Elgin Baylor vs. Ish Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Ish Smith and Elgin Baylor, 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.

Elgin Baylor and Ish Smith both played 14 years in the NBA. Elgin Baylor had the first of his seasons in 1958-59, while Ish Smith had his rookie season in 2010-11. 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
Elgin Baylor 14 12 1958-59 to 1971-72
Ish Smith 14 6 2010-11 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1958-592010-11
Team Minneapolis LakersHouston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsGrizzlies 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 40.8 24.9 - - 15.0 4.1 - - - 3.9 8.6 21.2 .408 - - - 7.6 9.8 .777
Ish Smith 43 10.3 2.3 0.2 0.9 1.1 1.8 0.4 0.0 0.8 0.9 1.0 2.7 .374 0.1 0.2 .300 0.3 0.5 .571
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 42.8 25.5 - - 12.0 3.3 - - - 4.0 9.4 23.3 .403 - - - 6.7 8.7 .770
Ish Smith 5 2.0 0.8 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 .667 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 2

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1959-602011-12
Team Minneapolis LakersGolden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsMagic 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 41.0 29.6 - - 16.4 3.5 - - - 3.3 10.8 25.4 .424 - - - 8.1 11.0 .732
Ish Smith 26 9.0 2.8 0.3 1.1 1.3 1.6 0.6 0.1 0.5 0.6 1.2 3.1 .383 0.1 0.3 .333 0.3 0.4 .700
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 9 45.3 33.4 - - 14.1 3.4 - - - 4.2 12.3 26.0 .474 - - - 8.8 10.4 .840
Ish Smith 1 5.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 3

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1960-612012-13
Team Los Angeles LakersOrlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div FinalsBucks 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 %
Elgin Baylor 73 42.9 34.8 - - 19.8 5.1 - - - 3.8 12.8 29.7 .430 - - - 9.3 11.8 .783
Ish Smith 52 9.9 2.4 0.2 0.9 1.2 1.7 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.5 1.1 3.1 .352 0.2 0.5 .296 0.1 0.1 .429
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 12 45.0 38.1 - - 15.3 4.6 - - - 3.7 14.2 30.2 .470 - - - 9.8 11.8 .824
Ish Smith 4 2.8 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 4

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1961-622013-14
Team Los Angeles LakersPhoenix Suns
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 48 44.4 38.3 - - 18.6 4.6 - - - 3.2 14.2 33.1 .428 - - - 9.9 13.1 .754
Ish Smith 70 14.4 3.7 0.4 1.4 1.8 2.6 0.7 0.2 0.9 0.9 1.7 4.0 .423 0.0 0.3 .043 0.3 0.6 .564
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.9 38.6 - - 17.7 3.6 - - - 3.5 14.3 32.7 .438 - - - 10.0 12.9 .774
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1962-632014-15
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 80 42.1 34.0 - - 14.3 4.8 - - - 2.8 12.9 28.4 .453 - - - 8.3 9.9 .837
Ish Smith 55 15.1 6.1 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.3 0.7 0.1 1.4 0.9 2.6 6.7 .390 0.3 1.1 .300 0.6 1.0 .596
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 13 43.2 32.6 - - 13.6 4.5 - - - 3.7 12.3 27.8 .442 - - - 8.0 9.7 .825
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1963-642015-16
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Pelicans, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 78 40.6 25.4 - - 12.0 4.4 - - - 3.0 9.7 22.8 .425 - - - 6.0 7.5 .804
Ish Smith 77 29.1 12.6 0.6 3.4 4.0 6.5 1.1 0.3 2.3 1.7 5.2 12.6 .411 0.7 2.2 .329 1.6 2.3 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 5 44.2 24.2 - - 11.6 5.6 - - - 3.4 9.0 23.8 .378 - - - 6.2 8.0 .775
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1964-652016-17
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 74 41.3 27.1 - - 12.8 3.8 - - - 3.2 10.3 25.7 .401 - - - 6.5 8.2 .792
Ish Smith 81 24.1 9.4 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.2 0.8 0.4 1.4 1.6 4.1 9.2 .439 0.3 1.3 .267 0.9 1.3 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 1 5.0 0.0 - - 0 1.0 - - - 0.0 0.0 2.0 .000 - - - 0.0 0.0 -
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1965-662017-18
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 65 30.4 16.6 - - 9.6 3.4 - - - 2.4 6.4 15.9 .401 - - - 3.8 5.2 .739
Ish Smith 82 24.9 10.9 0.3 2.4 2.7 4.4 0.8 0.2 1.3 1.7 4.7 9.8 .486 0.4 1.2 .347 1.0 1.4 .698
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 14 41.9 26.8 - - 14.1 3.7 - - - 2.7 10.4 23.4 .442 - - - 6.1 7.5 .810
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1966-672018-19
Team Los Angeles LakersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Div SemisPistons 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 %
Elgin Baylor 70 38.7 26.6 - - 12.8 3.1 - - - 3.0 10.2 23.7 .429 - - - 6.3 7.7 .813
Ish Smith 56 22.3 8.9 0.4 2.2 2.6 3.6 0.5 0.2 1.1 1.9 3.7 8.7 .419 0.8 2.4 .326 0.8 1.1 .758
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 3 40.3 23.7 - - 13.0 3.0 - - - 2.0 9.3 25.3 .368 - - - 5.0 6.7 .750
Ish Smith 4 20.3 6.0 0.3 2.5 2.8 3.5 0.8 0.3 1.0 2.0 2.5 9.5 .263 0.3 1.8 .143 0.8 1.0 .750

