Julius Randle vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Julius Randle, 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 / Scoring / Stats / 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.

Julius Randle played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Julius Randle had the first of his seasons in 2014-15, while J.R. Smith had his rookie season in 2004-05. 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
Julius Randle 12 3 2014-15 to 2025-26
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

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

Rookie Season

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2014-152004-05
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
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%
Julius Randle 1 14.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.0 .333 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 2.0 .000
difference:+75+10.5+8.3+0.5+1.5+2.0+1.9+0.7+0.1-0.4-0.8+2.9+6.8+.061+1.1+3.7+1.5+0.1+.689
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
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Julius Randle nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2015-162005-06
Team Los Angeles LakersNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
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%
Julius Randle 81 28.2 11.3 2.1 8.1 10.2 1.8 0.7 0.4 1.8 3.0 4.4 10.3 .429 0.1 0.4 .278 2.4 3.3 .715
difference:+26+10.2+3.6+1.8+6.4+8.2+0.7+0.3-0.8-1.4+1.8+3.6+.036+0.8+2.1+.093+0.9+1.5+.107
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
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Julius Randle nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2016-172006-07
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 74 28.8 13.2 2.0 6.6 8.6 3.6 0.7 0.5 2.3 3.4 5.1 10.4 .488 0.2 0.9 .270 2.8 3.8 .723
difference:+11+5.5+0.2+1.5+4.8+6.3+2.2+0.1+0.4-1.0-1.1+0.6+0.2+.047+2.2+5.2+.120+1.2+1.8+.087
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 4

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2017-182007-08
Team Los Angeles LakersDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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%
Julius Randle 82 26.7 16.1 2.2 5.8 8.0 2.6 0.5 0.5 2.6 3.3 6.1 11.0 .558 0.1 0.5 .222 3.7 5.2 .718
difference:+8+7.5+3.8+1.6+4.3+5.9+0.9+0.3+0.3-1.1-1.4+1.9+1.9+.097+2.0+4.8+.181+2.0+2.8+.001
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 5

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2018-192008-09
Team New Orleans PelicansDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 73 30.6 21.4 2.2 6.5 8.7 3.1 0.7 0.6 2.8 3.4 7.8 14.9 .524 0.9 2.7 .344 4.9 6.7 .731
difference:+8+2.9+6.2+1.7+3.4+5.0+0.3+0.3+0.4-0.9-1.1+2.6+3.2+.078+1.3+2.9+.053+2.4+3.3+.023
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 6

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2019-202009-10
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 64 32.5 19.5 2.4 7.4 9.7 3.1 0.8 0.3 3.0 2.8 7.2 15.7 .460 1.0 3.6 .277 4.0 5.5 .733
difference:+11+4.7+4.1+2.0+4.7+6.6+0.7+0.5-1.1-0.5+1.5+1.9+.046+1.1+2.6+.061+2.1+2.8+.027
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 7

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2020-212010-11
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement Most Improved Player-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 71 37.6 24.1 1.2 9.0 10.2 6.0 0.9 0.3 3.4 3.2 8.5 18.6 .456 2.3 5.5 .411 4.9 6.0 .811
difference:+8+12.7+11.8+0.6+5.5+6.1+3.8+0.3+0.1-2.1-1.0+4.2+8.7+.021+0.7+1.5+.021+2.8+3.2+.073
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 5 36.0 18.0 2.2 9.4 11.6 4.0 0.6 0.0 4.6 3.6 5.6 18.8 .298 2.2 6.6 .333 4.6 5.4 .852
difference:+20.8+8.2+2.0+7.6+9.6+3.0+0.2-3.0-2.0+2.4+9.8+.058+0.4+2.4+.096+3.0+3.2+.125
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

Season 8

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2021-222011-12
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 72 35.3 20.1 1.7 8.2 9.9 5.1 0.7 0.5 3.4 2.8 7.1 17.3 .411 1.7 5.4 .308 4.2 5.6 .756
difference:+37+7.7+7.6+0.9+5.1+6.0+2.7+0.8+0.3-2.1-0.3+2.4+5.7+.004+0.2+0.1+.039+3.1+4.0+.047
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle DNP------ --- ----------
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

Season 9

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2022-232012-13
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisKnicks Lost East 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%
Julius Randle 77 35.5 25.1 1.8 8.1 10.0 4.1 0.6 0.3 2.8 3.0 8.5 18.6 .459 2.8 8.3 .343 5.2 6.9 .757
difference:+3+2.0+7.0+1.0+3.6+4.7+1.4+0.7-1.1-0.2+1.9+3.0+.037+0.9+2.8+.013+2.2+3.0+.005
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 10 33.0 16.6 1.7 6.6 8.3 3.6 0.5 0.3 3.5 2.4 5.5 14.7 .374 1.7 6.6 .258 3.9 5.5 .709
difference:+1+1.1+2.3+1.2+2.4+3.6+2.2+0.5+0.2-1.7-0.1+0.6+0.1+.043+0.1+0.6+.015+1.1+1.6+.012
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

Season 10

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2023-242013-14
Team New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid 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%
Julius Randle 46 35.4 24.0 2.2 7.0 9.2 5.0 0.5 0.3 3.5 2.7 8.6 18.2 .472 1.7 5.3 .311 5.1 6.6 .781
difference:+28+2.7+9.5+1.7+3.5+5.2+2.0+0.4-2.0-0.1+3.2+5.3+.057+0.9+1.2+.083+3.9+4.7+.129
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
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Julius Randle nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2024-252014-15
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Timberwolves Lost West Conf FinalsCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 69 32.3 18.7 2.1 5.0 7.1 4.7 0.7 0.2 2.8 2.5 6.6 13.6 .485 1.6 4.6 .344 3.9 4.9 .806
difference:+1+2.6+6.6+1.7+2.3+4.0+1.9+0.5+0.1-1.4-0.2+2.1+2.8+.068+0.7+1.5+.039+3.1+3.9+.056
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 15 35.5 21.7 1.8 4.1 5.9 4.9 0.8 0.1 3.3 3.0 7.7 15.3 .502 2.0 5.2 .385 4.4 5.0 .880
difference:+3+4.4+8.9+1.3+0.1+1.2+3.7+0.1+0.5-2.5+3.1+3.9+.099+0.8+2.7+.026+3.6+3.9+.180
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

Season 12

Julius Randle J.R. Smith
Season 2025-262015-16
Team Minnesota TimberwolvesCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle 25 33.8 23.0 1.5 5.7 7.2 6.0 0.9 0.2 2.7 2.6 7.7 15.4 .499 1.8 5.0 .355 5.9 7.1 .836
difference:+52+3.1+10.6+0.9+3.4+4.4+4.3+0.2+0.1-1.9+3.1+4.4+.084+0.8+1.6+.045+5.3+6.2+.202
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Julius Randle DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 4 seasons more than Julius Randle in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 13 to 16, from 2017 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 3 Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.