Yao Ming vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison
Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Yao Ming, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.
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.
Yao Ming played 8 years in the NBA, 8 less than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Yao Ming had the first of his seasons in 2002-03, 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 |
| Yao Ming |
8 |
4 |
2002-03 to 2010-11 |
| J.R. Smith |
16 |
12 |
2004-05 to 2019-20 |
Comparison Season by Season |
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Jump to season:
|
|
|
Rookie Season |
|
Yao Ming |
J.R. Smith |
| Season |
2002-03 | 2004-05 |
| Team |
Houston Rockets | New Orleans Hornets |
| Honors & Awards |
 All-Rookie First Team | - |
| All-Star Game | - |
| Playoffs |
Did Not Play | Did Not Play |
more >>
Rookie Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
82 |
29.0 |
13.5 |
2.4 |
5.8 |
8.2 |
1.7 |
0.4 |
1.8 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
9.8 |
.498 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
3.7 |
4.5 |
.811 |
| difference: | +6 | +4.5 | +3.2 | +1.9 | +4.3 | +6.2 | +0.2 | +0.3 | +1.7 | -0.7 | -1.0 | +1.0 | | +.104 | +1.1 | +3.7 | | +2.2 | +2.4 | +.122 |
| 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 Yao Ming nor J.R. Smith played in the postseason in their season 1 |
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2nd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
82 |
32.8 |
17.5 |
2.4 |
6.6 |
9.0 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
1.9 |
2.5 |
3.3 |
6.5 |
12.5 |
.522 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.4 |
5.4 |
.809 |
| difference: | +27 | +14.8 | +9.8 | +2.1 | +4.9 | +7.0 | +0.4 | +0.4 | +1.8 | -1.5 | -1.7 | +3.9 | +5.8 | +.129 | +0.9 | +2.5 | | +2.9 | +3.6 | +.013 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
5 |
37.6 |
15.0 |
2.2 |
5.2 |
7.4 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
4.0 |
6.2 |
13.6 |
.456 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
2.6 |
3.4 |
.765 |
| J.R. Smith |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
more >>
3rd Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
80 |
30.6 |
18.3 |
2.6 |
5.8 |
8.4 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.7 |
6.7 |
12.2 |
.552 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.9 |
6.2 |
.783 |
| difference: | +17 | +7.3 | +5.3 | +2.1 | +4.0 | +6.1 | +0.6 | +0.4 | +1.9 | -1.2 | -1.4 | +2.2 | +2.0 | +.111 | +2.4 | +6.1 | | +3.3 | +4.2 | +.027 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
7 |
31.9 |
21.4 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
7.7 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
4.4 |
7.9 |
12.0 |
.655 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.7 |
7.9 |
.727 |
| difference: | +3 | +20.1 | +16.9 | +3.0 | +2.4 | +5.4 | +0.2 | +0.7 | +2.4 | -1.9 | -2.9 | +6.4 | +6.5 | +.382 | | +3.0 | | +4.2 | +6.4 | +.273 |
| 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 |
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4th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
57 |
34.2 |
22.3 |
2.6 |
7.6 |
10.2 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
1.6 |
2.6 |
3.4 |
8.2 |
15.8 |
.519 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.9 |
6.9 |
.853 |
| difference: | +17 | +15.0 | +10.0 | +2.0 | +6.1 | +8.1 | +0.2 | +0.3 | +1.4 | -1.1 | -1.5 | +4.0 | +6.7 | +.058 | +2.1 | +5.3 | | +4.2 | +4.5 | +.134 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
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 |
more >>
5th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
48 |
33.8 |
25.0 |
2.1 |
7.3 |
9.4 |
2.0 |
0.4 |
2.0 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
8.8 |
17.1 |
.516 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
7.4 |
8.6 |
.862 |
| difference: | +33 | +6.1 | +9.8 | +1.6 | +4.2 | +5.7 | +0.8 | +0.6 | +1.8 | -1.6 | -1.0 | +3.6 | +5.4 | +.070 | +2.2 | +5.6 | | +4.9 | +5.2 | +.108 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
7 |
37.1 |
25.1 |
3.3 |
7.0 |
10.3 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
4.7 |
3.9 |
7.9 |
17.9 |
.440 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
9.4 |
10.7 |
.880 |
| difference: | +9 | +9.9 | +10.2 | +2.6 | +4.4 | +7.0 | +1.9 | +1.0 | +0.4 | -3.1 | -0.7 | +2.4 | +5.8 | +.014 | +2.4 | +6.6 | | +7.8 | +7.8 | +.337 |
| 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 |
more >>
6th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
55 |
37.2 |
22.0 |
3.1 |
7.7 |
10.8 |
2.3 |
0.5 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
7.9 |
15.5 |
.507 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
6.3 |
7.4 |
.850 |
| difference: | +20 | +9.4 | +6.6 | +2.7 | +5.0 | +7.7 | +0.1 | +0.8 | +1.7 | -1.4 | -0.8 | +2.2 | +1.7 | +.093 | +2.1 | +6.2 | | +4.4 | +4.7 | +.144 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
more >>
7th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
77 |
33.6 |
19.7 |
2.6 |
7.2 |
9.9 |
1.8 |
0.4 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
7.4 |
13.4 |
.548 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
4.9 |
5.7 |
.866 |
| difference: | +2 | +8.7 | +7.4 | +2.0 | +3.7 | +5.8 | +0.4 | +0.8 | +1.7 | -1.7 | -1.1 | +3.1 | +3.5 | +.113 | +1.6 | +4.0 | | +2.8 | +2.9 | +.128 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
9 |
35.9 |
17.1 |
2.1 |
8.8 |
10.9 |
1.0 |
0.4 |
1.2 |
1.9 |
3.0 |
6.0 |
11.0 |
.545 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
5.1 |
5.7 |
.902 |
| difference: | +4 | +20.7 | +7.3 | +1.9 | +7.0 | +8.9 | | | +1.2 | -0.3 | -1.4 | +2.8 | +2.0 | +.189 | +1.8 | +4.2 | | +3.5 | +3.5 | +.175 |
| 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 |
Note: Yao Ming didn't play in 2009-10.
more >>
8th Season Stats Comparison |
| Regular Season Stats |
|
G |
Min |
Pts |
ORb |
DRb |
Reb |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
TO | PF |
FGM / A | % |
3PM / A | % |
FTM / A | % |
| Yao Ming |
5 |
18.2 |
10.2 |
1.4 |
4.0 |
5.4 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
7.4 |
.486 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
- |
3.0 |
3.2 |
.938 |
| difference: | +30 | +9.4 | +2.3 | +0.6 | +0.9 | +1.5 | +1.6 | +1.5 | +1.4 | -0.1 | -0.1 | +1.1 | +4.2 | +.079 | +1.9 | +5.5 | | +1.9 | +1.6 | +.229 |
| 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 | % |
| Yao Ming |
DNP | - | - | - | - | - | - |
- | - | - |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 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 |
|
Additional Years |
* J.R. Smith played 8 seasons more than Yao Ming in the NBA.
In that period—his seasons 9 to 16, from 2013 to 2020—J.R. Smith played in 6 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships. In those 8 extra years over Yao Ming, J.R. Smith got these achievements: |
| Honors & Awards | 1 Sixth Man of the Year
|