Rudy Gay vs. Marcus Smart Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Marcus Smart and Rudy Gay, 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.

Rudy Gay played 17 years in the NBA, 6 more than Marcus Smart, who played 11. Rudy Gay had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, 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
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23
Marcus Smart 11 9 2014-15 to 2024-25

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11

Rookie Season

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2006-072014-15
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
-Achievement All-Rookie Second Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 78 27.0 10.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 4.1 9.7 .422 0.7 1.8 .364 1.9 2.7 .727
difference:+11+3.0+0.3+0.9+1.2+1.8+0.6+0.6-0.5-0.1+1.5+2.6+.055+0.7+2.3+.029+0.7+0.8+.081
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2007-082015-16
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
2nd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 81 37.0 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.2 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.3 2.8 7.7 16.7 .461 1.7 4.8 .346 3.1 3.9 .785
difference:+20+9.7+11.0+0.5+1.5+2.0+1.0+0.1+0.7-1.0-0.2+4.7+8.0+.113+0.7+0.8+.093+1.0+1.2+.008
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2008-092016-17
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 79 37.3 18.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 1.7 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.8 7.2 16.0 .453 1.1 3.1 .351 3.3 4.4 .767
difference:+6.9+8.3+0.4+1.3+1.6+2.9+0.4+0.3-0.6-0.4+3.8+6.5+.094+0.1+1.1+.068+0.7+1.2+.045
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2009-102017-18
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
4th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 80 39.7 19.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 1.9 1.5 0.8 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.1 .466 0.8 2.5 .327 3.8 5.0 .753
difference:+26+9.8+9.4+0.6+1.8+2.4+2.9+0.2+0.4-0.3+4.0+6.6+.099+0.6+2.1+.026+2.0+2.5+.024
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2010-112018-19
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Semis
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 54 39.9 19.8 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.8 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.4 7.6 16.1 .471 1.1 2.7 .396 3.6 4.5 .805
difference:+26+12.4+10.9+0.8+2.5+3.3+1.2+0.1+0.7-1.0-0.1+4.6+9.0+.049+0.5+1.6+.032+2.3+2.9+.001
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 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

Season 6

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2011-122019-20
Team Memphis GrizzliesBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 65 37.3 19.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.1 7.5 16.4 .455 0.8 2.7 .312 3.2 4.0 .791
difference:+5+5.3+6.1+1.3+1.3+2.6+2.6+0.2+0.3-0.8-0.6+3.2+5.0+.080+1.5+3.9+.035+1.1+1.5+.045
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 7 39.9 19.0 1.4 5.1 6.6 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.9 16.3 .421 0.6 2.7 .211 4.7 5.7 .825
difference:+10+1.8+4.5+0.8+0.5+1.4+3.2+0.1+0.2-0.4-1.1+2.3+4.7+.027+1.8+4.5+.122+1.8+2.4+.050
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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2012-132020-21
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto RaptorsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East 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%
Rudy Gay 75 35.8 18.2 1.3 4.8 6.1 2.7 1.5 0.7 2.6 2.4 6.9 16.7 .416 1.1 3.5 .323 3.2 3.9 .814
difference:+27+2.9+5.1+0.5+2.1+2.6+3.0+0.2-0.6-0.2+2.7+6.1+.018+0.8+2.4+.007+0.5+0.5+.024
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2013-142021-22
Team Toronto Raptors, Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive First Team
-Achievement Defensive Player of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost NBA Finals
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 73 34.7 20.0 1.5 4.4 6.0 2.9 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.3 7.4 16.2 .455 0.9 2.7 .330 4.4 5.3 .822
difference:+2+2.4+7.9+0.9+1.2+2.2+3.0+0.4+0.5-0.9+3.2+6.1+.037+0.8+2.4+.001+2.4+2.8+.029
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2014-152022-23
Team Sacramento KingsBoston Celtics
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCeltics Lost East Conf Finals
more >>
9th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 68 35.4 21.1 1.4 4.4 5.9 3.7 1.0 0.6 2.7 2.3 7.5 16.4 .455 1.2 3.2 .359 5.0 5.8 .858
difference:+7+3.3+9.6+0.6+2.0+2.8+2.6+0.5+0.2-0.4-0.5+3.4+6.5+.040+0.7+2.4+.023+3.6+3.9+.112
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay DNP------ --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2015-162023-24
Team Sacramento KingsMemphis Grizzlies
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%
Rudy Gay 70 34.0 17.2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.7 14.4 .463 1.1 3.1 .344 2.8 3.6 .780
difference:+50+3.7+2.7+1.2+2.6+3.8+2.6+0.7+0.4-1.1-0.1+1.6+2.5+.033+1.0+3.6+.031+0.6+0.8+.012
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
* Neiher Rudy Gay nor Marcus Smart played in the postseason in their season 10

Season 11

Rudy Gay Marcus Smart
Season 2016-172024-25
Team Sacramento KingsMemphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
11th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Rudy Gay 30 33.8 18.7 1.2 5.2 6.3 2.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.6 6.7 14.7 .455 1.4 3.8 .372 3.9 4.6 .855
difference:+4+13.8+9.7+0.7+3.6+4.2+0.4+0.4+0.6-0.9-1.0+3.7+7.1+.062+0.3+.024+2.3+2.5+.094
Marcus Smart 34 20.0 9.0 0.5 1.6 2.1 3.2 1.1 0.3 1.6 1.6 3.0 7.6 .393 1.4 4.1 .348 1.6 2.1 .761
Playoffs Stats
* Neiher Rudy Gay nor Marcus Smart played in the postseason in their season 11

Additional Years

* Rudy Gay played 6 seasons more than Marcus Smart in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 12 to 17, from 2018 to 2023—Rudy Gay played in two Playoffs.