Gary Payton vs. Joe Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Smith and Gary Payton, 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.

Gary Payton played 17 years in the NBA, 1 more than Joe Smith, who played 16. Gary Payton had the first of his seasons in 1990-91, while Joe Smith had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Gary Payton 17 15 1990-91 to 2006-07
Joe Smith 16 10 1995-96 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1990-911995-96
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 27.4 7.2 1.3 1.6 3.0 6.4 2.0 0.2 2.2 3.0 3.2 7.0 .450 0.0 0.2 .077 0.8 1.2 .711
Joe Smith 82 34.4 15.3 3.7 5.1 8.7 1.0 1.0 1.6 1.7 2.7 5.7 12.5 .458 0.1 0.3 .357 3.7 4.8 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 27.0 4.8 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.4 1.6 0.2 1.8 3.2 2.2 5.4 .407 0.0 0.2 .000 0.4 0.4 1.000
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1991-921996-97
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Gary Payton 81 31.5 9.4 1.5 2.1 3.6 6.2 1.8 0.3 2.1 3.1 4.1 9.1 .451 0.0 0.3 .130 1.2 1.8 .669
Joe Smith 80 38.6 18.7 3.3 5.2 8.5 1.6 0.9 1.1 2.4 3.1 7.3 16.2 .454 0.2 0.6 .261 3.8 4.7 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 8 27.6 7.6 0.8 1.9 2.6 4.8 1.0 0.3 1.3 3.3 3.4 7.3 .466 0.0 0.3 .000 0.9 1.5 .583
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1992-931997-98
Team Seattle SupersonicsGolden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Gary Payton 82 31.1 13.5 1.2 2.3 3.4 4.9 2.2 0.3 1.8 3.0 5.8 11.7 .494 0.1 0.4 .206 1.8 2.4 .770
Joe Smith 79 29.7 14.6 2.5 3.4 6.0 1.2 0.8 0.6 2.0 3.3 5.9 13.5 .434 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.7 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 19 31.8 12.3 1.2 2.2 3.3 3.7 1.8 0.2 1.8 3.4 5.5 12.4 .443 0.1 0.3 .167 1.3 1.9 .676
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1993-941998-99
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
Gary Payton 82 35.1 16.5 1.3 2.0 3.3 6.0 2.3 0.2 2.1 2.8 7.1 14.1 .504 0.2 0.7 .278 2.0 3.4 .595
Joe Smith 43 33.0 13.7 3.6 4.7 8.2 1.6 0.7 1.5 1.5 3.4 5.2 12.1 .427 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.4 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 36.2 15.8 1.2 2.2 3.4 5.6 1.6 0.4 1.6 3.0 6.8 13.8 .493 0.6 1.8 .333 1.6 3.8 .421
Joe Smith 4 30.0 7.5 2.5 4.0 6.5 1.3 0.5 2.0 1.3 3.8 2.8 9.3 .297 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .727

Season 5

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1994-951999-00
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
Gary Payton 82 36.8 20.6 1.3 2.1 3.4 7.1 2.5 0.2 2.5 2.5 8.4 16.4 .509 0.9 2.8 .302 3.0 4.2 .716
Joe Smith 78 25.3 9.9 2.4 3.8 6.2 1.1 0.6 1.1 1.5 3.9 3.7 8.0 .464 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.5 3.3 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 4 43.0 17.8 1.5 1.0 2.5 5.3 1.3 0.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 16.8 .478 0.5 2.5 .200 1.3 3.0 .417
Joe Smith 4 19.8 4.5 1.8 1.3 3.0 0.3 0.8 0.3 1.0 3.8 2.0 4.3 .471 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 6

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1995-962000-01
Team Seattle SupersonicsDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement Defensive Player of the Year-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Gary Payton 81 39.0 19.3 1.3 2.9 4.2 7.5 2.9 0.2 3.2 2.7 7.6 15.8 .484 1.2 3.7 .328 2.8 3.8 .748
Joe Smith 69 28.1 12.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 1.1 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.7 4.5 11.1 .403 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.2 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 21 43.4 20.7 0.9 4.2 5.1 6.8 1.8 0.3 3.0 3.3 7.7 15.9 .485 2.0 4.8 .410 3.3 5.2 .633
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1996-972001-02
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
Gary Payton 82 39.2 21.8 1.3 3.3 4.6 7.1 2.4 0.2 2.6 2.5 8.6 18.1 .476 1.5 4.6 .313 3.1 4.3 .715
Joe Smith 72 26.7 10.7 2.1 4.2 6.3 1.1 0.5 0.8 1.2 3.5 4.1 8.1 .511 0.0 0.0 .667 2.4 2.9 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 12 45.6 23.8 1.7 3.8 5.4 8.7 2.2 0.3 2.9 2.2 8.8 21.3 .412 2.1 6.3 .333 4.2 5.1 .820
Joe Smith 3 14.3 4.3 1.3 2.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.7 1.0 2.3 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 8

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1997-982002-03
Team Seattle SupersonicsMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisTimberwolves 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 %
Gary Payton 82 38.4 19.2 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.3 2.3 0.2 2.8 2.4 7.1 15.6 .453 1.6 4.8 .338 3.4 4.6 .744
Joe Smith 54 20.7 7.5 2.1 2.9 5.0 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.8 3.2 2.8 6.1 .460 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.4 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 10 42.7 24.0 0.9 2.5 3.4 7.0 1.8 0.1 2.6 3.1 8.7 18.3 .475 1.9 5.0 .380 4.7 5.0 .940
Joe Smith 5 8.0 2.8 0.0 1.2 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.6 2.8 0.8 1.2 .667 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.2 1.000

