Larry Bird vs. J.R. Smith: NBA Rankings Comparison

The ultimate statistical showdown: compare Larry Bird and J.R. Smith all-time NBA rankings. Explore their historical standing across total and per-game stats, regular season and playoffs. Who ranks higher?

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

This in-depth analysis goes beyond basic career numbers to provide an unparalleled look at where Larry Bird, with a career spanning 13 seasons from 1980 to 1992, and J.R. Smith, with 16 seasons played from 2005 to 2020, stand among the league's historical elite..

Dive into a meticulous breakdown of their positions in every major statistical category—from scoring and rebounding to assists, steals, and blocks—across both regular season and their entire playoff careers. Our comprehensive tables offer side-by-side rankings, value comparisons, and key differences, ensuring you have all the definitive data to assess their historical impact.

First, review a concise summary of how they rank in NBA history in the main categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks) for both total and per-game stats, and below, you can then explore in detail all their stats and their historical rankings.

Larry Bird vs. J.R. Smith
Total Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Totals
Season Playoffs
Larry Bird J.R. Smith Larry Bird J.R. Smith
Points
40th
280th
13th
133rd
Rebounds
58th
+300th
11th
243rd
Assists
49th
+300th
9th
283rd
Steals
42nd
194th
8th
80th
Blocks
167th
+300th
41st
257th
Years13161212

Larry Bird vs. J.R. Smith
Per Game Stats, Rankings Summary

Career Per Game
Season Playoffs
Larry Bird J.R. Smith Larry Bird J.R. Smith
Points
23rd
+300th
41st
+300th
Rebounds
55th
+300th
50th
+300th
Assists
52nd
+300th
40th
+300th
Steals
39th
+300th
25th
+300th
Blocks
227th
+300th
195th
+300th

Comparisons on this page:

Their rankings for:
Season Totals - Playoffs Totals /
Season Per Game - Playoffs Per Game

Note: per game rankings include players with a minimum of games played

Career Totals,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
40th
280th
240 21,791 vs. 12,1489,643
Rebounds
58th
+300th
+242 8,974 vs. 3,0735,901
Assists
49th
+300th
+251 5,695 vs. 2,0773,618
Steals
42nd
194th
152 1,556 vs. 974582
Blocks
167th
+300th
+133 755 vs. 204551
Offensive Rebounds
159th
+300th
+141 1,757 vs. 4941,263
Defensive Rebounds
28th
+300th
+272 7,217 vs. 2,5794,638
Field Goals Made
30th
+300th
+270 8,591 vs. 4,3804,211
Field Goals Attempted
39th
257th
218 17,334 vs. 10,4656,869
3-Pointers Made
+300th
24th
+276 649 vs. 1,9301,281
3-Pointers Attempted
+300th
22nd
+278 1,727 vs. 5,1783,451
Free Throws Made
84th
+300th
+216 3,960 vs. 1,4582,502
Free Throws Attempted
118th
+300th
+182 4,471 vs. 1,9902,481

Games and Years:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
274th
177th
97 897 vs. 97780
Seasons
300th
91st
209 13 vs. 163

Rankings by Points Scored:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
24th
185th
161 47 vs. 443
50+ point games
30th
-
4 vs. 04
60+ point games
11th
-
1 vs. 01
70+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Totals,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points
13th
133rd
120 3,897 vs. 1,4932,404
Rebounds
11th
243rd
232 1,683 vs. 4241,259
Assists
9th
283rd
274 1,062 vs. 187875
Steals
8th
80th
72 296 vs. 127169
Blocks
41st
257th
216 145 vs. 38107
Offensive Rebounds
22nd
+300th
+278 360 vs. 58302
Defensive Rebounds
5th
151st
146 1,323 vs. 366957
Field Goals Made
12th
151st
139 1,458 vs. 519939
Field Goals Attempted
13th
118th
105 3,090 vs. 1,3061,784
3-Pointers Made
162nd
10th
152 80 vs. 294214
3-Pointers Attempted
140th
12th
128 249 vs. 801552
Free Throws Made
14th
+300th
+286 901 vs. 161740
Free Throws Attempted
22nd
293rd
271 1,012 vs. 228784

Games and Years:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Games Played
36th
67th
31 164 vs. 14024
Playoffs
76th
76th
0 12 vs. 120

Rankings by Points Scored:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
40+ point games
28th
-
5 vs. 05
50+ point games
-
-
0 vs. 00

Career Per Game Averages,
Regular Season Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
23rd
+300th
+277 24.29 vs. 12.4311.86
Rebounds per game
55th
+300th
+245 10.00 vs. 3.156.86
Assists per game
52nd
+300th
+248 6.35 vs. 2.134.22
Steals per game
39th
+300th
+261 1.73 vs. 1.000.74
Blocks per game
227th
+300th
+73 0.84 vs. 0.210.63
Offensive Rebounds per game
229th
+300th
+71 1.96 vs. 0.511.45
Defensive Rebounds per game
12th
+300th
+288 8.05 vs. 2.645.41
Field Goals Made per game
9th
+300th
+291 9.58 vs. 4.485.09
Field Goals Attempted per game
17th
+300th
+283 19.32 vs. 10.718.61
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
65th
+235 0.72 vs. 1.981.25
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
40th
+260 1.93 vs. 5.303.37
Free Throws Made per game
90th
+300th
+210 4.41 vs. 1.492.92
Free Throws Attempted per game
138th
+300th
+162 4.98 vs. 2.042.95

Career Per Game Averages,
Playoffs Rankings

Stats Rankings:

Larry Bird J.R. Smith Rk Diff. Values Diff.
Points per game
41st
+300th
+259 23.76 vs. 10.6613.10
Rebounds per game
50th
+300th
+250 10.26 vs. 3.037.23
Assists per game
40th
+300th
+260 6.48 vs. 1.345.14
Steals per game
25th
+300th
+275 1.80 vs. 0.910.90
Blocks per game
195th
+300th
+105 0.88 vs. 0.270.61
Offensive Rebounds per game
172nd
+300th
+128 2.20 vs. 0.411.78
Defensive Rebounds per game
19th
+300th
+281 8.07 vs. 2.615.45
Field Goals Made per game
37th
+300th
+263 8.89 vs. 3.715.18
Field Goals Attempted per game
47th
+300th
+253 18.84 vs. 9.339.51
3-Pointers Made per game
+300th
50th
+250 0.49 vs. 2.101.61
3-Pointers Attempted per game
+300th
54th
+246 1.52 vs. 5.724.20
Free Throws Made per game
56th
+300th
+244 5.49 vs. 1.154.34
Free Throws Attempted per game
93rd
+300th
+207 6.17 vs. 1.634.54

Note: the per game rankings on this page respect the minimums usually applied by the NBA for all-time leaders, 400 games for regular season stats unless the player reached these thresholds before: 10,000 points; 4,000 rebounds; 2,000 assists; 625 steals; 500 blocks; 250 3-pointers made. Also 3 minimum games for the Playoffs are applied.