Jaylen Brown vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Jaylen Brown, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings / 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.

Jaylen Brown played 10 years in the NBA, 6 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Jaylen Brown 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
Jaylen Brown 10 8 2016-17 to 2025-26
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10

Rookie Season

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2016-172004-05
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie Second Team-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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%
Jaylen Brown 78 17.2 6.6 0.6 2.2 2.8 0.8 0.4 0.2 0.9 1.8 2.5 5.4 .454 0.6 1.7 .341 1.1 1.6 .685
difference:+2+7.3+3.7+0.1+0.7+0.8+1.1+0.3+0.1-0.5+1.4+4.4+.060+0.5+2.0+.053+0.4+0.5+.004
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%
Jaylen Brown 17 12.6 5.0 0.7 1.4 2.1 0.8 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.5 2.0 4.2 .479 0.3 1.4 .217 0.7 1.1 .667
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2017-182005-06
Team Boston CelticsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsDid 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%
Jaylen Brown 70 30.7 14.5 0.9 4.0 4.9 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.8 2.6 5.3 11.5 .465 1.7 4.4 .395 2.1 3.3 .644
difference:+15+12.7+6.8+0.6+2.3+2.9+0.5+0.3+0.3-0.8-1.0+2.7+4.8+.072+0.8+1.9+.024+0.6+1.5+.178
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%
Jaylen Brown 18 32.4 18.0 0.9 3.9 4.8 1.4 0.8 0.6 1.3 3.2 6.9 14.8 .466 2.4 6.2 .393 1.8 2.8 .640
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2018-192006-07
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisNuggets 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%
Jaylen Brown 74 25.9 13.0 0.9 3.4 4.2 1.4 0.9 0.4 1.3 2.5 5.0 10.7 .465 1.3 3.7 .344 1.8 2.7 .658
difference:+11+2.6+0.4+1.6+1.9+0.1+0.3-0.2+0.5+0.5+.024+1.1+2.4+.046+0.2+0.7+.152
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%
Jaylen Brown 9 30.4 13.9 0.7 5.1 5.8 1.1 0.7 0.2 1.8 3.3 4.9 9.7 .506 1.6 4.4 .350 2.6 3.3 .767
difference:+5+18.6+9.4+0.4+3.1+3.5+0.6+0.3+0.1-1.0-1.8+3.4+4.2+.233+1.6+1.4+.350+1.1+1.8+.233
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

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2019-202007-08
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNuggets 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%
Jaylen Brown 57 33.9 20.3 1.1 5.3 6.4 2.1 1.1 0.4 2.2 2.9 7.5 15.6 .481 2.3 5.9 .382 3.1 4.3 .724
difference:+17+14.7+8.0+0.5+3.8+4.3+0.4+0.3+0.2-0.7-1.0+3.3+6.5+.020+0.2+0.6+.021+1.4+1.9+.005
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%
Jaylen Brown 17 39.5 21.8 1.4 6.1 7.5 2.3 1.5 0.5 2.4 2.8 8.1 16.9 .476 2.5 7.1 .358 3.1 3.7 .841
difference:+13+12.5+3.5+1.1+4.6+5.7+0.5+0.5+0.5-1.1-0.2+2.3+6.1+.059+0.7+1.6+.040+1.9+2.3+.008
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

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2020-212008-09
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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%
Jaylen Brown 58 34.5 24.7 1.2 4.8 6.0 3.4 1.2 0.6 2.7 2.9 9.3 19.2 .484 2.8 7.1 .397 3.3 4.3 .764
difference:+23+6.8+9.5+0.7+1.7+2.3+0.6+0.2+0.4-0.8-0.6+4.1+7.5+.038+0.6+1.5+0.8+0.9+.010
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%
Jaylen Brown 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

