Larry Nance vs. Marcus Smart Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Marcus Smart and Larry Nance, 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 Nance played 13 years in the NBA, 3 more than Marcus Smart, who played 10. Larry Nance had the first of his seasons in 1981-82, 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
Larry Nance 13 8 1981-82 to 1993-94
Marcus Smart 10 9 2014-15 to 2023-24

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1981-822014-15
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Suns Lost West Conf SemisCeltics 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 Nance 80 14.8 6.6 1.2 2.0 3.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 1.3 2.1 2.8 5.5 .521 0.0 0.0 .000 0.9 1.5 .641
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 %
Larry Nance 7 18.3 7.7 1.9 2.7 4.6 1.0 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.1 3.6 5.9 .610 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .500
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1982-832015-16
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.5 16.7 2.9 5.7 8.7 2.4 1.2 2.6 2.3 3.1 7.2 13.0 .550 0.0 0.0 .333 2.4 3.5 .672
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 %
Larry Nance 3 34.3 12.0 3.3 5.0 8.3 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 4.7 11.7 .400 0.0 0.0 - 2.7 3.3 .800
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1983-842016-17
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Suns Lost West 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 %
Larry Nance 82 35.4 17.7 2.8 5.5 8.3 2.6 1.0 2.1 2.2 3.3 7.3 12.7 .576 0.0 0.1 .000 3.0 4.3 .707
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 %
Larry Nance 17 37.2 16.9 3.0 5.7 8.7 2.4 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.5 6.9 11.8 .590 0.0 0.0 - 3.0 4.5 .671
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1984-852017-18
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Larry Nance 61 36.1 19.9 3.2 5.6 8.8 2.6 1.4 1.7 2.2 3.0 8.4 14.4 .587 0.0 0.0 .500 3.0 4.2 .709
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1985-862018-19
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 Nance 73 34.0 20.2 2.3 6.2 8.5 3.3 1.0 1.8 2.9 3.4 8.0 13.7 .581 0.0 0.1 .000 4.2 6.1 .698
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1986-872019-20
Team Phoenix SunsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics 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 %
Larry Nance 69 37.2 22.5 2.7 6.0 8.7 3.4 1.2 2.1 2.2 3.2 8.5 15.4 .551 0.0 0.1 .200 5.5 7.1 .773
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1987-882020-21
Team Phoenix Suns, Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East 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 %
Larry Nance 67 35.6 19.1 2.9 6.2 9.1 3.1 0.9 2.4 2.3 3.6 7.3 13.7 .529 0.0 0.1 .333 4.5 5.8 .779
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 %
Larry Nance 5 40.0 16.8 2.0 5.2 7.2 3.6 0.4 2.2 2.8 2.6 6.8 12.8 .531 0.0 0.0 - 3.2 3.6 .889
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1988-892021-22
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First TeamAchievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Cavaliers Lost East Conf 1st RdCeltics 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 Nance 73 34.6 17.2 2.1 5.8 8.0 2.2 0.8 2.8 1.6 2.5 6.8 12.6 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.7 4.6 .799
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 %
Larry Nance 5 39.0 19.4 3.2 4.6 7.8 3.2 0.6 2.4 1.8 2.4 7.6 13.8 .551 0.0 0.0 - 4.2 6.4 .656
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1989-902022-23
Team Cleveland CavaliersBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Cavaliers 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 %
Larry Nance 62 33.3 16.3 2.6 5.7 8.3 2.6 0.9 2.0 1.8 3.0 6.6 13.0 .511 0.0 0.0 1.000 3.0 3.9 .778
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 %
Larry Nance 5 31.8 12.2 0.8 4.0 4.8 2.4 0.6 2.0 0.8 4.0 5.2 9.0 .578 0.0 0.0 - 1.8 2.4 .750
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

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1990-912023-24
Team Cleveland CavaliersMemphis Grizzlies
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 Nance 80 36.6 19.2 2.5 6.1 8.6 3.0 0.8 2.5 1.6 2.7 7.9 15.1 .524 0.0 0.1 .250 3.3 4.1 .803
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 %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1991-92-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
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 %
Larry Nance 81 35.6 17.0 2.6 5.6 8.3 2.9 1.0 3.0 1.1 2.5 6.9 12.7 .539 0.0 0.1 .000 3.2 4.0 .822
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 17 40.1 18.0 2.6 6.6 9.2 2.5 0.8 2.7 1.5 3.3 7.3 14.8 .494 0.0 0.1 .000 3.4 4.1 .829
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1992-93-
Team Cleveland Cavaliers-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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 %
Larry Nance 77 35.8 16.5 2.4 6.3 8.7 2.9 0.7 2.6 1.4 2.9 6.9 12.6 .549 0.0 0.1 .000 2.6 3.2 .818
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance 9 36.6 16.1 3.9 4.3 8.2 2.3 0.9 1.6 0.7 3.7 6.8 12.0 .565 0.0 0.0 - 2.6 3.3 .767
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Larry Nance Marcus Smart
Season 1993-94-
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 Nance 33 27.5 11.2 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.5 0.8 1.7 1.2 2.9 4.6 9.5 .487 0.0 0.0 - 1.9 2.6 .753
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Larry Nance ------- --- ----------
Marcus Smart ------- --- ----------