Season 10

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1967-682019-20
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 77 39.3 26.0 - - 12.2 4.6 - - - 3.0 9.8 22.2 .443 - - - 6.3 8.1 .786
Ish Smith 68 26.3 10.9 0.4 2.8 3.2 4.9 0.9 0.4 1.4 1.6 4.5 10.1 .447 0.9 2.5 .367 0.9 1.3 .721
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 15 42.2 28.5 - - 14.5 4.0 - - - 2.7 11.7 25.1 .468 - - - 5.1 7.5 .679
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1968-692020-21
Team Los Angeles LakersWashington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsWizards 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 %
Elgin Baylor 76 40.3 24.8 - - 10.6 5.4 - - - 2.7 9.6 21.5 .447 - - - 5.5 7.5 .743
Ish Smith 44 21.0 6.7 0.5 2.9 3.4 3.9 0.7 0.3 0.9 1.4 2.9 6.8 .434 0.4 1.1 .367 0.4 0.8 .576
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 35.6 15.4 - - 9.2 4.1 - - - 3.1 5.9 15.4 .385 - - - 3.5 5.6 .630
Ish Smith 5 22.2 6.8 0.2 3.0 3.2 2.8 1.4 0.4 1.0 2.2 3.2 8.6 .372 0.4 1.4 .286 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1969-702021-22
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Lakers 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 %
Elgin Baylor 54 41.0 24.0 - - 10.4 5.4 - - - 2.4 9.5 19.5 .486 - - - 5.1 6.6 .773
Ish Smith 65 17.3 6.3 0.4 1.8 2.2 3.8 0.7 0.4 1.2 1.2 2.8 6.6 .430 0.4 1.0 .373 0.2 0.4 .625
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor 18 37.1 18.7 - - 9.6 4.6 - - - 2.8 7.7 16.4 .466 - - - 3.3 4.5 .741
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1970-712022-23
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
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 %
Elgin Baylor 2 28.5 10.0 - - 5.5 1.0 - - - 3.0 4.0 9.5 .421 - - - 2.0 3.0 .667
Ish Smith 43 9.3 2.5 0.1 1.1 1.3 2.3 0.2 0.2 1.0 0.8 1.2 3.0 .397 0.0 0.3 .167 0.0 0.1 .500
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith 4 3.0 0.5 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.5 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 14

Elgin Baylor Ish Smith
Season 1971-722023-24
Team Los Angeles LakersCharlotte Hornets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Elgin Baylor 9 26.6 11.8 - - 6.3 2.0 - - - 2.2 4.7 10.8 .433 - - - 2.4 3.0 .815
Ish Smith 43 17.2 3.2 0.3 1.5 1.8 3.4 0.4 0.1 1.1 1.1 1.5 3.7 .418 0.1 0.2 .500 0.1 0.1 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Elgin Baylor ------- --- ----------
Ish Smith ------- --- ----------