Julius Erving vs. Joe Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Joe Smith and Julius Erving, 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.

Julius Erving played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than Joe Smith, who played 16. Julius Erving had the first of his seasons in 1976-77, while Joe Smith had his rookie season in 1995-96. 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
Julius Erving 11 11 1976-77 to 1986-87
Joe Smith 16 10 1995-96 to 2010-11

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16

Rookie Season

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1976-771995-96
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie First Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 82 35.9 21.6 2.3 6.1 8.5 3.7 1.9 1.4 - 3.1 8.4 16.7 .499 - - - 4.9 6.3 .777
Joe Smith 82 34.4 15.3 3.7 5.1 8.7 1.0 1.0 1.6 1.7 2.7 5.7 12.5 .458 0.1 0.3 .357 3.7 4.8 .773
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 19 39.9 27.3 2.2 4.3 6.4 4.5 2.2 1.2 - 2.4 10.7 20.5 .523 - - - 5.8 7.1 .821
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1977-781996-97
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 74 32.8 20.6 2.4 4.1 6.5 3.8 1.8 1.3 3.2 2.8 8.3 16.4 .502 - - - 4.1 4.9 .845
Joe Smith 80 38.6 18.7 3.3 5.2 8.5 1.6 0.9 1.1 2.4 3.1 7.3 16.2 .454 0.2 0.6 .261 3.8 4.7 .814
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 10 35.8 21.8 4.0 5.7 9.7 4.0 1.5 1.8 3.5 3.0 8.8 18.0 .489 - - - 4.2 5.6 .750
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1978-791997-98
Team Philadelphia 76ersGolden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 78 35.9 23.1 2.5 4.7 7.2 4.6 1.7 1.3 4.0 2.7 9.2 18.7 .491 - - - 4.8 6.4 .745
Joe Smith 79 29.7 14.6 2.5 3.4 6.0 1.2 0.8 0.6 2.0 3.3 5.9 13.5 .434 0.0 0.1 .000 2.9 3.7 .775
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 9 41.3 25.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 5.9 2.0 1.9 4.2 2.4 9.9 19.1 .517 - - - 5.7 7.4 .761
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1979-801998-99
Team Philadelphia 76ersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsTimberwolves 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 %
Julius Erving 78 36.1 26.9 2.8 4.6 7.4 4.6 2.2 1.8 3.6 2.7 10.7 20.7 .519 0.1 0.3 .200 5.4 6.8 .787
Joe Smith 43 33.0 13.7 3.6 4.7 8.2 1.6 0.7 1.5 1.5 3.4 5.2 12.1 .427 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.4 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 18 38.6 24.4 1.7 5.8 7.6 4.4 2.0 2.1 3.1 3.1 9.2 18.8 .488 0.1 0.5 .222 6.0 7.6 .794
Joe Smith 4 30.0 7.5 2.5 4.0 6.5 1.3 0.5 2.0 1.3 3.8 2.8 9.3 .297 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.8 .727

Season 5

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1980-811999-00
Team Philadelphia 76ersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement Season MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsTimberwolves 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 %
Julius Erving 82 35.0 24.6 3.0 5.0 8.0 4.4 2.1 1.8 3.2 2.8 9.7 18.6 .521 0.0 0.2 .222 5.1 6.5 .787
Joe Smith 78 25.3 9.9 2.4 3.8 6.2 1.1 0.6 1.1 1.5 3.9 3.7 8.0 .464 0.0 0.0 1.000 2.5 3.3 .756
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 16 37.0 22.9 3.3 3.9 7.1 3.4 1.4 2.6 3.4 3.4 8.9 18.8 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 5.1 6.7 .757
Joe Smith 4 19.8 4.5 1.8 1.3 3.0 0.3 0.8 0.3 1.0 3.8 2.0 4.3 .471 0.0 0.3 .000 0.5 0.5 1.000

Season 6

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1981-822000-01
Team Philadelphia 76ersDetroit Pistons
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 81 34.4 24.4 2.7 4.2 6.9 3.9 2.0 1.7 2.6 2.8 9.6 17.6 .546 0.0 0.1 .273 5.1 6.7 .763
Joe Smith 69 28.1 12.3 2.3 4.8 7.1 1.1 0.7 0.7 1.3 3.7 4.5 11.1 .403 0.0 0.1 .000 3.3 4.2 .805
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 21 37.1 22.0 2.7 4.7 7.4 4.7 1.8 1.8 3.2 2.6 8.0 15.4 .519 0.0 0.3 .167 5.9 7.9 .752
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 7

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1982-832001-02
Team Philadelphia 76ersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game NVP-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionTimberwolves 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 %
Julius Erving 72 33.6 21.4 2.4 4.4 6.8 3.7 1.6 1.8 2.7 2.8 8.4 16.3 .517 0.0 0.1 .286 4.6 6.0 .759
Joe Smith 72 26.7 10.7 2.1 4.2 6.3 1.1 0.5 0.8 1.2 3.5 4.1 8.1 .511 0.0 0.0 .667 2.4 2.9 .830
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 37.9 18.4 2.5 5.2 7.6 3.4 1.2 2.1 3.0 3.2 7.3 16.2 .450 0.0 0.1 .000 3.8 5.2 .721
Joe Smith 3 14.3 4.3 1.3 2.3 3.7 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 2.7 1.0 2.3 .429 0.0 0.0 - 2.3 2.7 .875

