Jerry Lucas vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Jerry Lucas, 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.

Jerry Lucas played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Jerry Lucas had the first of his seasons in 1963-64, 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
Jerry Lucas 11 8 1963-64 to 1973-74
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1963-641987-88
Team Cincinnati RoyalsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First TeamAchievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div 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%
Jerry Lucas 79 41.4 17.7 - - 17.4 2.6 - - - 3.8 6.9 13.1 .527 - - - 3.9 5.0 .779
difference:+18+5.8+3.9+15.1+4.5-1.5+1.5+1.7+.050+1.2+1.7+.040
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%
Jerry Lucas 10 37.0 12.2 - - 12.5 3.4 - - - 3.7 4.8 12.3 .390 - - - 2.6 3.7 .703
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 2

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1964-651988-89
Team Cincinnati RoyalsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div 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%
Jerry Lucas 66 43.4 21.4 - - 20.0 2.4 - - - 3.2 8.5 17.0 .498 - - - 4.5 5.5 .814
difference:+15+4.6+4.1+17.2+5.3-1.1+1.7+2.4+.036+1.3+1.1+.077
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%
Jerry Lucas 4 48.8 23.3 - - 21.0 2.3 - - - 3.0 9.5 18.8 .507 - - - 4.3 5.5 .773
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1965-661989-90
Team Cincinnati RoyalsSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div SemisDid 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%
Jerry Lucas 79 44.5 21.5 - - 21.1 2.7 - - - 3.5 8.7 19.3 .453 - - - 4.0 5.1 .787
difference:+13.9+9.6+19.1+2.9-1.7+3.9+9.0+.013+2.0+2.6+.034
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%
Jerry Lucas 5 46.2 21.4 - - 20.2 2.8 - - - 2.8 8.0 17.0 .471 - - - 5.4 7.0 .771
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1966-671990-91
Team Cincinnati RoyalsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Royals Lost East Div SemisRockets 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%
Jerry Lucas 81 43.9 17.8 - - 19.1 3.3 - - - 3.5 7.1 15.5 .459 - - - 3.5 4.4 .791
difference:+3+9.3+0.1+17.0+3.8-1.8+0.4+2.6+.061+0.2+.053
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%
Jerry Lucas 4 45.8 12.5 - - 19.3 2.0 - - - 3.8 6.0 13.8 .436 - - - 0.5 0.5 1.000
difference:+1+8.1+2.8+16.6+6.0-2.1+1.1+.038+2.2+2.5+.111
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

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1967-681991-92
Team Cincinnati RoyalsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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%
Jerry Lucas 82 44.1 21.5 - - 19.0 3.1 - - - 3.0 8.6 16.6 .519 - - - 4.2 5.4 .778
difference:+1+10.3+7.5+16.8+3.8-1.6+3.3+5.4+.044+1.5+2.3+.088
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 Jerry Lucas nor Kenny Smith played in the postseason in their season 5

Season 6

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1968-691992-93
Team Cincinnati RoyalsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
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%
Jerry Lucas 74 41.6 18.3 - - 18.4 4.1 - - - 2.8 7.5 13.6 .551 - - - 3.3 4.4 .755
difference:+8+12.1+5.3+16.4+1.3-1.5+2.8+4.5+.031+0.9+1.7+.123
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%
Jerry Lucas 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

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1969-701993-94
Team Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco WarriorsHouston 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%
Jerry Lucas 67 36.1 15.1 - - 14.2 2.6 - - - 2.4 6.0 11.9 .507 - - - 3.0 3.8 .784
difference:+11+7.8+3.5+12.4+1.6-0.8+1.6+2.8+.027+1.3+1.8+.087
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%
Jerry Lucas 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

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1970-711994-95
Team San Francisco WarriorsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNBA 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%
Jerry Lucas 80 40.6 19.2 - - 15.8 3.7 - - - 2.5 7.8 15.6 .498 - - - 3.6 4.6 .787
difference:+1+15.5+8.8+13.9+0.3-1.2+4.3+8.3+.014+2.0+2.8+.064
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%
Jerry Lucas 5 34.2 17.8 - - 10.0 3.2 - - - 2.8 7.8 15.4 .506 - - - 2.2 3.2 .688
difference:+17+4.6+7.0+7.8+1.3-0.7+4.3+7.3+.068+0.6+1.4+.212
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

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1971-721995-96
Team New York KnicksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsRockets 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%
Jerry Lucas 77 38.0 16.7 - - 13.1 4.1 - - - 2.8 7.1 13.8 .512 - - - 2.6 3.2 .791
difference:+9+14.2+8.2+11.7+0.5-1.1+4.1+7.0+.079+1.3+1.6+.030
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%
Jerry Lucas 16 46.1 18.6 - - 10.8 5.3 - - - 3.1 7.4 14.9 .500 - - - 3.7 4.4 .831
difference:+8+22.2+9.7+9.3+0.5-1.3+4.5+8.3+.066+2.1+2.8+.169
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

Season 10

Jerry Lucas Kenny Smith
Season 1972-731996-97
Team New York KnicksDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid 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%
Jerry Lucas 71 28.2 9.9 - - 7.2 4.5 - - - 2.2 4.4 8.6 .513 - - - 1.1 1.4 .800
difference:+23+12.3+3.6+6.3+2.1-1.6+2.3+3.6+.090+0.3+0.5+.067
Kenny Smith 48 15.9 6.3 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.5 0.6 2.1 5.0 .423 1.2 2.8 .437 0.8 0.9 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Jerry Lucas 17 21.6 7.5 - - 5.0 2.3 - - - 2.8 3.2 6.6 .482 - - - 1.2 1.4 .870
Kenny Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* Jerry Lucas played 1 season more than Kenny Smith in the NBA.

In that period—his season 11 in 1974—Jerry Lucas played in the Playoffs.