John Paxson vs. Marcus Smart Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Marcus Smart and John 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

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.

John Paxson played 11 years in the NBA, 1 more than Marcus Smart, who played 10. John Paxson had the first of his seasons in 1983-84, while Marcus Smart had his rookie season in 2014-15. 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
John Paxson 11 10 1983-84 to 1993-94
Marcus Smart 10 9 2014-15 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1983-842014-15
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
John Paxson 49 9.3 2.9 0.1 0.6 0.7 3.0 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.0 1.2 2.8 .445 0.1 0.4 .182 0.3 0.5 .615
Marcus Smart 67 27.0 7.8 0.9 2.4 3.3 3.1 1.5 0.3 1.3 2.6 2.6 7.1 .367 1.4 4.1 .335 1.2 1.9 .646
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart 4 22.5 9.8 1.3 1.5 2.8 1.3 0.3 0.3 1.0 3.0 3.5 7.3 .483 0.8 3.3 .231 2.0 3.8 .533

Season 2

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1984-852015-16
Team San Antonio SpursBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 %
John Paxson 78 16.1 6.2 0.2 0.6 0.9 2.8 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.5 2.5 4.9 .509 0.1 0.4 .294 1.1 1.3 .840
Marcus Smart 61 27.3 9.1 1.2 2.9 4.2 3.0 1.5 0.3 1.3 3.0 3.0 8.7 .348 1.0 4.0 .253 2.1 2.7 .777
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 5 22.8 10.2 0.0 1.0 1.0 4.2 1.0 0.0 1.0 1.8 4.2 8.4 .500 0.4 1.8 .222 1.4 1.8 .778
Marcus Smart 6 32.2 12.0 1.3 3.2 4.5 3.0 1.7 0.8 2.5 2.8 3.7 10.0 .367 1.8 5.3 .344 2.8 3.5 .810

Season 3

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1985-862016-17
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 75 20.9 5.3 0.2 1.0 1.3 3.7 0.7 0.0 0.8 2.3 2.0 4.4 .466 0.2 0.7 .300 1.0 1.2 .804
Marcus Smart 79 30.4 10.6 1.0 2.9 3.9 4.6 1.6 0.4 2.0 2.4 3.4 9.5 .359 1.2 4.2 .283 2.6 3.2 .812
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 3 26.7 9.0 0.0 0.0 0 1.7 1.0 0.0 1.0 3.0 2.3 5.0 .467 0.0 0.0 - 4.3 5.7 .765
Marcus Smart 18 29.9 8.6 1.3 3.4 4.7 4.7 1.5 0.9 2.1 2.8 2.6 7.4 .351 1.6 4.1 .397 1.8 2.8 .640

Season 4

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1986-872017-18
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 82 32.8 11.3 0.3 1.4 1.7 5.7 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.5 4.7 9.7 .487 0.6 1.7 .371 1.3 1.6 .809
Marcus Smart 54 29.9 10.2 0.8 2.7 3.5 4.8 1.3 0.4 2.4 2.5 3.5 9.5 .367 1.4 4.6 .301 1.8 2.5 .729
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 3 29.0 8.7 0.0 1.0 1.0 3.7 0.7 0.0 1.7 3.0 3.7 7.3 .500 1.0 2.3 .429 0.3 0.3 1.000
Marcus Smart 15 29.9 9.8 0.9 2.8 3.7 5.3 1.7 0.7 2.4 2.9 3.2 9.5 .336 1.0 4.5 .221 2.4 3.3 .735

Season 5

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1987-882018-19
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 81 23.3 7.9 0.2 1.1 1.3 3.7 0.6 0.0 0.8 1.9 3.5 7.2 .493 0.4 1.2 .347 0.4 0.6 .733
Marcus Smart 80 27.5 8.9 0.7 2.2 2.9 4.0 1.8 0.4 1.5 2.5 3.0 7.1 .422 1.6 4.3 .364 1.3 1.6 .806
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 10 16.5 4.6 0.0 0.4 0.4 3.0 0.1 0.1 0.5 2.4 2.0 5.3 .377 0.2 1.2 .167 0.4 0.4 1.000
Marcus Smart 2 16.0 3.5 2.0 0.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 0.0 1.5 1.5 0.5 5.5 .091 0.5 5.5 .091 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 6

