Dikembe Mutombo 23 42.7 13.9 4.9 8.8 13.7 0.7 0.7 3.1 1.6 2.4 4.4 9.0 .490 0.0 0.0 - 5.0 6.4 .777
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Dikembe Mutombo played 8 seasons more than Kenny Smith in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 18, from 2002 to 2009—Dikembe Mutombo played in 7 Playoffs.

In those 8 extra years over Kenny Smith, Dikembe Mutombo got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 All-NBA Third Team
Achievement 1 All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement 1 All-Star Game