Lonzo Ball vs. Marcus Smart Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Marcus Smart and Lonzo Ball, 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
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.
Lonzo Ball played 6 years in the NBA, 5 less than Marcus Smart, who played 11. Lonzo Ball had the first of his seasons in 2017-18, 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 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 |
| Lonzo Ball | 6 | 0 | 2017-18 to 2024-25 |
| Marcus Smart | 11 | 9 | 2014-15 to 2024-25 |
Rookie Season |
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| Lonzo Ball | Marcus Smart | |
| Season | 2017-18 | 2014-15 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards |  All-Rookie Second Team | All-Rookie Second Team |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Celtics Lost East Conf 1st Rd |
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Rookie Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 52 | 34.2 | 10.2 | 1.3 | 5.6 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 3.9 | 10.8 | .360 | 1.7 | 5.7 | .305 | 0.6 | 1.4 | .451 |
| difference: | +15 | +7.2 | +2.4 | +0.4 | +3.2 | +3.6 | +4.1 | +0.2 | +0.5 | -1.3 | -0.3 | +1.3 | +3.7 | +.007 | +0.3 | +1.6 | +.030 | +0.6 | +0.5 | +.195 |
| 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 | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Marcus Smart | |
| Season | 2018-19 | 2015-16 |
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Celtics Lost East Conf 1st Rd |
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 47 | 30.3 | 9.9 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 9.7 | .406 | 1.6 | 4.9 | .329 | 0.4 | 1.0 | .417 |
| difference: | +14 | +3.0 | +0.8 | +0.1 | +1.3 | +1.1 | +2.4 | +0.1 | -0.9 | -0.6 | +0.9 | +1.0 | +.058 | +0.6 | +0.9 | +.076 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +.360 | |
| 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 | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Marcus Smart | |
| Season | 2019-20 | 2016-17 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Celtics Lost East Conf Finals |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 63 | 32.1 | 11.8 | 1.1 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 4.4 | 10.9 | .403 | 2.3 | 6.3 | .375 | 0.7 | 1.2 | .566 |
| difference: | +16 | +1.7 | +1.2 | +0.1 | +2.1 | +2.2 | +2.4 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -1.1 | -0.4 | +1.0 | +1.4 | +.044 | +1.1 | +2.1 | +.092 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +.246 |
| 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 | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Marcus Smart | |
| Season | 2020-21 | 2017-18 |
| Team | New Orleans Pelicans | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards | ||
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Celtics Lost East Conf Finals |
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 55 | 31.8 | 14.6 | 0.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 12.7 | .414 | 3.1 | 8.3 | .378 | 0.9 | 1.2 | .781 |
| difference: | +1 | +1.9 | +4.4 | +0.2 | +1.5 | +1.3 | +0.9 | +0.2 | +0.2 | -0.2 | -0.6 | +1.8 | +3.2 | +.047 | +1.7 | +3.7 | +.077 | +0.9 | +1.3 | +.052 |
| 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 | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Marcus Smart | |
| Season | 2021-22 | 2018-19 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Defensive First Team |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Celtics Lost East Conf Semis |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 35 | 34.6 | 13.0 | 1.0 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.6 | 10.9 | .423 | 3.1 | 7.4 | .423 | 0.6 | 0.8 | .750 |
| difference: | +45 | +7.1 | +4.1 | +0.3 | +2.2 | +2.5 | +1.1 | +0.5 | -0.8 | -0.1 | +1.6 | +3.8 | +.001 | +1.5 | +3.1 | +.059 | +0.7 | +0.8 | +.056 | |
| 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 | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
Note: Lonzo Ball didn't play in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Season 6 |
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| Lonzo Ball | Marcus Smart | |
| Season | 2024-25 | 2019-20 |
| Team | Chicago Bulls | Boston Celtics |
| Honors & Awards | - | All-Defensive First Team |
| Playoffs | Did Not Play | Celtics Lost East Conf Finals |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Season Stats | ||||||||||||||||||||
| G | Min | Pts | ORb | DRb | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | FGM / A | % | 3PM / A | % | FTM / A | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | 35 | 22.2 | 7.6 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.5 | 6.9 | .366 | 1.9 | 5.6 | .344 | 0.6 | 0.8 | .815 |
| difference: | +25 | +9.8 | +5.3 | +0.4 | +0.4 | +1.6 | +0.4 | -0.5 | -1.1 | +1.8 | +4.5 | +.009 | +0.4 | +1.0 | +.003 | +1.5 | +1.7 | +.021 | ||
| 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 | % | ||||
| Lonzo Ball | DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
Additional Years |
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* Marcus Smart played 5 seasons more than Lonzo Ball in the NBA. In that period—his seasons 7 to 11, from 2021 to 2025—Marcus Smart played in 3 Playoffs. In those 5 extra years over Lonzo Ball, Marcus Smart got these achievements: | |
| Honors & Awards | 1 All-Defensive First Team 1 Defensive Player of the Year |