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

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

Nate Robinson played 11 years in the NBA, 5 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Nate Robinson had the first of his seasons in 2005-06, 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
Nate Robinson 11 3 2005-06 to 2015-16
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

Rookie Season

Nate Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2005-062004-05
Team New York KnicksNew 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%
Nate Robinson 72 21.4 9.3 0.8 1.5 2.3 2.0 0.8 0.0 1.6 2.8 3.2 7.8 .407 0.8 2.0 .397 2.1 2.8 .752
difference:+4+3.1+1.0+0.3+0.3+0.1+0.1+0.1-0.2-1.0+0.7+2.0+.013+0.3+1.7+.109+0.6+0.7+.063
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 Nate Robinson nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Nate Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2006-072005-06
Team New York KnicksNew 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%
Nate Robinson 64 21.2 10.1 0.9 1.5 2.4 1.4 0.8 0.1 1.1 2.5 3.5 8.2 .434 1.3 3.3 .390 1.7 2.2 .777
difference:+9+3.2+2.4+0.6+0.2+0.4+0.3+0.1-0.1-0.9+0.9+1.5+.041+0.4+0.8+.019+0.2+0.4+.045
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 Nate Robinson nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 2

Season 3

Nate Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2007-082006-07
Team New York KnicksDenver 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%
Nate Robinson 72 26.2 12.7 0.7 2.4 3.1 2.9 0.8 0.0 1.4 2.6 4.6 10.9 .423 1.3 4.1 .332 2.1 2.7 .786
difference:+9+2.9+0.3+0.2+0.6+0.8+1.5+0.1-0.1-0.3+0.1+0.7+.018+1.1+2.0+.058+0.5+0.7+.024
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%
Nate Robinson 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

Nate Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2008-092007-08
Team New York KnicksDenver 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%
Nate Robinson 74 29.9 17.2 1.3 2.6 3.9 4.1 1.3 0.1 1.9 2.8 6.1 13.9 .437 1.7 5.2 .325 3.4 4.0 .841
difference:+10.7+4.9+0.7+1.1+1.8+2.4+0.5+0.1-0.4-0.9+1.9+4.8+.024+0.4+0.1+.078+1.7+1.6+.122
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%
Nate Robinson 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

Nate Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2009-102008-09
Team New York Knicks, Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Celtics Lost NBA FinalsNuggets 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%
Nate Robinson 56 19.9 10.1 0.5 1.5 2.0 2.9 0.9 0.1 1.3 2.1 3.8 8.8 .436 1.6 4.0 .390 0.9 1.2 .746
difference:+25+7.8+5.1+1.6+1.7+0.1+0.1+0.1-0.6-0.2+1.4+2.9+.010+0.6+1.6+.007+1.6+2.2+.008
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%
Nate Robinson 17 7.5 4.2 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.1 0.4 0.1 0.4 0.9 1.4 3.8 .375 0.6 1.9 .333 0.7 0.9 .800
difference:+1+19.7+10.7+0.5+2.0+2.5+1.7+0.7+0.2-1.2-2.3+4.1+8.3+.079+1.8+4.7+.025+0.9+2.0+.257
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 Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2010-112009-10
Team Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City ThunderDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Thunder Lost West Conf FinalsNuggets 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%
Nate Robinson 59 17.2 6.8 0.3 1.3 1.5 1.9 0.5 0.1 1.2 1.9 2.5 6.4 .399 1.1 3.4 .325 0.6 0.7 .818
difference:+16+10.6+8.6+0.1+1.4+1.6+0.5+0.8+0.2-0.7-0.4+3.2+7.4+.015+1.0+2.8+.013+1.3+2.0+.112
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%
Nate Robinson 3 4.0 2.7 0.0 0.0 0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 2.3 .286 0.7 2.0 .333 0.7 0.7 1.000
difference:+3+22.5+8.5+0.8+3.0+3.8+1.4+0.7+0.3-1.0-2.5+2.8+7.2+.082+1.1+3.2+.022+1.6+2.0+.125
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 Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2011-122010-11
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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%
Nate Robinson 51 23.4 11.2 0.3 1.7 2.0 4.5 1.2 0.0 1.5 2.3 4.0 9.5 .424 1.3 3.5 .365 1.8 2.2 .832
difference:+28+1.5+1.1+0.3+1.8+2.1+2.3+0.2-0.2-0.1+0.3+0.4+.011+0.3+0.5+.025+0.3+0.6+.094
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%
Nate Robinson DNP------ --- ----------
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 Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2012-132011-12
Team Chicago BullsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Bulls Lost East Conf SemisKnicks 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%
Nate Robinson 82 25.4 13.1 0.4 1.9 2.2 4.4 1.0 0.1 1.8 2.5 4.9 11.2 .433 1.7 4.2 .405 1.6 2.1 .799
difference:+47+2.2+0.6+0.4+1.2+1.7+2.0+0.5+0.1-0.5+0.2+0.4+.026+0.2+1.3+.058+0.5+0.5+.090
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%
Nate Robinson 12 33.7 16.3 0.5 2.2 2.7 4.4 1.0 0.2 2.7 3.2 5.9 13.6 .436 1.8 5.4 .338 2.6 3.4 .756
difference:+7+1.3+4.1+0.1+0.1+2.2+0.2-0.5-0.6+1.1+1.6+.120+0.8+0.2+.159+1.0+1.8+.244
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 Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2013-142012-13
Team Denver NuggetsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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%
Nate Robinson 44 19.7 10.4 0.5 1.4 1.8 2.5 0.8 0.1 1.3 2.1 3.7 8.7 .428 1.3 3.5 .377 1.6 1.9 .835
difference:+36+13.8+7.7+0.3+3.1+3.5+0.2+0.5+0.2-0.4-0.7+2.9+6.9+.006+0.6+2.0+.021+1.4+2.0+.073
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%
Nate Robinson DNP------ --- ----------
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 Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2014-152013-14
Team Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles ClippersNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
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%
Nate Robinson 42 14.1 5.7 0.4 0.8 1.2 2.3 0.5 0.1 0.7 1.8 2.1 6.1 .345 0.7 2.7 .277 0.7 1.1 .674
difference:+32+18.6+8.8+0.1+2.7+2.8+0.7+0.4+0.2-0.8-0.8+3.3+6.8+.070+1.9+3.8+.117+0.5+0.8+.022
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 Nate Robinson nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Nate Robinson J.R. Smith
Season 2015-162014-15
Team New Orleans PelicansNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers 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%
Nate Robinson 2 11.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 2.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 2.5 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.5 .000 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+68+18.2+12.1+0.4+2.7+3.1+0.8+0.7+0.3-1.4-0.2+4.5+10.3+.417+2.3+5.6+.383+0.8+1.0
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%
Nate Robinson DNP------ --- ----------
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

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 5 seasons more than Nate Robinson in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 16, from 2016 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 4 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.