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1988-892019-20
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 78 22.3 7.3 0.2 1.0 1.2 3.9 0.7 0.1 0.9 2.1 3.2 6.6 .480 0.6 1.7 .331 0.4 0.5 .861
Marcus Smart 60 32.0 12.9 0.7 3.1 3.8 4.9 1.7 0.5 1.7 2.7 4.3 11.4 .375 2.3 6.6 .347 2.1 2.5 .836
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 16 18.9 5.8 0.1 0.5 0.6 2.1 0.8 0.0 0.9 2.2 2.3 4.9 .474 0.3 1.2 .263 0.9 1.0 .875
Marcus Smart 17 38.1 14.5 0.6 4.6 5.2 4.6 1.2 0.5 2.6 3.2 4.6 11.6 .394 2.4 7.2 .333 2.9 3.3 .875

Season 7

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1989-902020-21
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf FinalsCeltics 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 %
John Paxson 82 28.8 10.0 0.3 1.1 1.5 4.1 1.0 0.1 1.0 2.1 4.5 8.6 .516 0.4 1.1 .359 0.7 0.8 .824
Marcus Smart 48 32.9 13.1 0.8 2.7 3.5 5.7 1.5 0.5 2.0 2.6 4.2 10.6 .398 1.9 5.9 .330 2.7 3.4 .790
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 15 26.3 6.1 0.1 1.3 1.5 3.6 0.6 0.0 1.0 2.8 2.5 5.8 .425 0.3 0.6 .444 0.9 0.9 1.000
Marcus Smart 5 36.6 17.8 0.8 3.6 4.4 6.0 1.0 0.2 2.8 2.8 5.8 13.2 .439 3.2 8.6 .372 3.0 4.2 .714

Season 8

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1990-912021-22
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 82 24.0 8.7 0.2 0.9 1.1 3.6 0.8 0.0 0.8 1.7 3.9 7.0 .548 0.5 1.2 .438 0.4 0.5 .829
Marcus Smart 71 32.3 12.1 0.6 3.2 3.8 5.9 1.7 0.3 2.2 2.3 4.2 10.1 .418 1.7 5.1 .331 2.0 2.5 .793
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 17 28.6 8.2 0.1 1.2 1.4 3.1 0.6 0.0 0.4 1.9 3.6 6.9 .530 0.1 0.8 .143 0.8 0.8 1.000
Marcus Smart 21 36.2 15.4 1.0 3.6 4.5 5.9 1.2 0.2 2.5 3.4 5.4 13.3 .405 2.3 6.5 .350 2.4 3.0 .806

Season 9

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1991-922022-23
Team Chicago BullsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 79 24.6 7.0 0.3 0.9 1.2 3.1 0.6 0.1 0.6 1.8 3.3 6.2 .528 0.2 0.6 .273 0.4 0.5 .784
Marcus Smart 61 32.1 11.5 0.8 2.4 3.1 6.3 1.5 0.4 2.3 2.8 4.1 9.9 .415 1.9 5.6 .336 1.4 1.9 .746
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 22 27.2 7.9 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.8 0.6 0.0 0.6 2.4 3.3 6.3 .525 0.5 1.2 .444 0.7 0.9 .842
Marcus Smart 20 34.0 14.9 1.1 3.0 4.0 5.1 1.3 0.3 2.3 1.9 5.1 11.2 .453 2.2 6.1 .361 2.6 3.3 .800

Season 10

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1992-932023-24
Team Chicago BullsMemphis Grizzlies
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 59 17.5 4.2 0.2 0.7 0.8 2.3 0.6 0.0 0.5 1.7 1.8 3.9 .451 0.3 0.7 .463 0.3 0.3 .850
Marcus Smart 20 30.3 14.5 0.3 2.4 2.7 4.3 2.1 0.3 3.1 2.7 5.1 11.9 .430 2.1 6.7 .313 2.2 2.8 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 19 17.4 4.9 0.3 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.1 0.2 1.6 1.8 3.2 .583 0.8 1.3 .625 0.4 0.6 .727
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------

Season 11

John Paxson Marcus Smart
Season 1993-94-
Team Chicago Bulls-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf Semis-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 27 12.7 2.6 0.1 0.6 0.7 1.2 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.7 1.1 2.5 .441 0.3 0.8 .409 0.0 0.1 .500
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
John Paxson 9 6.4 0.7 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.7 0.3 0.8 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 0.0 0.0 -
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------