Rudy Gay vs. Robert Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Robert Smith 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

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, 10 more than Robert Smith, who played 7. Rudy Gay had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, while Robert Smith had his rookie season in 1977-78. 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
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23
Robert Smith 7 4 1977-78 to 1984-85

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2006-071977-78
Team Memphis GrizzliesDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
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
Robert Smith 45 8.4 2.7 0.1 0.7 0.8 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.4 1.2 1.1 2.2 .515 - - - 0.5 0.5 .875
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith 11 8.7 3.5 0.5 0.4 0.8 1.5 0.5 0.0 0.7 1.2 1.5 2.4 .654 - - - 0.5 0.6 .714

Season 2

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2007-081978-79
Team Memphis GrizzliesDenver 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 %
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
Robert Smith 82 18.0 6.4 0.5 1.3 1.8 2.5 0.7 0.2 1.2 2.0 2.2 5.3 .422 - - - 1.9 2.2 .883
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith 3 8.3 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.3 0.7 0.0 0.7 0.7 0.0 2.3 .000 - - - 0.7 0.7 1.000

Season 3

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2008-091979-80
Team Memphis GrizzliesUtah Jazz, New Jersey Nets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Robert Smith 65 12.4 5.0 0.3 0.9 1.2 1.4 0.4 0.1 0.8 1.6 1.8 4.1 .439 0.1 0.4 .308 1.2 1.4 .870
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2009-101980-81
Team Memphis GrizzliesCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Robert Smith 1 20.0 8.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 3.0 0.0 0.0 3.0 6.0 2.0 5.0 .400 0.0 0.0 - 4.0 4.0 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 5

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2010-111981-82
Team Memphis GrizzliesMilwaukee Bucks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayBucks 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 %
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
Robert Smith 17 18.6 6.8 0.1 0.8 0.8 2.6 0.6 0.1 0.8 2.1 3.1 6.5 .473 0.1 0.6 .200 0.6 0.7 .833
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith 6 11.3 4.8 0.2 1.0 1.2 2.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 1.3 1.7 4.3 .385 0.3 1.2 .286 1.2 1.3 .875

Season 6

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2011-121982-83
Team Memphis GrizzliesSan Diego Clippers, San Antonio Spurs
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies Lost West Conf 1st RdSpurs 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 %
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
Robert Smith 12 5.7 1.9 0.1 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.4 0.0 0.5 1.1 0.6 2.0 .292 0.0 0.2 .000 0.8 0.8 .900
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Robert Smith 6 3.2 1.7 0.5 0.3 0.8 1.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.7 1.5 .444 0.0 0.2 .000 0.3 0.3 1.000

Note: Robert Smith didn't play in 1983-84.

Season 7

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2012-131984-85
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto RaptorsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF 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
Robert Smith 7 6.9 2.3 0.0 0.6 0.6 1.0 0.3 0.0 0.4 0.9 0.6 2.4 .235 0.0 0.6 .000 1.1 1.4 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 8

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2013-14-
Team Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings-
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 %
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
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 9

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2014-15-
Team Sacramento Kings-
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 %
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
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2015-16-
Team Sacramento Kings-
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 %
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
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2016-17-
Team Sacramento Kings-
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 %
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
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2017-18-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Rudy Gay 57 21.6 11.5 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 9.4 .471 0.6 2.1 .314 2.0 2.5 .772
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 5 32.0 12.2 1.8 3.8 5.6 2.2 1.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 5.2 13.0 .400 0.8 3.6 .222 1.0 1.8 .556
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2018-19-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Rudy Gay 69 26.7 13.7 0.9 5.9 6.8 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.3 5.4 10.8 .504 1.1 2.7 .402 1.7 2.1 .816
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 7 25.6 11.1 1.9 5.3 7.1 1.7 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.9 4.0 10.0 .400 1.1 2.7 .421 2.0 2.4 .824
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2019-20-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
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 %
Rudy Gay 67 21.8 10.8 0.9 4.5 5.4 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.5 4.0 8.9 .446 1.1 3.3 .336 1.8 2.0 .882
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 15

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2020-21-
Team San Antonio Spurs-
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 %
Rudy Gay 63 21.6 11.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.0 1.8 4.2 10.0 .420 1.7 4.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .804
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2021-22-
Team Utah Jazz-
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 %
Rudy Gay 55 18.9 8.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.9 .414 1.3 3.7 .345 1.1 1.4 .785
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 17

Rudy Gay Robert Smith
Season 2022-23-
Team Utah Jazz-
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 %
Rudy Gay 56 14.6 5.2 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.9 5.1 .380 0.6 2.3 .254 0.8 0.9 .857
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
Robert Smith ------- --- ----------