Rick Barry vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Rick Barry, 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.

Rick Barry played 10 years in the NBA, 6 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Rick Barry had the first of his seasons in 1965-66, 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
Rick Barry 10 7 1965-66 to 1979-80
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

Rookie Season

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1965-662004-05
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Rookie of the Year-
Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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%
Rick Barry 80 37.4 25.7 - - 10.6 2.2 - - - 3.7 9.3 21.2 .439 - - - 7.1 8.3 .862
difference:+4+12.9+15.4+8.6+0.3-1.9+5.4+11.4+.045+5.6+6.2+.173
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 Rick Barry nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1966-672005-06
Team San Francisco WarriorsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Scoring Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Achievement All-Star Game MVP-
Playoffs Warriors Lost NBA FinalsDid 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%
Rick Barry 78 40.7 35.6 - - 9.2 3.6 - - - 3.3 13.0 28.7 .451 - - - 9.7 10.9 .884
difference:+23+22.7+27.9+7.2+2.5-1.7+10.4+22.0+.058+8.2+9.1+.062
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 15 40.9 34.7 - - 7.5 3.9 - - - 3.3 13.1 32.6 .403 - - - 8.5 10.5 .809
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Note: Rick Barry didn't play in 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72.

Season 3

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1972-732006-07
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf FinalsNuggets 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%
Rick Barry 82 37.5 22.3 - - 8.9 4.9 - - - 3.0 9.0 19.9 .452 - - - 4.4 4.8 .902
difference:+19+14.2+9.3+6.6+3.5-0.7+4.5+9.7+.011+2.8+2.8+.092
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%
Rick Barry 11 26.5 16.4 - - 4.9 2.2 - - - 3.7 5.9 14.9 .396 - - - 4.5 5.0 .909
difference:+7+14.7+11.9+2.6+1.7-2.2+4.4+9.4+.123+3.0+3.5+.091
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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1973-742007-08
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
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%
Rick Barry 80 36.5 25.1 1.3 5.5 6.8 6.1 2.1 0.5 - 3.3 10.0 21.8 .456 - - - 5.2 5.8 .899
difference:+6+17.3+12.8+0.7+4.0+4.7+4.4+1.3+0.3-1.4+5.8+12.7+.005+3.5+3.4+.180
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%
Rick Barry 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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1974-752008-09
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement Finals MVP-
Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement Steals Leader-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets 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%
Rick Barry 80 40.4 30.6 1.2 4.6 5.7 6.2 2.9 0.4 - 2.8 12.9 27.7 .464 - - - 4.9 5.5 .904
difference:+1+12.7+15.4+0.7+1.5+2.0+3.4+1.9+0.2-0.5+7.7+16.0+.018+2.4+2.1+.150
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%
Rick Barry 17 42.7 28.2 1.3 4.2 5.5 6.1 2.9 0.9 - 3.0 11.1 25.1 .444 - - - 5.9 6.5 .918
difference:+1+15.5+13.3+0.6+1.6+2.2+3.3+1.8+0.6-0.2+5.6+13.0+.010+4.3+3.6+.375
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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1975-762009-10
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors 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%
Rick Barry 81 38.5 21.0 0.9 5.2 6.1 6.1 2.5 0.3 - 2.7 8.7 20.0 .435 - - - 3.5 3.8 .923
difference:+6+10.7+5.6+0.5+2.5+3.0+3.7+1.2-0.4+3.0+6.2+.021+1.6+1.1+.217
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%
Rick Barry 13 40.9 24.0 1.5 4.9 6.5 6.5 2.9 1.1 - 3.1 9.7 22.2 .436 - - - 4.6 5.2 .882
difference:+7+14.4+12.8+0.7+1.9+2.7+4.8+2.2+0.8-0.3+6.2+12.7+.068+2.3+2.5+.007
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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1976-772010-11
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisNuggets 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%
Rick Barry 79 36.8 21.8 0.9 4.4 5.3 6.0 2.2 0.7 - 2.5 8.6 19.6 .440 - - - 4.5 5.0 .916
difference:+11.9+9.5+0.3+0.9+1.2+3.8+1.0+0.5-0.3+4.3+9.7+.005+2.4+2.2+.178
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%
Rick Barry 10 41.5 28.4 2.5 3.4 5.9 4.7 1.7 0.7 - 3.2 12.2 26.2 .466 - - - 4.0 4.4 .909
difference:+5+26.3+18.6+2.3+1.6+3.9+3.7+1.3+0.7-1.6+9.0+17.2+.110+2.4+2.2+.182
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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1977-782011-12
Team Golden State WarriorsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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%
Rick Barry 82 36.9 23.1 0.9 4.6 5.5 5.4 1.9 0.5 2.7 2.3 9.3 20.6 .451 - - - 4.6 5.0 .924
difference:+47+9.3+10.6+0.1+1.5+1.6+3.0+0.4+0.3-1.4-0.2+4.6+9.0+.044+3.5+3.4+.215
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%
Rick Barry DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1978-792012-13
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks 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%
Rick Barry 80 32.1 13.5 0.5 3.0 3.5 6.3 1.2 0.5 2.5 2.4 5.8 12.5 .461 - - - 2.0 2.1 .947
difference:+1.4+4.6+0.3+1.5+1.8+3.6+0.1+0.2-0.8-0.4+0.8+3.1+.039+1.0+1.8+.185
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%
Rick Barry 2 32.5 12.0 1.0 3.0 4.0 4.5 0.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 4.0 12.5 .320 - - - 4.0 4.0 1.000
difference:+9+0.6+2.3+0.5+1.2+0.7+3.1+1.0+0.5-0.8-1.5+0.9+2.3+.011+1.2+0.1+.279
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

Rick Barry J.R. Smith
Season 1979-802013-14
Team Houston RocketsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Rockets Lost East Conf SemisDid 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%
Rick Barry 72 25.2 12.0 0.7 2.5 3.3 3.7 1.1 0.4 2.1 2.5 4.5 10.7 .422 1.0 3.1 .330 2.0 2.1 .935
difference:+2+7.5+2.5+0.2+1.0+0.7+0.7+0.2+0.1-0.6-0.1+0.9+2.2+.007+1.6+3.4+.064+0.8+0.2+.283
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rick Barry 6 13.2 5.5 0.0 1.0 1.0 2.5 0.2 0.2 1.7 1.8 2.0 5.5 .364 0.5 2.0 .250 1.0 1.0 1.000
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 6 seasons more than Rick Barry in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 11 to 16, from 2015 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 5 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships.