Nate McMillan vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Nate McMillan, 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.

Nate McMillan played 12 years in the NBA, 4 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Nate McMillan had the first of his seasons in 1986-87, 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
Nate McMillan 12 11 1986-87 to 1997-98
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1986-872004-05
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West 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 %
Nate McMillan 71 27.8 5.3 1.4 3.2 4.7 8.2 1.8 0.6 2.2 3.4 2.0 4.2 .475 0.0 0.1 .000 1.2 2.0 .617
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 %
Nate McMillan 14 25.4 5.1 0.9 2.9 3.9 8.0 1.0 0.7 1.9 3.0 1.9 4.4 .435 0.0 0.0 - 1.2 1.7 .708
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1987-882005-06
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate McMillan 82 29.9 7.6 1.4 2.7 4.1 8.6 2.1 0.6 2.3 2.9 2.9 6.0 .474 0.1 0.3 .375 1.8 2.5 .707
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 %
Nate McMillan 5 25.4 6.6 1.2 3.0 4.2 6.6 0.4 0.6 1.6 2.2 2.4 7.0 .343 0.0 0.2 .000 1.8 2.8 .643
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1988-892006-07
Team Seattle SupersonicsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 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 %
Nate McMillan 75 31.2 7.1 1.9 3.3 5.2 9.3 2.1 0.6 2.8 3.1 2.7 6.5 .410 0.2 0.9 .214 1.6 2.5 .630
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 %
Nate McMillan 8 25.0 6.8 1.1 2.0 3.1 7.9 1.3 0.6 2.4 2.6 2.4 5.0 .475 0.0 0.3 .000 2.0 3.1 .640
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1989-902007-08
Team Seattle SupersonicsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Nate McMillan 82 28.5 6.4 1.5 3.4 4.9 7.3 1.7 0.5 2.3 3.5 2.5 5.3 .473 0.1 0.4 .355 1.2 1.9 .641
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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1990-912008-09
Team Seattle SupersonicsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Nate McMillan 78 18.4 4.3 0.9 2.3 3.2 4.8 1.3 0.3 1.6 2.7 1.7 3.9 .433 0.2 0.6 .354 0.7 1.2 .613
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 %
Nate McMillan 5 19.0 2.8 1.2 2.4 3.6 4.4 1.2 0.2 0.6 3.0 1.2 4.6 .261 0.0 0.4 .000 0.4 0.8 .500
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1991-922009-10
Team Seattle SupersonicsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 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 %
Nate McMillan 72 22.9 6.0 1.3 2.2 3.5 5.0 1.8 0.4 1.6 3.0 2.5 5.6 .437 0.4 1.4 .276 0.8 1.2 .643
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 %
Nate McMillan 9 27.3 9.6 1.6 2.1 3.7 7.0 1.8 0.3 2.4 3.9 3.9 9.2 .422 0.7 2.9 .231 1.1 1.6 .714
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1992-932010-11
Team Seattle SupersonicsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 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 %
Nate McMillan 73 27.1 7.5 1.2 3.0 4.2 5.3 2.4 0.5 1.9 3.3 2.9 6.3 .464 0.3 0.9 .385 1.3 1.8 .709
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 %
Nate McMillan 19 21.8 4.8 1.1 2.4 3.5 5.4 2.1 0.6 1.3 2.8 1.8 5.4 .340 0.3 1.3 .208 0.8 1.6 .533
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1993-942011-12
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
Nate McMillan 73 25.8 6.0 0.7 3.2 3.9 5.3 3.0 0.3 1.7 2.8 2.4 5.4 .447 0.7 1.8 .391 0.4 0.8 .564
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 %
Nate McMillan 5 21.8 4.2 1.2 2.0 3.2 2.0 1.2 0.2 1.0 3.6 1.6 5.0 .320 0.8 2.2 .364 0.2 0.8 .250
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1994-952012-13
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf 1st RdKnicks 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 %
Nate McMillan 80 25.9 5.2 0.8 3.0 3.8 5.3 2.1 0.7 1.6 3.4 2.1 5.0 .418 0.7 1.9 .342 0.4 0.7 .586
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 %
Nate McMillan 4 28.3 4.8 1.8 2.8 4.5 7.3 2.5 0.5 1.8 3.3 2.0 5.8 .348 0.3 2.0 .125 0.5 0.5 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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1995-962013-14
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics 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 %
Nate McMillan 55 22.9 5.0 0.7 3.1 3.8 3.6 1.7 0.3 1.4 2.6 1.8 4.3 .420 0.8 2.2 .380 0.5 0.7 .707
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 %
Nate McMillan 19 20.3 4.4 0.7 3.0 3.7 2.7 1.2 0.3 1.1 1.8 1.5 3.6 .406 1.0 2.1 .475 0.5 0.7 .643
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1996-972014-15
Team Seattle SupersonicsNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate McMillan 37 21.6 4.6 0.4 2.8 3.2 3.8 1.6 0.2 0.9 2.1 1.6 4.0 .409 0.8 2.3 .333 0.5 0.8 .655
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 %
Nate McMillan 3 13.3 0.0 0.3 1.3 1.7 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.7 3.7 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.7 .000 0.0 0.0 -
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

Nate McMillan J.R. Smith
Season 1997-982015-16
Team Seattle SupersonicsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Supersonics Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Nate McMillan 18 15.5 3.4 0.7 1.5 2.2 3.1 0.8 0.2 0.7 2.3 1.3 3.7 .343 0.8 1.9 .441 0.1 0.1 1.000
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 %
Nate McMillan 7 14.1 2.3 0.3 2.0 2.3 2.1 0.4 0.3 0.3 2.4 0.9 2.6 .333 0.3 1.7 .167 0.3 0.3 1.000
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

Nate McMillan 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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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

Nate McMillan 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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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

Nate McMillan 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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Nate McMillan 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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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 %
Nate McMillan ------- --- ----------
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 -