Wayne Cooper vs. Kenny Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Kenny Smith and Wayne Cooper, 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.

Wayne Cooper played 14 years in the NBA, 4 more than Kenny Smith, who played 10. Wayne Cooper had the first of his seasons in 1978-79, while Kenny Smith had his rookie season in 1987-88. 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
Wayne Cooper 14 10 1978-79 to 1991-92
Kenny Smith 10 5 1987-88 to 1996-97

Comparison Season by Season

Rookie Season

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1978-791987-88
Team Golden State WarriorsSacramento Kings
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Rookie First Team
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 %
Wayne Cooper 65 12.2 4.6 1.4 2.9 4.3 0.3 0.1 0.7 0.8 1.8 2.0 4.5 .437 - - - 0.6 0.9 .672
Kenny Smith 61 35.6 13.8 0.7 1.6 2.3 7.1 1.5 0.1 3.0 2.3 5.4 11.4 .477 0.2 0.6 .308 2.7 3.3 .819
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1979-801988-89
Team Golden State WarriorsSacramento Kings
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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 22.5 11.0 2.6 3.9 6.4 0.5 0.3 1.0 1.8 3.1 4.6 9.5 .489 0.0 0.1 .250 1.7 2.3 .751
Kenny Smith 81 38.8 17.3 0.6 2.2 2.8 7.7 1.3 0.1 3.1 2.1 6.8 14.6 .462 0.6 1.6 .359 3.2 4.4 .737
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1980-811989-90
Team Utah JazzSacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks
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 %
Wayne Cooper 71 20.0 6.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 0.7 0.3 0.7 1.1 3.1 3.0 6.6 .452 0.0 0.0 .333 0.9 1.3 .689
Kenny Smith 79 30.6 11.9 0.2 1.8 2.0 5.6 1.0 0.1 2.1 1.8 4.8 10.3 .466 0.3 1.1 .313 2.0 2.5 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 4

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1981-821990-91
Team Dallas MavericksHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayRockets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 76 23.9 9.0 2.6 4.6 7.2 1.5 0.5 1.4 1.2 3.8 3.7 8.8 .420 0.0 0.1 .125 1.6 2.1 .744
Kenny Smith 78 34.6 17.7 0.5 1.6 2.1 7.1 1.4 0.1 3.0 1.7 6.7 12.9 .520 0.6 1.7 .363 3.7 4.4 .844
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper ------- --- ----------
Kenny Smith 3 37.7 15.3 1.3 1.3 2.7 8.0 1.3 0.3 2.0 1.7 6.0 12.7 .474 0.7 1.3 .500 2.7 3.0 .889

Season 5

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1982-831991-92
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 80 26.2 9.7 2.7 5.0 7.6 1.5 0.3 1.7 2.0 4.0 4.0 9.0 .443 0.0 0.1 .000 1.7 2.5 .685
Kenny Smith 81 33.8 14.0 0.4 1.8 2.2 6.9 1.3 0.1 2.8 1.4 5.3 11.2 .475 0.7 1.7 .394 2.7 3.1 .866
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 7 32.6 12.4 3.4 4.6 8.0 1.3 0.3 1.1 2.4 4.7 5.1 10.6 .486 0.0 0.0 - 2.1 2.4 .882
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 6

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1983-841992-93
Team Portland Trail BlazersHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 81 20.5 9.8 2.2 3.7 5.9 0.9 0.3 1.3 1.4 3.0 3.8 8.2 .459 0.0 0.1 .000 2.3 2.8 .804
Kenny Smith 82 29.5 13.0 0.3 1.6 2.0 5.4 1.0 0.1 2.0 1.3 4.7 9.1 .520 1.2 2.7 .438 2.4 2.7 .878
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 5 20.8 4.8 2.2 1.8 4.0 0.8 0.2 0.8 1.0 2.8 2.0 5.4 .370 0.0 0.0 - 0.8 1.6 .500
Kenny Smith 12 32.6 14.8 0.2 1.8 2.0 4.2 0.8 0.1 2.2 1.5 5.3 10.7 .492 1.9 3.8 .500 2.3 3.0 .778

Season 7

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1984-851993-94
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf FinalsNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 80 25.4 12.1 2.9 5.0 7.9 1.1 0.4 2.5 1.9 3.8 5.1 10.7 .472 0.0 0.0 .000 2.0 2.9 .685
Kenny Smith 78 28.3 11.6 0.3 1.5 1.8 4.2 0.8 0.1 1.6 1.6 4.4 9.1 .480 1.1 2.8 .405 1.7 2.0 .871
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 15 21.4 10.9 2.3 3.9 6.2 1.3 0.5 2.4 1.3 3.5 4.5 9.5 .469 0.0 0.0 - 2.0 2.7 .750
Kenny Smith 23 30.3 10.8 0.2 2.1 2.3 4.1 1.0 0.2 1.4 1.7 3.7 8.2 .455 1.5 3.3 .447 1.8 2.3 .808

Season 8

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1985-861994-95
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 78 27.1 13.1 2.4 5.4 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.9 1.5 4.0 5.4 11.6 .466 0.0 0.1 .429 2.2 2.8 .795
Kenny Smith 81 25.1 10.4 0.3 1.6 1.9 4.0 0.9 0.1 1.5 1.3 3.5 7.3 .484 1.8 4.1 .429 1.6 1.8 .851
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 8 19.3 7.9 1.4 3.6 5.0 0.9 0.3 0.6 1.4 3.9 3.0 7.0 .429 0.0 0.1 .000 1.9 2.8 .682
Kenny Smith 22 29.6 10.8 0.3 1.9 2.2 4.5 0.6 0.1 1.4 2.1 3.5 8.1 .438 2.1 4.7 .442 1.6 1.8 .900

Season 9

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1986-871995-96
Team Denver NuggetsHouston Rockets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf 1st RdRockets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 69 22.6 8.0 2.3 4.5 6.9 1.0 0.2 1.5 1.1 3.7 3.4 7.6 .448 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.6 .725
Kenny Smith 68 23.8 8.5 0.3 1.1 1.4 3.6 0.7 0.0 1.5 1.7 3.0 6.8 .433 1.3 3.5 .382 1.3 1.6 .821
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 13.7 4.0 2.0 3.7 5.7 0.7 0.0 0.3 0.3 3.0 1.7 4.0 .417 0.0 0.0 - 0.7 0.7 1.000
Kenny Smith 8 23.9 8.9 0.5 1.0 1.5 4.8 0.6 0.0 1.0 1.8 2.9 6.6 .434 1.5 3.9 .387 1.6 1.6 1.000

Season 10

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1987-881996-97
Team Denver NuggetsDetroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets Lost West Conf SemisDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 45 19.2 6.4 2.2 3.8 6.0 0.7 0.3 2.1 1.3 3.2 2.6 6.0 .437 0.0 0.0 .000 1.1 1.5 .746
Kenny Smith 48 15.9 6.3 0.1 0.8 0.9 2.4 0.4 0.0 1.5 0.6 2.1 5.0 .423 1.2 2.8 .437 0.8 0.9 .867
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 9 10.7 2.0 1.8 1.9 3.7 0.7 0.3 0.9 0.4 2.1 0.9 2.6 .348 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 1.000
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1988-89-
Team Denver Nuggets-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Nuggets 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 %
Wayne Cooper 79 23.6 6.6 2.7 5.2 7.8 1.0 0.5 2.7 0.9 3.8 2.8 5.6 .495 0.0 0.1 .250 1.0 1.3 .745
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 14.7 4.0 1.3 3.0 4.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 0.0 3.3 2.0 4.0 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1989-90-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 79 14.9 3.8 1.5 2.8 4.3 0.6 0.2 1.2 0.5 2.7 1.7 3.8 .454 0.0 0.0 .000 0.3 0.5 .641
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 18 13.8 2.7 1.4 2.6 3.9 0.3 0.3 1.6 0.3 2.2 1.1 2.6 .404 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 1.1 .526
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 13

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1990-91-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers 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 %
Wayne Cooper 67 11.1 2.2 0.8 2.0 2.8 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.8 0.9 2.2 .393 0.0 0.0 .000 0.5 0.6 .786
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 4.3 0.7 0.3 1.3 1.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.7 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 14

Wayne Cooper Kenny Smith
Season 1991-92-
Team Portland Trail Blazers-
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Trail Blazers Lost NBA Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 35 9.8 2.2 1.1 1.8 2.9 0.6 0.1 0.8 0.4 1.6 1.0 2.3 .427 0.0 0.0 - 0.2 0.3 .636
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Wayne Cooper 3 9.0 1.3 0.3 2.3 2.7 0.0 0.0 1.0 0.3 1.3 0.7 1.3 .500 0.0 0.0 - 0.0 0.0 -
Kenny Smith ------- --- ----------