Jakob Poeltl vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Jakob Poeltl, 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.

Jakob Poeltl played 9 years in the NBA, 7 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Jakob Poeltl had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, while J.R. Smith had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Jakob Poeltl 9 3 2016-17 to 2024-25
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9

Rookie Season

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2016-172004-05
Team Toronto RaptorsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Jakob Poeltl 54 11.6 3.1 1.4 1.6 3.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 2.1 1.2 2.1 .583 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .544
difference:+22+12.9+7.2+0.9+0.1+1.1+1.7+0.4+0.3-0.9-0.3+2.7+7.7+.189+1.1+3.7+0.9+1.0+.145
J.R. Smith 76 24.5 10.3 0.5 1.5 2.0 1.9 0.7 0.1 1.4 1.8 3.9 9.8 .394 1.1 3.7 .288 1.5 2.1 .689
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 6 4.3 1.7 1.0 1.0 2.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.3 .000
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2017-182005-06
Team Toronto RaptorsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Raptors Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Jakob Poeltl 82 18.6 6.9 2.0 2.8 4.8 0.7 0.5 1.2 1.0 2.6 3.1 4.7 .659 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 1.2 .594
difference:+27+0.6+0.8+1.7+1.1+2.8+0.4+0.2+1.1-1.0+0.5+2.0+.266+0.9+2.5+0.8+0.6+.228
J.R. Smith 55 18.0 7.7 0.3 1.7 2.0 1.1 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.6 2.6 6.7 .393 0.9 2.5 .371 1.5 1.8 .822
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 9 15.6 5.4 1.7 2.3 4.0 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.9 2.8 1.9 3.4 .548 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.1 .789
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2018-192006-07
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 77 16.5 5.5 2.3 3.0 5.3 1.2 0.4 0.9 0.6 1.6 2.4 3.8 .645 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.2 .533
difference:+14+6.8+7.5+1.8+1.2+3.0+0.2+0.4+0.8-0.7-0.7+2.1+6.4+.204+2.4+6.1+1.0+0.8+.277
J.R. Smith 63 23.3 13.0 0.5 1.8 2.3 1.4 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.3 4.5 10.2 .441 2.4 6.1 .390 1.6 2.0 .810
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 7 25.3 7.3 3.6 4.1 7.7 1.7 0.3 0.7 0.4 3.7 3.3 5.1 .639 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.3 .556
difference:+3+13.5+2.8+3.3+2.1+5.4+1.2+0.7+0.4-0.4-2.2+1.8+0.4+.366+2.9+0.8+0.2+.444
J.R. Smith 4 11.8 4.5 0.3 2.0 2.3 0.5 1.0 0.3 0.8 1.5 1.5 5.5 .273 0.0 3.0 .000 1.5 1.5 1.000

Season 4

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2019-202007-08
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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%
Jakob Poeltl 66 17.7 5.6 2.0 3.7 5.7 1.8 0.6 1.4 0.8 1.9 2.5 4.0 .624 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.3 .465
difference:+8+1.5+6.7+1.4+2.2+3.6+0.1+0.2+1.2-0.7+1.7+5.1+.163+2.1+5.3+1.1+1.1+.254
J.R. Smith 74 19.2 12.3 0.6 1.5 2.1 1.7 0.8 0.2 1.5 1.9 4.2 9.1 .461 2.1 5.3 .403 1.7 2.4 .719
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 4 27.0 18.3 0.3 1.5 1.8 1.8 1.0 0.0 1.3 3.0 5.8 10.8 .535 1.8 5.5 .318 5.0 6.0 .833

