Josh Giddey vs. J.R. Smith: Career Scoring Comparison

We break down the scoring legacies of J.R. Smith and Josh Giddey to determine who has the better numbers. Here you can compare their career totals, points per game, games of 40+ points, 50+, etc. and their year-by-year scoring averages side by side, both in the Regular Season and Playoffs.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season / Scoring / Stats / Stats Rankings

By taking a look at their career numbers for points, the first conclusion one can arrive at is that J.R. Smith scored more total points both in the regular season and Playoffs and also has a better playoff average while Josh Giddey has a better scoring average in the regular season. However, we won't stop there and we'll go into detail to analyze what these statistics are made up of, from how many games they had in each threshold (30+ points, 40+, 50+, etc.) to their season-by-season scoring averages.

Career Numbers
Who has the better scoring stats?

Points in the Regular Season

In his 4 NBA regular seasons played, Josh Giddey averages 1.7 points more than J.R. Smith in his 16 seasons (14.1 points against 12.4). On the other hand J.R. Smith scored a total of 8,206 points more than Josh Giddey (12,148 vs. 3,942).

Points Per Game

Seasons
Josh Giddey 14.1
+1.7
4
J.R. Smith 12.4
16

Total Points

Seasons
Josh Giddey 3,942
4
J.R. Smith 12,148
+8,206
16

Points in the Playoffs

In the NBA postseason J.R. Smith has a better career point average than Josh Giddey (+2 points per game) and he also scored more points (+1,406).

Points Per Game

Playoffs
Josh Giddey 8.7
1
J.R. Smith 10.7
+2.0
12

Total Points

Playoffs
Josh Giddey 87
1
J.R. Smith 1,493
+1,406
12

Points by Thresholds

Regular Season

40+ Point Games

Josh Giddey 0
J.R. Smith 4
+4

30+ Point Games

Josh Giddey 2
J.R. Smith 24
+22

20+ Point Games

Josh Giddey 48
J.R. Smith 160
+112

10+ Point Games

Josh Giddey 215
J.R. Smith 604
+389

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Josh Giddey 278
J.R. Smith 932
+654

0 Point Games (games without points)

Josh Giddey 2
J.R. Smith 45
+43

Playoffs

20+ Point Games

Josh Giddey 1
J.R. Smith 14
+13

10+ Point Games

Josh Giddey 4
J.R. Smith 77
+73

1+ Point Games (games with points)

Josh Giddey 10
J.R. Smith 130
+120

0 Point Games (games without points)

Josh Giddey 0
J.R. Smith 10
+10

Career Shooting Stats Comparison

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Regular Season

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Josh Giddey 14.1 5.7 12.3 46.4 1.1 3.5 33.0 1.6 2.0 76.4 4 280
difference:+1.7+1.2+1.6+4.5+0.9+1.8+4.3+0.1+3.1+12+697
J.R. Smith 12.4 4.5 10.7 41.9 2.0 5.3 37.3 1.5 2.0 73.3 16 977

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Josh Giddey 3,942 1,593 3,433 46.4 319 968 33.0 437 572 76.4 4 280
difference:+8,206+2,787+7,032+4.5+1,611+4,210+4.3+1,021+1,418+3.1+12+697
J.R. Smith 12,148 4,380 10,465 41.9 1,930 5,178 37.3 1,458 1,990 73.3 16 977

Playoffs

Stats Per Game

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Josh Giddey 8.7 3.4 7.5 45.3 1.2 3.4 35.3 0.7 0.8 87.5 1 10
difference:+2.0+0.3+1.8+5.6+0.9+2.3+1.4+0.5+0.8+16.9+11+130
J.R. Smith 10.7 3.7 9.3 39.7 2.1 5.7 36.7 1.2 1.6 70.6 12 140

Total Stats

Pts FGM / A% 3PM / A% FTM / A% Yrs Gms
Josh Giddey 87 34 75 45.3 12 34 35.3 7 8 87.5 1 10
difference:+1,406+485+1,231+5.6+282+767+1.4+154+220+16.9+11+130
J.R. Smith 1,493 519 1,306 39.7 294 801 36.7 161 228 70.6 12 140

Year by Year Points Average Comparison

NBA Champion = NBA Champion

Regular Season

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey 12.5
+2.2
202254
J.R. Smith 10.3
200576

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey 16.6
+8.9
202376
J.R. Smith 7.7
200655

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey 12.3
202480
J.R. Smith 13.0
+0.7
200763

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey 14.6
+2.3
202570
J.R. Smith 12.3
200874

J.R. Smith's additional seasons:

* J.R. Smith played 14 seasons more than Josh Giddey in the NBA.

In those years—his seasons 5 to 18, from 2009 to 2020—he averaged 12.9 points in a total of 849 regular season games. During that period, his highest average was 18.1 ppg and his lowest 2.8.

Playoffs

Rookie Season

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey -
DNP
20220
J.R. Smith -
DNP
20050

Season 2

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey -
DNP
20230
J.R. Smith -
DNP
20060

Season 3

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey 8.7
+4.2
202410
J.R. Smith 4.5
20074

Season 4

Points per gameYearGames
Josh Giddey -
DNP
20250
J.R. Smith 18.3
+18.3
20084

J.R. Smith's additional Playoffs:

* During his 14 additional NBA seasons, J.R. Smith played in 12 Playoffs and won two NBA Championships. In those postseasons he averaged 11.1 points in a total of 168 games. His highest playoff average during that period was 14.9 ppg and his lowest 2.