Rudy Gay vs. J.R. Smith Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of J.R. Smith and Rudy Gay, 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 / Games against each other

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.

Rudy Gay played 17 years in the NBA, 1 more than J.R. Smith, who played 16. Rudy Gay had the first of his seasons in 2006-07, 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
Rudy Gay 17 3 2006-07 to 2022-23
J.R. Smith 16 12 2004-05 to 2019-20

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17

Rookie Season

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2006-072004-05
Team Memphis GrizzliesNew 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 %
Rudy Gay 78 27.0 10.8 1.2 3.3 4.5 1.3 0.9 0.9 1.8 2.5 4.1 9.7 .422 0.7 1.8 .364 1.9 2.7 .727
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 2

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2007-082005-06
Team Memphis GrizzliesNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rudy Gay 81 37.0 20.1 1.7 4.4 6.2 2.0 1.4 1.0 2.3 2.8 7.7 16.7 .461 1.7 4.8 .346 3.1 3.9 .785
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 3

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2008-092006-07
Team Memphis GrizzliesDenver 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 %
Rudy Gay 79 37.3 18.9 1.4 4.2 5.5 1.7 1.2 0.7 2.6 2.8 7.2 16.0 .453 1.1 3.1 .351 3.3 4.4 .767
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2009-102007-08
Team Memphis GrizzliesDenver 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 %
Rudy Gay 80 39.7 19.6 1.4 4.5 5.9 1.9 1.5 0.8 2.1 2.5 7.5 16.1 .466 0.8 2.5 .327 3.8 5.0 .753
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2010-112008-09
Team Memphis GrizzliesDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets 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 %
Rudy Gay 54 39.9 19.8 1.5 4.7 6.2 2.8 1.7 1.1 2.5 2.4 7.6 16.1 .471 1.1 2.7 .396 3.6 4.5 .805
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2011-122009-10
Team Memphis GrizzliesDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Grizzlies 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 %
Rudy Gay 65 37.3 19.0 2.0 4.4 6.4 2.3 1.5 0.8 2.5 2.1 7.5 16.4 .455 0.8 2.7 .312 3.2 4.0 .791
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 %
Rudy Gay 7 39.9 19.0 1.4 5.1 6.6 1.4 1.3 0.3 3.0 2.1 6.9 16.3 .421 0.6 2.7 .211 4.7 5.7 .825
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2012-132010-11
Team Memphis Grizzlies, Toronto RaptorsDenver 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 %
Rudy Gay 75 35.8 18.2 1.3 4.8 6.1 2.7 1.5 0.7 2.6 2.4 6.9 16.7 .416 1.1 3.5 .323 3.2 3.9 .814
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2013-142011-12
Team Toronto Raptors, Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Rudy Gay 73 34.7 20.0 1.5 4.4 6.0 2.9 1.3 0.8 3.1 2.3 7.4 16.2 .455 0.9 2.7 .330 4.4 5.3 .822
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2014-152012-13
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards -Achievement Sixth Man of the Year
Playoffs Did Not PlayKnicks 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 %
Rudy Gay 68 35.4 21.1 1.4 4.4 5.9 3.7 1.0 0.6 2.7 2.3 7.5 16.4 .455 1.2 3.2 .359 5.0 5.8 .858
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2015-162013-14
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rudy Gay 70 34.0 17.2 1.5 5.0 6.5 1.7 1.4 0.7 2.0 2.6 6.7 14.4 .463 1.1 3.1 .344 2.8 3.6 .780
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 11

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2016-172014-15
Team Sacramento KingsNew York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 30 33.8 18.7 1.2 5.2 6.3 2.8 1.5 0.9 2.5 2.6 6.7 14.7 .455 1.4 3.8 .372 3.9 4.6 .855
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2017-182015-16
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 57 21.6 11.5 1.3 3.8 5.1 1.3 0.8 0.7 1.4 1.7 4.4 9.4 .471 0.6 2.1 .314 2.0 2.5 .772
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 %
Rudy Gay 5 32.0 12.2 1.8 3.8 5.6 2.2 1.6 0.2 1.2 3.2 5.2 13.0 .400 0.8 3.6 .222 1.0 1.8 .556
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2018-192016-17
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Spurs Lost West Conf 1st RdCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 69 26.7 13.7 0.9 5.9 6.8 2.6 0.8 0.5 1.7 2.3 5.4 10.8 .504 1.1 2.7 .402 1.7 2.1 .816
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 %
Rudy Gay 7 25.6 11.1 1.9 5.3 7.1 1.7 0.4 0.7 1.4 1.9 4.0 10.0 .400 1.1 2.7 .421 2.0 2.4 .824
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2019-202017-18
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayCavaliers Lost NBA Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 67 21.8 10.8 0.9 4.5 5.4 1.7 0.5 0.5 1.3 1.5 4.0 8.9 .446 1.1 3.3 .336 1.8 2.0 .882
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2020-212018-19
Team San Antonio SpursCleveland Cavaliers
Honors & Awards
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 %
Rudy Gay 63 21.6 11.4 0.7 4.1 4.8 1.4 0.7 0.6 1.0 1.8 4.2 10.0 .420 1.7 4.4 .381 1.3 1.6 .804
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------

Season 16

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2021-222019-20
Team Utah JazzLos Angeles Lakers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNBA Champion NBA Champion
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay 55 18.9 8.1 1.0 3.4 4.4 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.9 1.7 2.9 6.9 .414 1.3 3.7 .345 1.1 1.4 .785
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 %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
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 -

Season 17

Rudy Gay J.R. Smith
Season 2022-23-
Team Utah Jazz-
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 %
Rudy Gay 56 14.6 5.2 0.6 2.3 2.9 1.0 0.3 0.3 0.7 1.2 1.9 5.1 .380 0.6 2.3 .254 0.8 0.9 .857
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Rudy Gay ------- --- ----------
J.R. Smith ------- --- ----------