Tim Hardaway vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Tim Hardaway, 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 / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

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.

Tim Hardaway played 13 years in the NBA, 3 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Tim Hardaway had the first of his seasons in 1989-90, 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
Tim Hardaway 13 9 1989-90 to 2002-03
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

Rookie Season

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1989-902004-05
Team Golden State WarriorsNew Orleans Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
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%
Tim Hardaway 79 33.7 14.7 0.7 3.2 3.9 8.7 2.1 0.2 3.3 2.9 5.9 12.5 .471 0.3 1.1 .274 2.7 3.5 .764
difference:+3+9.2+4.4+0.2+1.7+1.9+6.8+1.4+0.1-1.9-1.1+2.0+2.7+.077+0.8+2.6+.014+1.2+1.4+.075
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 Tim Hardaway nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 1

Season 2

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1990-912005-06
Team Golden State WarriorsNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf SemisDid 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%
Tim Hardaway 82 39.2 22.9 1.1 3.0 4.0 9.7 2.6 0.1 3.3 2.8 9.0 18.9 .476 1.2 3.1 .385 3.7 4.6 .803
difference:+27+21.2+15.2+0.8+1.3+2.0+8.6+1.9-2.3-1.2+6.4+12.2+.083+0.3+0.6+.014+2.2+2.8+.019
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%
Tim Hardaway 9 44.0 25.2 0.6 3.1 3.7 11.2 3.1 0.8 2.8 2.4 10.0 20.6 .486 1.9 5.3 .354 3.3 4.2 .789
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 3

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1991-922006-07
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Warriors Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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%
Tim Hardaway 81 41.1 23.4 1.0 2.8 3.8 10.0 2.0 0.2 3.3 2.6 9.1 19.7 .461 1.6 4.6 .338 3.7 4.8 .766
difference:+18+17.8+10.4+0.5+1.0+1.5+8.6+1.2+0.1-2.0-0.3+4.6+9.5+.020+0.8+1.5+.052+2.1+2.8+.044
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%
Tim Hardaway 4 44.0 24.5 1.5 2.3 3.8 7.3 3.3 0.0 3.5 3.5 8.0 20.0 .400 2.5 7.3 .345 6.0 9.3 .649
difference:+32.2+20.0+1.2+0.3+1.5+6.8+2.3+0.3-2.7-2.0+6.5+14.5+.127+2.5+4.3+.345+4.5+7.8+.351
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1992-932007-08
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Third 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%
Tim Hardaway 66 39.5 21.5 0.9 3.1 4.0 10.6 1.8 0.2 3.3 2.3 7.9 17.7 .447 1.5 4.7 .330 4.1 5.6 .744
difference:+8+20.3+9.2+0.3+1.6+1.9+8.9+1.0-1.8-0.4+3.7+8.6+.014+0.6+0.6+.073+2.4+3.2+.025
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%
Tim Hardaway 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

Note: Tim Hardaway didn't play in 1993-94.

