Jakob Poeltl vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny 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

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, 1 less than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Jakob Poeltl had the first of his seasons in 2016-17, 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
Jakob Poeltl 9 3 2016-17 to 2024-25
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

Rookie Season

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2016-171987-88
Team Toronto RaptorsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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:+7+24.0+10.7+0.7+0.8+6.9+1.2+0.3-2.5-0.2+4.2+9.3+.106+0.2+0.6+2.1+2.2+.275
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
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
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2017-181988-89
Team Toronto RaptorsSacramento Kings
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:+1+20.2+10.4+1.4+0.6+2.0+7.0+0.8+1.1-2.1-0.5+3.7+9.9+.197+0.6+1.6+2.5+3.2+.143
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
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
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2018-191989-90
Team San Antonio SpursSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
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:+2+14.1+6.4+2.1+1.2+3.3+4.4+0.6+0.8-1.5-0.2+2.4+6.5+.179+0.3+1.1+1.4+1.3+.288
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%
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
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2019-201990-91
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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:+12+16.9+12.1+1.5+2.1+3.6+5.3+0.8+1.3-2.2-0.2+4.2+8.9+.104+0.6+1.7+3.1+3.1+.379
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%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
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

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2020-211991-92
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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%
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+7.1+5.4+2.8+3.0+5.7+5.0+0.6+1.7-1.6-1.1+1.5+5.0+.141+0.7+1.7+1.8+1.3+.358
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 Jakob Poeltl nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2021-221992-93
Team San Antonio SpursHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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%
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:+14+0.5+0.5+3.6+3.9+7.3+2.6+0.3+1.6-0.4-1.8+1.3+0.7+.098+1.2+2.7+1.0+0.1+.383
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%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
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

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2022-231993-94
Team San Antonio Spurs, Toronto RaptorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
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:+6+1.8+0.9+3.0+4.3+7.3+1.5+0.1+1.1-0.1-1.1+1.0+0.5+.149+1.1+2.8+0.8+.279
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%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
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

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2023-241994-95
Team Toronto RaptorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA 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%
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:+31+1.3+0.7+2.6+4.1+6.7+1.5+0.2+1.4-1.7+1.5+0.3+.172+1.8+4.1+0.4+0.3+.300
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%
Jakob Poeltl DNP------ --- ----------
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

Jakob Poeltl Kenny Smith
Season 2024-251995-96
Team Toronto RaptorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
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%
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:+11+5.8+6.0+3.0+5.2+8.2+0.8+0.5+1.2-0.4-1.4+3.4+3.4+.194+1.3+3.4+.049+0.4+0.9+.147
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%
Jakob Poeltl 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

Additional Years

* Kenny Smith played 1 season more than Jakob Poeltl in the NBA.

In that period—his season 10 in 1997—Kenny Smith didn't play in the postseason.