J.R. Smith vs. Tristan Thompson Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith, 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 / 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.

J.R. Smith played 16 years in the NBA, 2 more than Tristan Thompson, who played 14. J.R. Smith had the first of his seasons in 2004-05, while Tristan Thompson had his rookie season in 2011-12. 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
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20
Tristan Thompson 14 9 2011-12 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14

Rookie Season

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2004-052011-12
Team New Orleans HornetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
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%
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
difference:+16+0.8+2.1+2.6+1.9+4.5+1.4+0.2+0.9-0.4+0.7+2.4+.045+1.1+3.7+0.3+1.1+.137
Tristan Thompson 60 23.7 8.2 3.1 3.4 6.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 1.4 2.2 3.2 7.4 .439 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.2 .552
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher J.R. Smith nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2005-062012-13
Team New Orleans/Oklahoma City HornetsCleveland Cavaliers
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%
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
difference:+27+13.3+4.0+3.4+4.0+7.4+0.2+0.8-0.5-1.3+2.2+3.0+.095+0.9+2.5+0.7+1.7+.214
Tristan Thompson 82 31.3 11.7 3.7 5.7 9.4 1.3 0.7 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.8 9.7 .488 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.5 .608
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher J.R. Smith nor Tristan Thompson played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2006-072013-14
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdDid 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%
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
difference:+19+8.3+1.3+2.8+4.1+6.9+0.5+0.3+0.3+0.1+0.9+.036+2.4+6.1+1.3+2.1+.117
Tristan Thompson 82 31.6 11.7 3.3 5.9 9.2 0.9 0.5 0.4 1.3 2.3 4.4 9.3 .477 0.0 0.0 - 2.9 4.1 .693
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 4

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2007-082014-15
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+8+7.6+3.8+2.7+3.2+5.9+1.2+0.4+0.5-0.5-0.4+0.9+3.1+.086+2.1+5.3+0.2+0.6+.078
Tristan Thompson 82 26.8 8.5 3.3 4.7 8.0 0.5 0.4 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.3 6.0 .547 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 3.0 .641
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+16+9.4+8.7+4.1+4.9+9.0+1.3+0.7+1.2-0.5-0.5+2.2+4.3+.023+1.8+5.5+2.6+1.9+.248
Tristan Thompson 20 36.4 9.6 4.4 6.4 10.8 0.5 0.3 1.2 0.8 2.5 3.6 6.5 .558 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 4.1 .585

Season 5

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2008-092015-16
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA 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%
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
difference:+1+7.4+2.8+2.6+5.3+2.0+0.5+0.4-1.2-0.2+2.2+6.6+.142+2.2+5.6+0.7+0.4+.138
Tristan Thompson 82 27.7 7.8 3.3 5.7 9.0 0.8 0.5 0.6 0.7 2.5 3.0 5.1 .588 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 3.0 .616
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+5+2.4+8.2+3.4+2.3+5.7+2.1+0.7+0.6-0.8-0.6+3.2+7.7+.073+2.4+6.6+0.4+0.6+.032
Tristan Thompson 21 29.6 6.7 4.1 4.9 9.0 0.7 0.4 0.9 0.8 2.6 2.3 4.4 .527 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 3.5 .575

Season 6

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2009-102016-17
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+3+2.1+7.3+3.3+2.8+6.1+1.4+0.8+0.8-1.1+2.3+8.2+.186+2.1+6.2+0.5+.208
Tristan Thompson 78 29.9 8.1 3.7 5.5 9.2 1.0 0.5 1.1 0.8 2.3 3.4 5.6 .600 0.0 0.0 - 1.4 2.7 .498
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+12+4.7+3.0+3.0+1.5+4.5+0.3+0.2+0.4-0.2-0.8+0.5+4.4+.219+1.8+5.2+0.1+0.6+.208
Tristan Thompson 18 31.2 8.2 3.8 4.5 8.3 1.4 0.5 0.7 1.2 2.0 3.0 5.1 .587 0.0 0.0 - 2.2 3.3 .667

Season 7

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2010-112017-18
Team Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+26+4.7+6.5+1.8+0.8+2.5+1.6+0.9+0.1-0.6-0.3+1.8+5.5+.127+1.6+4.0+1.3+1.3+.194
Tristan Thompson 53 20.2 5.8 2.4 4.3 6.6 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.9 2.5 4.4 .562 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.5 .544
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+14+6.7+3.6+2.1+1.8+3.9+0.4+0.3+0.4-1.0-0.2+0.6+4.6+.234+1.8+4.1+.429+0.5+0.8+.014
Tristan Thompson 19 21.9 6.2 2.3 3.6 5.9 0.6 0.1 0.4 0.6 1.4 2.6 4.4 .590 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.4 .741

Season 8

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2011-122018-19
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+8+0.3+1.6+3.2+3.1+6.3+0.4+0.8+0.2-0.1-0.4+2.8+.122+1.9+5.5+0.5+0.9+.067
Tristan Thompson 43 27.9 10.9 4.0 6.2 10.2 2.0 0.7 0.4 1.4 2.1 4.7 8.8 .529 0.0 0.0 - 1.6 2.5 .642
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 9