Season 5

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2020-212008-09
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 69 26.7 8.6 3.2 4.8 7.9 1.9 0.7 1.8 1.2 2.5 3.8 6.2 .616 0.0 0.0 - 0.9 1.8 .508
difference:+12+1.0+6.6+2.7+1.7+4.2+0.9+0.3+1.6-0.7-0.2+1.4+5.5+.170+2.2+5.6+1.6+1.6+.246
J.R. Smith 81 27.7 15.2 0.5 3.1 3.7 2.8 1.0 0.2 1.9 2.3 5.2 11.7 .446 2.2 5.6 .397 2.5 3.4 .754
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 16 27.2 14.9 0.7 2.6 3.3 2.8 1.1 0.3 1.6 3.2 5.5 12.1 .454 2.4 6.6 .358 1.6 2.9 .543

Season 6

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2021-222009-10
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 68 29.0 13.5 3.9 5.5 9.3 2.8 0.7 1.7 1.6 3.1 6.0 9.8 .618 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.8 .495
difference:+7+1.2+1.9+3.5+2.8+6.2+0.4+0.6+1.4-0.3-0.8+0.3+4.0+.204+2.1+6.2+0.5+0.1+.211
J.R. Smith 75 27.8 15.4 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.4 1.3 0.3 1.9 2.3 5.7 13.8 .414 2.1 6.2 .338 1.9 2.7 .706
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 6 26.5 11.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 1.7 0.7 0.3 1.0 2.8 3.5 9.5 .368 1.8 5.2 .355 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 7

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2022-232010-11
Team San Antonio Spurs, Toronto RaptorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 72 26.5 12.5 3.3 5.8 9.1 2.7 0.9 1.2 1.7 2.7 5.4 8.6 .629 0.0 0.0 - 1.7 2.8 .592
difference:+7+1.6+0.2+2.7+2.3+5.0+0.5+0.3+1.0-0.4-0.5+1.1+1.3+.194+1.6+4.0+0.4+.146
J.R. Smith 79 24.9 12.3 0.6 3.5 4.1 2.2 1.2 0.2 1.3 2.2 4.3 9.9 .435 1.6 4.0 .390 2.1 2.8 .738
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 5 15.2 9.8 0.2 1.8 2.0 1.0 0.4 0.0 1.6 1.6 3.2 9.0 .356 1.8 4.2 .429 1.6 2.2 .727

Season 8

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2023-242011-12
Team Toronto RaptorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl 50 26.4 11.1 2.9 5.7 8.6 2.5 0.7 1.5 1.5 3.0 5.0 7.6 .656 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 2.1 .551
difference:+15+1.2+1.4+2.1+2.6+4.7+0.1+0.8+1.3-0.2-0.5+0.3+4.0+.249+1.9+5.5+0.1+0.5+.158
J.R. Smith 35 27.6 12.5 0.8 3.1 3.9 2.4 1.5 0.2 1.3 2.5 4.7 11.6 .407 1.9 5.5 .347 1.1 1.6 .709
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 5 35.0 12.2 0.4 2.2 2.6 2.2 1.2 0.2 2.2 3.8 4.8 15.2 .316 1.0 5.6 .179 1.6 1.6 1.000

Season 9

Jakob Poeltl J.R. Smith
Season 2024-252012-13
Team Toronto RaptorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East 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%
Jakob Poeltl 57 29.6 14.5 3.3 6.3 9.6 2.8 1.2 1.2 1.9 3.1 6.4 10.2 .627 0.0 0.1 .333 1.7 2.5 .674
difference:+23+3.9+3.6+2.5+1.8+4.3+0.1+0.1+0.9-0.2-0.3+0.2+5.4+.205+1.9+5.4+.023+1.3+1.4+.088
J.R. Smith 80 33.5 18.1 0.8 4.5 5.3 2.7 1.3 0.3 1.7 2.8 6.6 15.6 .422 1.9 5.5 .356 3.0 3.9 .762
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
J.R. Smith 11 31.9 14.3 0.5 4.2 4.7 1.4 1.0 0.5 1.8 2.5 4.9 14.8 .331 1.6 6.0 .273 2.8 3.9 .721

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 7 seasons more than Jakob Poeltl in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 10 to 16, from 2014 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 5 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.