Larry Costello vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Larry Costello, 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.

Larry Costello played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Larry Costello had the first of his seasons in 1954-55, 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 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
Larry Costello 12 10 1954-55 to 1967-68
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1954-552004-05
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Orleans Hornets
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 %
Larry Costello 19 24.4 6.2 - - 2.6 4.1 - - - 1.9 2.4 7.3 .331 - - - 1.4 1.7 .813
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Note: Larry Costello didn't play in 1955-56.

Season 2

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1956-572005-06
Team Philadelphia WarriorsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Warriors Lost East Div SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 72 29.3 7.6 - - 4.5 3.3 - - - 2.5 2.6 6.9 .374 - - - 2.4 3.1 .788
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 2 8.0 3.0 - - 2.5 1.0 - - - 1.5 1.5 4.0 .375 - - - 0.0 0.5 .000
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1957-582006-07
Team Syracuse NationalsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisNuggets 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 %
Larry Costello 72 38.1 14.9 - - 5.3 4.4 - - - 3.4 5.3 12.3 .426 - - - 4.4 5.3 .847
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 3 44.7 11.3 - - 8.3 4.0 - - - 2.0 3.3 11.3 .294 - - - 4.7 4.7 1.000
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1958-592007-08
Team Syracuse NationalsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsNuggets 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 %
Larry Costello 70 39.3 15.8 - - 5.2 5.4 - - - 3.8 5.9 13.5 .437 - - - 4.0 5.0 .802
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 9 40.1 17.7 - - 5.9 6.0 - - - 4.4 6.0 13.4 .446 - - - 5.7 6.8 .836
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1959-602008-09
Team Syracuse NationalsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 71 34.8 14.0 - - 5.5 6.3 - - - 3.3 5.2 11.6 .453 - - - 3.5 4.1 .862
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 3 40.7 16.7 - - 4.7 6.7 - - - 5.0 6.7 15.7 .426 - - - 3.3 4.0 .833
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1960-612009-10
Team Syracuse NationalsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div FinalsNuggets 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 %
Larry Costello 75 28.9 14.5 - - 3.9 5.5 - - - 3.8 5.4 11.3 .482 - - - 3.6 4.5 .799
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 8 33.6 16.4 - - 4.4 6.5 - - - 4.9 5.3 12.9 .408 - - - 5.9 6.9 .855
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1961-622010-11
Team Syracuse NationalsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisNuggets 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 %
Larry Costello 63 29.4 13.8 - - 3.9 5.7 - - - 3.5 4.9 11.5 .427 - - - 3.9 4.7 .837
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 5 33.4 14.6 - - 3.2 5.6 - - - 4.2 4.4 10.2 .431 - - - 5.8 6.6 .879
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1962-632011-12
Team Syracuse NationalsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nationals Lost East Div SemisKnicks 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 %
Larry Costello 78 26.5 11.0 - - 3.0 4.3 - - - 3.4 3.7 8.5 .432 - - - 3.7 4.2 .881
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 5 26.8 10.2 - - 0.8 4.6 - - - 5.4 3.2 7.4 .432 - - - 3.8 4.6 .826
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1963-642012-13
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div SemisKnicks 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 %
Larry Costello 45 25.3 11.8 - - 2.3 3.7 - - - 3.3 4.2 9.1 .468 - - - 3.3 3.8 .865
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 5 7.2 3.2 - - 0.6 0.8 - - - 2.8 0.6 2.8 .214 - - - 2.0 2.0 1.000
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1964-652013-14
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs 76ers Lost East Div FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 64 30.7 13.5 - - 2.6 4.3 - - - 3.8 4.8 10.9 .445 - - - 3.8 4.3 .877
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 10 20.7 5.5 - - 1.2 2.0 - - - 4.3 2.2 5.3 .415 - - - 1.1 1.6 .688
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Note: Larry Costello didn't play in 1965-66.

Season 11

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1966-672014-15
Team Philadelphia 76ersNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 49 19.9 7.8 - - 2.1 2.9 - - - 2.9 2.7 6.0 .444 - - - 2.4 2.7 .902
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 2 12.5 8.5 - - 2.0 1.5 - - - 1.0 3.0 4.0 .750 - - - 2.5 2.5 1.000
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

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season 1967-682015-16
Team Philadelphia 76ersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello 28 17.6 7.2 - - 1.8 2.4 - - - 2.2 2.4 5.3 .453 - - - 2.4 2.9 .827
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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

Season 13

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season -2016-17
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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

Season 14

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season -2017-18
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
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

Season 15

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season -2018-19
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 11 20.2 6.7 0.0 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.5 7.2 .342 1.1 3.5 .308 0.7 0.9 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Larry Costello J.R. Smith
Season -2019-20
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 6 13.2 2.8 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.7 0.8 1.2 3.7 .318 0.2 1.8 .091 0.3 0.3 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Costello ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 10 7.5 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.1 0.7 2.6 .269 0.6 2.2 .273 0.0 0.0 -