Season 5

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1994-952008-09
Team Golden State WarriorsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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%
Tim Hardaway 62 37.4 20.1 0.7 2.3 3.1 9.3 1.4 0.2 3.5 2.5 6.9 16.2 .427 2.7 7.2 .378 3.5 4.6 .760
difference:+19+9.7+4.9+0.2+0.8+0.6+6.5+0.4-1.6-0.2+1.7+4.5+.019+0.5+1.6+.019+1.0+1.2+.006
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%
Tim Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1995-962009-10
Team Golden State Warriors, Miami HeatDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdNuggets 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%
Tim Hardaway 80 31.7 15.2 0.4 2.4 2.9 8.0 1.7 0.2 2.9 2.5 5.2 12.4 .422 1.7 4.7 .364 3.0 3.8 .790
difference:+5+3.9+0.2+0.3+0.2+5.6+0.4+0.1-1.0-0.2+0.5+1.4+.008+0.4+1.5+.026+1.1+1.1+.084
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%
Tim Hardaway 3 36.7 17.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 5.7 1.0 0.0 5.0 3.3 6.7 14.3 .465 2.7 7.3 .364 1.7 2.3 .714
difference:+3+10.2+6.5+0.5+1.7+2.1+4.0+0.3+0.3-4.0-0.5+3.2+4.8+.097+0.9+2.1+.009+0.6+0.4+.161
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1996-972010-11
Team Miami HeatDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf FinalsNuggets 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%
Tim Hardaway 81 38.7 20.3 0.6 2.8 3.4 8.6 1.9 0.1 2.8 2.0 7.1 17.1 .415 2.5 7.3 .344 3.6 4.5 .799
difference:+2+13.8+8.0+0.7+0.7+6.4+0.7+0.1-1.5-0.2+2.8+7.2+.020+0.9+3.3+.046+1.5+1.7+.061
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%
Tim Hardaway 17 41.2 18.7 0.8 3.3 4.1 7.0 1.6 0.1 3.1 2.2 6.1 16.9 .359 2.5 7.9 .313 4.1 5.2 .795
difference:+12+26.0+8.9+0.6+1.5+2.1+6.0+1.2+0.1-1.5-0.6+2.9+7.9+.003+0.7+3.7+.116+2.5+3.0+.068
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1997-982011-12
Team Miami HeatNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdKnicks 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%
Tim Hardaway 81 37.4 18.9 0.6 3.1 3.7 8.3 1.7 0.2 2.8 2.5 6.9 16.0 .431 1.9 5.5 .351 3.2 4.1 .781
difference:+46+9.8+6.4+0.2+0.2+5.9+0.2-1.5+2.2+4.4+.024+.004+2.1+2.5+.072
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%
Tim Hardaway 5 44.4 26.0 0.6 2.8 3.4 6.6 1.2 0.0 3.6 1.8 8.4 18.8 .447 3.4 7.8 .436 5.8 7.4 .784
difference:+9.4+13.8+0.2+0.6+0.8+4.4+0.2-1.4-2.0+3.6+3.6+.131+2.4+2.2+.257+4.2+5.8+.216
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1998-992012-13
Team Miami HeatNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
-Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Heat 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%
Tim Hardaway 48 36.9 17.4 0.3 2.9 3.2 7.3 1.2 0.1 2.7 2.1 6.3 15.7 .400 2.3 6.5 .360 2.5 3.1 .812
difference:+32+3.4+0.7+0.5+1.6+2.1+4.6+0.1+0.2-1.0-0.7+0.3+0.1+.022+0.4+1.0+.004+0.5+0.8+.050
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%
Tim Hardaway 5 36.4 9.0 0.6 2.2 2.8 6.4 1.0 0.2 3.6 2.8 3.0 11.2 .268 1.0 5.0 .200 2.0 3.2 .625
difference:+6+4.5+5.3+0.1+2.0+1.9+5.0+0.3-1.8-0.3+1.9+3.6+.063+0.6+1.0+.073+0.8+0.7+.096
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 1999-002013-14
Team Miami HeatNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat 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%
Tim Hardaway 52 32.2 13.4 0.5 2.4 2.9 7.4 0.9 0.1 2.3 2.2 4.7 12.3 .386 1.8 4.9 .367 2.1 2.6 .827
difference:+22+0.5+1.1+1.1+1.1+4.4+0.2-0.8-0.4+0.7+0.6+.029+0.8+1.6+.027+0.9+0.7+.175
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%
Tim Hardaway 7 26.0 7.7 0.1 2.0 2.1 4.7 0.7 0.0 1.6 1.4 2.9 9.7 .294 1.0 4.9 .206 1.0 1.4 .700
J.R. Smith DNP------ --- ----------

Season 11

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 2000-012014-15
Team Miami HeatNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers 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%
Tim Hardaway 77 33.9 14.9 0.3 2.3 2.6 6.3 1.2 0.1 2.5 2.0 5.3 13.5 .392 2.5 6.7 .366 1.9 2.4 .801
difference:+7+4.2+2.8+0.1+0.4+0.5+3.5+0.2-1.1-0.3+0.8+2.7+.025+0.2+0.6+.017+1.1+1.4+.051
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%
Tim Hardaway 2 18.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 4.5 0.0 0.0 4.0 2.0 1.0 4.5 .222 0.5 1.5 .333 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+16+13.1+10.3+3.7+3.7+3.3+0.9+0.6-3.2-1.0+3.6+6.9+.181+2.3+6.4+.026+0.8+1.1
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 2001-022015-16
Team Dallas Mavericks, Denver NuggetsCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
12th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 68 23.5 9.6 0.2 1.6 1.8 4.1 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.6 3.3 9.1 .365 1.8 5.2 .347 1.1 1.4 .794
difference:+9+7.2+2.8+0.4+0.7+1.0+2.4+0.3+0.2-0.8-1.0+1.3+1.9+.050+0.8+1.4+.053+0.5+0.5+.160
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway DNP------ --- ----------
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

Tim Hardaway J.R. Smith
Season 2002-032016-17
Team Indiana PacersCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Pacers Lost East Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
13th Season Stats Comparison
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 10 12.7 4.9 0.1 1.4 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.0 1.1 0.8 1.8 4.9 .367 1.1 3.1 .355 0.2 0.4 .500
difference:+31+16.3+3.7+0.3+0.9+1.3+0.9+0.1+0.3-0.5-1.1+1.2+3.8+.021+1.2+3.5+.004+.167
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 TOPF FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A%
Tim Hardaway 4 11.8 3.3 0.0 0.5 0.5 2.3 0.3 0.0 0.8 0.5 1.3 3.8 .333 0.8 2.5 .300 0.0 0.0 -
difference:+14+15.3+4.8+0.3+1.6+1.8+1.6+0.4+0.3-0.1-1.8+1.5+1.7+.172+1.4+1.9+.200+0.3+0.6
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

Additional Years

* J.R. Smith played 3 seasons more than Tim Hardaway in the NBA.

In that period—his seasons 14 to 16, from 2018 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in two Playoffs and won one NBA Championship.