Jaxson Hayes vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Jaxson Hayes, 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.

Jaxson Hayes played 7 years in the NBA, 9 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Jaxson Hayes had the first of his seasons in 2019-20, 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
Jaxson Hayes 7 3 2019-20 to 2025-26
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2019-202004-05
Team New Orleans PelicansNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
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%
Jaxson Hayes 64 16.9 7.4 1.5 2.5 4.0 0.9 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.5 2.7 4.0 .672 0.0 0.1 .250 1.9 3.0 .647
difference:+12+7.6+2.9+1.0+1.0+2.0+1.0+0.3+0.8-0.6-0.7+1.2+5.8+.278+1.1+3.6+.038+0.4+0.9+.042
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
* Neiher Jaxson Hayes nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2020-212005-06
Team New Orleans PelicansNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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%
Jaxson Hayes 60 16.1 7.5 1.5 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.7 1.7 2.9 4.7 .625 0.1 0.2 .429 1.6 2.0 .775
difference:+5+1.9+0.2+1.2+1.1+2.3+0.5+0.3+0.5-0.3-0.1+0.3+2.0+.232+0.8+2.3+.058+0.1+0.2+.047
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
* Neiher Jaxson Hayes nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2021-222006-07
Team New Orleans PelicansDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pelicans 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%
Jaxson Hayes 70 20.0 9.3 1.6 2.9 4.5 0.6 0.5 0.8 0.8 2.2 3.5 5.7 .616 0.3 0.8 .351 2.1 2.7 .766
difference:+7+3.3+3.7+1.1+1.1+2.2+0.8+0.3+0.7-0.5-0.1+1.0+4.5+.175+2.1+5.3+.039+0.5+0.7+.044
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%
Jaxson Hayes 6 13.8 5.8 0.7 1.8 2.5 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.7 1.8 2.3 4.2 .560 0.0 0.5 .000 1.2 1.8 .636
difference:+2+2.0+1.3+0.4+0.2+0.2+0.3+1.0-0.1-0.3+0.8+1.3+.287+2.5+0.3+0.3+.364
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
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2022-232007-08
Team New Orleans PelicansDenver 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%
Jaxson Hayes 47 13.0 5.0 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.7 0.4 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.8 3.3 .551 0.1 0.6 .103 1.2 1.8 .699
difference:+27+6.2+7.3+0.2+0.5+0.7+1.0+0.4+0.2-0.8-0.5+2.4+5.8+.090+2.0+4.7+.300+0.5+0.6+.020
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%
Jaxson Hayes 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
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2023-242008-09
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
Others NBA Cup NBA Cup Champion-
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jaxson Hayes 70 12.5 4.3 1.0 2.0 3.0 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.6 1.8 1.8 2.5 .720 0.0 0.1 .000 0.7 1.2 .622
difference:+11+15.2+10.9+0.5+1.1+0.7+2.3+0.5+0.2-1.3-0.5+3.4+9.2+.274+2.2+5.5+.397+1.8+2.2+.132
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%
Jaxson Hayes 4 6.0 0.3 0.8 2.3 3.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.5 1.8 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500
difference:+12+21.2+14.6+0.1+0.3+0.3+2.5+1.1+0.3-1.1-1.4+5.5+11.6+.454+2.4+6.6+1.3+2.4+.043
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
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2024-252009-10
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Lakers Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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%
Jaxson Hayes 56 19.5 6.8 1.4 3.4 4.8 1.0 0.6 0.9 0.8 2.4 2.9 4.0 .722 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.8 .622
difference:+19+8.3+8.6+1.0+0.7+1.7+1.4+0.7+0.6-1.1-0.1+2.8+9.8+.308+2.1+6.1+.338+0.8+0.9+.084
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%
Jaxson Hayes 4 7.8 1.8 1.3 0.8 2.0 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.0 0.8 2.0 .375 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 0.5 .500
difference:+2+18.7+9.4+0.5+2.2+1.8+1.4+0.7-0.7-0.8+2.7+7.5+.007+1.8+5.2+2.0+2.2+.375
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
Jaxson Hayes J.R. Smith
Season 2025-262010-11
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver 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%
Jaxson Hayes 13 16.8 5.3 1.2 2.8 4.1 1.1 0.4 0.4 0.5 1.6 2.2 3.1 .725 0.1 0.1 1.000 0.8 1.2 .667
difference:+66+8.1+7.0+0.6+0.7+1.1+0.8+0.2-0.8-0.6+2.1+6.8+.290+1.5+3.9+.610+1.3+1.6+.071
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%
Jaxson Hayes 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

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 9 seasons more than Jaxson Hayes in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 8 to 16, from 2012 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 7 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.

In those 9 extra years over Jaxson Hayes, J.R. Smith got these achievements:

Honors & AwardsAchievement 1 Sixth Man of the Year
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