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.
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.
On this page we compare: |
Who has better scoring stats? Career Numbers |
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 |
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
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

Regular Season
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 game | Year | Games | |
Josh Giddey | - | DNP | 2022 | 0 |
J.R. Smith | - | DNP | 2005 | 0 |
Season 2 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
Josh Giddey | - | DNP | 2023 | 0 |
J.R. Smith | - | DNP | 2006 | 0 |
Season 4 | Points per game | Year | Games | |
Josh Giddey | - | DNP | 2025 | 0 |
J.R. Smith | 18.3 | +18.3 | 2008 | 4 |
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. |