Jim Paxson vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Jim Paxson, 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.

Jim Paxson played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Jim Paxson had the first of his seasons in 1979-80, 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 achivements, 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
Jim Paxson 11 9 1979-80 to 1989-90
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1979-801987-88
Team Portland Trail BlazersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 72 17.6 6.2 0.3 1.2 1.5 2.0 0.7 0.1 1.3 1.3 2.6 6.4 .411 0.0 0.3 .045 0.9 1.3 .711
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 3 14.7 5.3 0.0 1.3 1.3 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.7 1.7 5.3 .313 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.0 1.000
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1980-811988-89
Team Portland Trail BlazersSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 79 34.2 17.1 0.9 1.7 2.7 3.8 1.8 0.1 1.7 2.2 7.4 13.8 .536 0.0 0.4 .067 2.3 3.1 .734
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 1 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821989-90
Team Portland Trail BlazersSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 82 33.6 18.9 0.9 1.8 2.7 3.4 1.6 0.1 1.8 1.9 8.1 15.3 .526 0.1 0.4 .229 2.7 3.5 .767
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831990-91
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 81 33.8 21.7 0.8 1.3 2.1 2.9 1.7 0.2 1.9 2.0 8.4 16.3 .515 0.0 0.3 .160 4.8 5.9 .812
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 7 37.1 23.3 0.6 1.6 2.1 2.6 1.3 0.1 2.1 1.6 9.7 16.6 .586 0.3 0.6 .500 3.6 4.7 .758
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

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841991-92
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 81 33.2 21.3 0.8 1.3 2.1 3.1 1.5 0.1 1.8 2.0 8.4 16.3 .514 0.2 0.7 .288 4.3 5.1 .841
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 5 34.4 22.8 2.2 1.6 3.8 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.8 2.6 8.0 15.6 .513 0.2 1.0 .200 6.6 8.0 .825
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1984-851992-93
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 68 33.1 17.9 1.0 2.3 3.3 3.9 1.5 0.1 1.6 1.7 7.5 14.5 .514 0.1 0.6 .154 2.9 3.6 .790
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 9 23.6 12.9 0.7 1.6 2.2 2.3 0.7 0.0 0.6 1.8 5.2 11.2 .465 0.3 1.1 .300 2.1 2.7 .792
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

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861993-94
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 75 25.7 13.1 0.6 1.4 2.0 3.7 1.3 0.1 1.5 2.1 5.0 10.6 .470 0.3 0.8 .323 2.9 3.3 .889
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 4 17.8 10.5 0.3 0.8 1.0 3.8 0.8 0.0 1.5 3.0 3.5 9.3 .378 0.5 1.5 .333 3.0 3.8 .800
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

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871994-95
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 72 25.0 12.1 0.6 1.4 1.9 3.3 1.1 0.2 1.5 1.9 4.7 10.2 .460 0.4 1.4 .265 2.4 3.0 .806
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 4 23.5 8.5 1.0 1.3 2.3 3.3 1.3 0.0 1.0 2.0 3.3 8.0 .406 0.0 0.5 .000 2.0 2.3 .889
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

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1987-881995-96
Team Portland Trail Blazers, Boston CelticsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf FinalsRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 45 17.8 7.7 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.7 0.1 0.9 1.6 3.0 6.6 .460 0.1 0.5 .238 1.5 1.8 .861
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 15 12.5 3.3 0.1 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.2 1.1 3.9 .288 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.3 .800
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

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1988-891996-97
Team Boston CelticsDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 57 20.0 8.6 0.3 1.0 1.3 1.9 0.7 0.1 1.0 1.7 3.5 7.8 .454 0.1 0.4 .167 1.5 1.8 .816
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Jim Paxson Kenny Smith
Season 1989-90-
Team Boston Celtics-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost East Conf 1st Rd-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 72 17.8 6.4 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.9 0.5 0.1 0.8 1.6 2.7 5.9 .453 0.1 0.3 .250 1.0 1.3 .811
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Jim Paxson 5 12.4 3.8 0.0 0.0 0 1.4 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.2 1.6 3.2 .500 0.0 0.2 .000 0.6 0.8 .750
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------