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2012-132019-20
Team New York KnicksCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards Achievement Sixth Man of the Year-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+23+3.3+6.1+3.2+1.7+4.8+0.6+0.7+0.6-0.1-0.6+1.5+5.7+.090+1.7+5.1+.035+1.3+1.1+.147
Tristan Thompson 57 30.2 12.0 4.0 6.2 10.1 2.1 0.6 0.9 1.8 2.2 5.1 9.9 .512 0.2 0.4 .391 1.7 2.8 .615
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------

Season 10

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2013-142020-21
Team New York KnicksBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
10th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
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
difference:+20+8.9+6.9+2.6+1.5+4.1+1.8+0.5+0.3-0.4-0.4+2.3+6.9+.103+2.6+6.4+.394+0.1+0.3+.060
Tristan Thompson 54 23.8 7.6 3.1 5.0 8.1 1.2 0.4 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.1 6.0 .518 0.0 0.1 .000 1.3 2.2 .592
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------
Tristan Thompson 5 26.4 10.4 5.8 4.0 9.8 1.0 0.8 1.2 1.0 2.4 4.0 6.8 .588 0.0 0.0 - 2.4 3.4 .706

Season 11

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2014-152021-22
Team New York Knicks, Cleveland CavaliersSacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsBulls Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 70 29.7 12.1 0.4 2.7 3.1 2.8 1.2 0.3 1.4 2.3 4.5 10.8 .417 2.3 6.1 .383 0.8 1.0 .750
difference:+13+14.0+6.1+1.7+0.2+2.0+2.2+0.8+0.1-0.6-0.6+2.0+6.1+.111+2.3+6.0+.050+0.3+1.0+.224
Tristan Thompson 57 15.7 6.0 2.1 2.9 5.1 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.8 1.7 2.5 4.7 .528 0.0 0.1 .333 1.1 2.0 .526
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 18 31.1 12.8 0.5 4.2 4.7 1.2 0.9 0.6 0.8 3.0 4.6 11.4 .403 2.8 7.9 .359 0.8 1.1 .700
difference:+13+23.5+12.0+0.1+3.0+3.1+0.8+0.7+0.6-0.2-2.2+4.2+10.4+.003+2.8+7.9+0.8+1.1
Tristan Thompson 5 7.6 0.8 0.4 1.2 1.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 1.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 12

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2015-162022-23
Team Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionLakers Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 77 30.7 12.4 0.6 2.3 2.8 1.7 1.1 0.3 0.8 2.6 4.6 11.0 .415 2.6 6.6 .400 0.6 0.9 .634
Tristan Thompson DNP------ --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 21 34.8 11.5 0.3 2.9 3.2 1.4 1.2 0.2 0.5 2.6 3.9 9.0 .436 3.1 7.2 .430 0.6 1.0 .619
difference:+15+29.5+9.7+0.4+1.9+1.5+1.1+1.2+0.2-0.3-2.4+3.1+7.2+.019+3.1+7.2+0.4+0.2+.419
Tristan Thompson 6 5.3 1.8 0.7 1.0 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.8 1.8 .455 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.8 .200

Season 13

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2016-172023-24
Team Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 41 29.0 8.6 0.4 2.3 2.8 1.5 1.0 0.3 0.6 1.9 3.0 8.7 .346 2.3 6.6 .351 0.2 0.4 .667
difference:+8+17.8+5.3+1.1+0.2+0.8+0.5+0.8-0.7+1.5+6.3+.262+2.3+6.6+0.1+0.7+.379
Tristan Thompson 49 11.2 3.3 1.5 2.1 3.6 1.0 0.2 0.3 0.6 1.2 1.5 2.4 .608 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.1 .288
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 18 27.1 8.1 0.3 2.1 2.3 0.7 0.7 0.3 0.7 2.3 2.8 5.5 .505 2.2 4.4 .500 0.3 0.6 .455
difference:+8+18.4+6.6+0.7+1.1+0.3+0.3+0.6+0.2-0.5-1.4+2.1+3.9+.067+2.2+4.4+0.2+0.4+.045
Tristan Thompson 10 8.7 1.5 1.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 0.1 0.5 0.2 0.9 0.7 1.6 .438 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.2 .500

Season 14

J.R. Smith Tristan Thompson
Season 2017-182024-25
Team Cleveland CavaliersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost NBA FinalsCavaliers Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
14th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 80 28.1 8.3 0.4 2.6 2.9 1.8 0.9 0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.4 .403 1.8 4.8 .375 0.5 0.7 .696
difference:+40+19.9+6.6+0.4+0.5+1.2+0.8+0.2-0.6-1.1+2.2+5.6+.034+1.8+4.7+.375+0.3+0.1+.463
Tristan Thompson 40 8.2 1.7 0.8 2.6 3.4 0.6 0.1 0.3 0.4 0.9 0.8 1.8 .437 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.8 .233
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
J.R. Smith 22 32.1 8.7 0.5 2.3 2.7 1.1 1.0 0.2 0.9 2.5 3.0 8.5 .348 2.0 5.5 .367 0.8 1.0 .773
difference:+19+22.4+6.4+0.2+2.0+2.3+0.8+0.7+0.5-0.2-1.8+2.0+6.5+.152+2.0+5.5+0.5+.440
Tristan Thompson 3 9.7 2.3 0.7 4.3 5.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.7 1.0 2.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.3 1.0 .333

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 2 seasons more than Tristan Thompson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 15 to 16, from 2019 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in one postseason and won the NBA Championship.