Season 8

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1983-842002-03
Team Philadelphia 76ersMinnesota Timberwolves
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdTimberwolves 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 %
Julius Erving 77 34.8 22.4 2.5 4.4 6.9 4.0 1.8 1.8 3.0 2.8 8.8 17.2 .512 0.1 0.3 .333 4.7 6.3 .754
Joe Smith 54 20.7 7.5 2.1 2.9 5.0 0.7 0.3 1.0 0.8 3.2 2.8 6.1 .460 0.0 0.0 .000 1.9 2.4 .779
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 38.8 18.2 1.8 4.6 6.4 5.0 1.6 1.2 4.2 2.8 7.2 15.2 .474 0.0 0.2 .000 3.8 4.4 .864
Joe Smith 5 8.0 2.8 0.0 1.2 1.2 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.6 2.8 0.8 1.2 .667 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.2 1.000

Season 9

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1984-852003-04
Team Philadelphia 76ersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf FinalsBucks 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 %
Julius Erving 78 32.5 20.0 2.2 3.1 5.3 3.0 1.7 1.4 2.7 2.6 7.8 15.8 .494 0.0 0.2 .214 4.3 5.7 .765
Joe Smith 76 29.7 10.9 3.0 5.4 8.5 1.0 0.6 1.2 1.1 2.8 4.1 9.3 .439 0.0 0.1 .200 2.7 3.2 .859
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 13 33.4 17.1 2.2 3.4 5.6 3.7 1.9 0.8 2.8 2.6 6.5 14.4 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 4.8 .857
Joe Smith 5 35.4 13.2 4.6 5.4 10.0 0.4 0.8 2.0 1.2 3.0 5.4 11.0 .491 0.0 0.2 .000 2.4 2.6 .923

Season 10

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1985-862004-05
Team Philadelphia 76ersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 74 33.4 18.1 2.3 2.7 5.0 3.4 1.5 1.1 2.9 2.6 7.0 14.7 .480 0.1 0.4 .281 3.9 5.0 .785
Joe Smith 74 30.6 11.0 2.4 4.9 7.3 0.9 0.6 0.5 1.1 3.0 4.3 8.4 .514 0.0 0.0 .000 2.4 3.1 .768
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 12 36.1 17.7 2.2 3.7 5.8 4.2 0.9 1.3 3.3 2.7 6.8 15.0 .450 0.2 0.9 .182 4.0 5.4 .738
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season 1986-872005-06
Team Philadelphia 76ersMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Conf 1st RdBucks 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 %
Julius Erving 60 32.0 16.8 1.9 2.5 4.4 3.2 1.3 1.6 2.6 2.3 6.7 14.2 .471 0.2 0.9 .264 3.2 3.9 .813
Joe Smith 44 20.2 8.6 1.9 3.3 5.2 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.9 2.7 3.3 6.9 .475 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .774
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving 5 36.0 18.2 2.8 2.2 5.0 3.4 1.4 1.2 1.8 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 0.4 1.2 .333 4.2 5.0 .840
Joe Smith 5 21.2 7.6 1.2 4.2 5.4 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.2 3.2 3.2 6.6 .485 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.8 .667

Season 12

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season -2006-07
Team -Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Did Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 65 23.1 8.5 1.8 4.3 6.2 0.8 0.6 0.4 1.2 2.3 3.3 7.3 .449 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.3 .845
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season -2007-08
Team -Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 77 22.4 10.1 2.1 3.1 5.2 0.9 0.4 0.6 0.9 2.4 4.1 8.5 .478 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.6 .755
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 13 20.2 6.6 1.5 3.1 4.6 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.5 3.2 2.8 5.7 .486 0.0 0.1 .000 1.1 1.7 .636

Season 14

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season -2008-09
Team -Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 57 19.3 6.6 1.6 3.1 4.6 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.4 2.1 2.7 5.8 .468 0.1 0.1 .429 1.0 1.4 .720
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 13 16.8 5.5 0.8 2.9 3.7 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.9 1.8 3.8 .460 0.2 0.4 .600 1.8 2.2 .793

Season 15

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season -2009-10
Team -Atlanta Hawks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Hawks 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 64 9.3 3.0 1.0 1.4 2.5 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.3 1.5 1.2 3.0 .399 0.0 0.1 .143 0.6 0.8 .813
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 5 4.8 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.6 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -

Season 16

Julius Erving Joe Smith
Season -2010-11
Team -New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Lakers 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 %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 16 4.3 0.5 0.2 1.1 1.3 0.3 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.8 0.2 1.0 .188 0.0 0.0 - 0.1 0.1 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Julius Erving ------- --- ----------
Joe Smith 5 2.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.4 .000 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -