Willie Anderson vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Willie Anderson, 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.

Willie Anderson played 9 years in the NBA, 7 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Willie Anderson had the first of his seasons in 1988-89, 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 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
Willie Anderson 9 7 1988-89 to 1996-97
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

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

Rookie Season

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1988-892004-05
Team San Antonio SpursNew Orleans Hornets
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 %
Willie Anderson 81 33.8 18.6 1.9 3.3 5.1 4.6 1.9 0.8 3.2 3.6 7.9 15.9 .498 0.0 0.3 .190 2.8 3.6 .775
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
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1989-902005-06
Team San Antonio SpursNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs 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 %
Willie Anderson 82 34.0 15.7 1.4 3.1 4.5 4.4 1.4 0.7 2.4 3.1 6.5 13.2 .492 0.1 0.3 .269 2.6 3.5 .748
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 10 37.5 20.5 1.6 3.8 5.4 5.2 0.9 0.4 2.6 4.0 8.7 16.8 .518 0.2 0.5 .400 2.9 3.6 .806
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1990-912006-07
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Willie Anderson 75 34.6 14.4 0.9 3.8 4.7 4.8 1.1 0.6 2.2 3.0 6.0 13.2 .457 0.1 0.5 .200 2.3 2.8 .798
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 4 39.8 19.0 0.5 4.3 4.8 4.8 1.5 0.5 3.3 4.0 8.3 17.0 .485 0.5 2.5 .200 2.0 3.3 .615
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1991-922007-08
Team San Antonio SpursDenver 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 %
Willie Anderson 57 33.1 13.1 1.1 4.2 5.3 5.3 0.9 0.9 2.5 2.6 5.5 12.0 .455 0.2 1.0 .232 1.9 2.4 .775
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1992-932008-09
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf SemisNuggets 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 %
Willie Anderson 38 14.7 4.8 0.2 1.3 1.5 2.1 0.4 0.2 1.2 1.4 2.1 4.9 .430 0.0 0.2 .125 0.6 0.7 .786
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 10 21.9 9.5 0.4 1.9 2.3 2.8 0.9 0.2 1.2 2.3 3.7 8.2 .451 0.6 1.1 .545 1.5 1.7 .882
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1993-942009-10
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdNuggets 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 %
Willie Anderson 80 31.1 11.9 0.9 2.2 3.0 4.3 0.9 0.6 1.9 2.3 4.9 10.5 .471 0.3 0.9 .324 1.8 2.1 .848
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 4 26.5 8.3 0.8 1.3 2.0 3.0 1.3 0.5 1.0 1.8 3.5 9.3 .378 0.3 0.3 1.000 1.0 1.8 .571
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1994-952010-11
Team San Antonio SpursDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf FinalsNuggets 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 %
Willie Anderson 38 14.6 4.9 0.4 1.1 1.4 1.4 0.7 0.3 1.0 1.9 2.0 4.3 .469 0.1 0.5 .158 0.8 1.1 .732
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 11 8.8 1.8 0.5 0.6 1.1 0.9 0.5 0.0 0.7 1.1 0.8 1.8 .450 0.0 0.1 .000 0.2 0.3 .667
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1995-962011-12
Team Toronto Raptors, New York KnicksNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf SemisKnicks Lost East Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 76 27.1 9.8 0.6 2.6 3.2 2.6 1.0 0.8 1.9 3.0 3.8 8.7 .436 0.4 1.6 .283 1.7 2.1 .810
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 4 16.0 5.3 0.5 1.8 2.3 0.3 1.0 0.0 1.5 2.5 1.8 5.5 .318 0.3 1.5 .167 1.5 1.8 .857
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season 1996-972012-13
Team Miami HeatNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Heat Lost East Conf FinalsKnicks 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 %
Willie Anderson 28 10.8 3.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 1.2 0.5 0.1 0.7 1.3 1.0 2.3 .453 0.3 0.7 .421 0.6 0.7 .850
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson 9 13.2 3.7 0.2 1.7 1.9 0.6 0.4 0.2 1.3 2.2 1.2 3.3 .367 0.2 0.9 .250 1.0 1.1 .900
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2013-14
Team -New York Knicks
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 %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2014-15
Team -New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2015-16
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2016-17
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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 TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
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

Season 14

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2017-18
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -Cavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 80 28.1 8.3 0.4 2.6 2.9 1.8 0.9 0.1 1.0 2.0 3.0 7.4 .403 1.8 4.8 .375 0.5 0.7 .696
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 22 32.1 8.7 0.5 2.3 2.7 1.1 1.0 0.2 0.9 2.5 3.0 8.5 .348 2.0 5.5 .367 0.8 1.0 .773

Season 15

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2018-19
Team -Cleveland Cavaliers
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 %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 11 20.2 6.7 0.0 1.6 1.6 1.9 1.0 0.3 1.0 1.7 2.5 7.2 .342 1.1 3.5 .308 0.7 0.9 .800
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Willie Anderson J.R. Smith
Season -2019-20
Team -Los Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs -NBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 6 13.2 2.8 0.0 0.8 0.8 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.7 0.8 1.2 3.7 .318 0.2 1.8 .091 0.3 0.3 1.000
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Willie Anderson ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith 10 7.5 2.0 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.1 0.7 2.6 .269 0.6 2.2 .273 0.0 0.0 -