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2021-222009-10
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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%
Jaylen Brown 66 33.6 23.6 0.8 5.3 6.1 3.5 1.1 0.3 2.7 2.5 8.7 18.4 .473 2.5 7.0 .358 3.7 4.8 .758
difference:+9+5.8+8.2+0.4+2.6+3.0+1.1+0.2-0.8-0.2+3.0+4.6+.059+0.4+0.8+.020+1.8+2.1+.052
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%
Jaylen Brown 24 38.3 23.1 1.4 5.5 6.9 3.5 1.1 0.4 3.1 3.0 8.2 17.5 .470 2.5 6.7 .373 4.2 5.5 .763
difference:+18+11.8+11.9+0.6+2.5+3.1+1.8+0.4+0.1-2.1-0.2+4.7+8.0+.102+0.7+1.5+.018+1.9+2.8+.112
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

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2022-232010-11
Team Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsNuggets 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%
Jaylen Brown 67 35.9 26.6 1.2 5.7 6.9 3.5 1.1 0.4 2.9 2.6 10.1 20.6 .491 2.4 7.3 .335 3.9 5.1 .765
difference:+12+11.0+14.3+0.6+2.2+2.8+1.3+0.1+0.2-1.6-0.4+5.8+10.7+.056+0.8+3.3+.055+1.8+2.3+.027
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%
Jaylen Brown 20 37.6 22.7 1.3 4.4 5.6 3.4 1.1 0.4 3.3 3.1 9.1 18.3 .496 2.0 5.7 .354 2.6 3.7 .689
difference:+15+22.4+12.9+1.1+2.6+3.6+2.4+0.7+0.4-1.7-1.5+5.9+9.3+.140+0.2+1.5+.075+1.0+1.5+.038
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

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2023-242011-12
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionKnicks 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%
Jaylen Brown 70 33.5 23.0 1.2 4.3 5.5 3.6 1.2 0.5 2.4 2.6 9.0 17.9 .499 2.1 5.9 .354 3.0 4.3 .703
difference:+35+5.9+10.5+0.4+1.2+1.6+1.2+0.3+0.3-1.1-0.1+4.3+6.3+.092+0.2+0.4+.007+1.9+2.7+.006
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%
Jaylen Brown 19 37.2 23.9 1.2 4.8 5.9 3.3 1.2 0.6 2.7 2.7 9.2 17.8 .516 1.9 5.8 .327 3.6 5.4 .660
difference:+14+2.2+11.7+0.8+2.6+3.3+1.1+0.4-0.5-1.1+4.4+2.6+.200+0.9+0.2+.148+2.0+3.8+.340
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

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2024-252012-13
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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%
Jaylen Brown 63 34.3 22.2 1.3 4.5 5.8 4.5 1.2 0.3 2.6 2.4 8.2 17.7 .463 1.8 5.7 .324 3.9 5.1 .764
difference:+17+0.8+4.1+0.5+0.5+1.8+0.1-0.9-0.4+1.6+2.1+.041+0.1+0.2+.032+0.9+1.2+.002
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%
Jaylen Brown 11 36.5 22.1 1.2 5.9 7.1 3.9 1.0 0.3 3.5 3.2 7.8 17.7 .441 1.9 5.7 .333 4.5 6.0 .758
difference:+4.6+7.8+0.7+1.7+2.4+2.5+0.2-1.7-0.7+2.9+2.9+.110+0.3+0.3+.060+1.7+2.1+.037
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

Season 10

Jaylen Brown J.R. Smith
Season 2025-262013-14
Team Boston CelticsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jaylen Brown 17 32.4 27.9 0.9 4.6 5.6 4.3 0.9 0.3 3.4 3.2 10.5 20.8 .506 1.9 5.6 .344 4.9 6.4 .769
difference:+57+0.3+13.4+0.4+1.1+1.6+1.3-1.9-0.6+5.1+7.9+.091+0.7+0.9+.050+3.7+4.5+.117
J.R. Smith 74 32.7 14.5 0.5 3.5 4.0 3.0 0.9 0.3 1.5 2.6 5.4 12.9 .415 2.6 6.5 .394 1.2 1.9 .652
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Jaylen Brown nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 10

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 6 seasons more than Jaylen Brown in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 16, from 2015 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 5 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.