Season 9

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1998-992003-04
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
Gary Payton 50 40.2 21.7 1.2 3.6 4.9 8.7 2.2 0.2 3.1 2.3 8.0 18.5 .434 1.7 5.6 .295 4.0 5.5 .721
Joe Smith 76 29.7 10.9 3.0 5.4 8.5 1.0 0.6 1.2 1.1 2.8 4.1 9.3 .439 0.0 0.1 .200 2.7 3.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 5 35.4 13.2 4.6 5.4 10.0 0.4 0.8 2.0 1.2 3.0 5.4 11.0 .491 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.6 .923

Season 10

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 1999-002004-05
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 41.8 24.2 1.2 5.2 6.5 8.9 1.9 0.2 2.7 2.2 9.1 20.3 .448 2.2 6.3 .340 3.8 5.2 .735
Joe Smith 74 30.6 11.0 2.4 4.9 7.3 0.9 0.6 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.3 8.4 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.1 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 44.2 25.8 1.6 6.0 7.6 7.4 1.8 0.2 3.6 3.2 10.0 22.6 .442 1.8 4.6 .391 4.0 5.2 .769
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2000-012005-06
Team Seattle SupersonicsMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
Gary Payton 79 41.1 23.1 0.9 3.6 4.6 8.1 1.6 0.3 2.6 2.3 9.2 20.1 .456 1.3 3.4 .375 3.4 4.5 .766
Joe Smith 44 20.2 8.6 1.9 3.3 5.2 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.9 2.7 3.3 6.9 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 5 21.2 7.6 1.2 4.2 5.4 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 3.2 3.2 6.6 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .667

Season 12

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2001-022006-07
Team Seattle SupersonicsDenver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 40.3 22.1 1.0 3.9 4.8 9.0 1.6 0.3 2.5 2.2 9.0 19.2 .467 0.9 2.9 .314 3.3 4.1 .797
Joe Smith 65 23.1 8.5 1.8 4.3 6.2 0.8 0.6 0.4 1.2 2.3 3.3 7.3 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 5 41.2 22.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 5.8 0.6 0.4 2.6 2.4 9.0 21.2 .425 0.8 3.0 .267 3.4 5.8 .586
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2002-032007-08
Team Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee BucksChicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Bucks Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 80 40.1 20.4 1.0 3.2 4.2 8.3 1.7 0.3 2.3 2.3 8.3 18.3 .454 0.7 2.3 .297 3.1 4.4 .710
Joe Smith 77 22.4 10.1 2.1 3.1 5.2 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.9 2.4 4.1 8.5 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 6 41.8 18.5 0.7 2.3 3.0 8.7 1.3 0.2 2.2 3.0 8.0 18.7 .429 0.2 2.5 .067 2.3 3.3 .700
Joe Smith 13 20.2 6.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 3.2 2.8 5.7 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.7 .636

Season 14

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2003-042008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersOklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 82 34.5 14.6 0.9 3.3 4.2 5.5 1.2 0.2 1.8 2.1 5.9 12.5 .471 0.7 2.0 .333 2.2 3.1 .714
Joe Smith 57 19.3 6.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.4 2.1 2.7 5.8 .468 0.1 0.1 .429 1.0 1.4 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 22 35.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 5.3 1.0 0.2 1.3 2.7 3.1 8.5 .366 0.6 2.5 .250 1.0 1.3 .750
Joe Smith 13 16.8 5.5 0.8 2.9 3.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.9 1.8 3.8 .460 0.2 0.4 .600 1.8 2.2 .793

Season 15

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2004-052009-10
Team Boston CelticsAtlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st RdHawks Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 77 33.0 11.3 0.6 2.4 3.1 6.1 1.1 0.2 1.9 1.6 4.4 9.4 .468 0.5 1.7 .326 2.0 2.6 .761
Joe Smith 64 9.3 3.0 1.0 1.4 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.5 1.2 3.0 .399 0.0 0.1 .143 0.6 0.8 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 7 34.1 10.3 1.1 3.0 4.1 4.6 0.9 0.1 1.6 1.4 4.7 10.6 .446 0.1 2.0 .071 0.7 0.9 .833
Joe Smith 5 4.8 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.6 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 16

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2005-062010-11
Team Miami HeatNew Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers 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 %
Gary Payton 81 28.5 7.7 0.4 2.5 2.9 3.2 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 2.8 6.8 .420 0.8 2.8 .287 1.2 1.6 .794
Joe Smith 16 4.3 0.5 0.2 1.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.2 1.0 .188 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.1 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 23 24.3 5.8 0.3 1.5 1.7 1.6 1.0 0.1 0.8 2.4 2.1 5.0 .422 0.7 2.5 .293 0.8 1.1 .720
Joe Smith 5 2.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.4 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 17

Gary Payton Joe Smith
Season 2006-07-
Team Miami Heat-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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 %
Gary Payton 68 22.1 5.3 0.3 1.7 1.9 3.0 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.7 2.1 5.4 .393 0.5 1.8 .260 0.6 0.8 .667
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Gary Payton 2 16.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 0.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------