List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
This article provides two lists:
- A list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season assists recorded
- Progressive assist leaders list
Assist leaders[]
This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season assists recorded.
- Statistics accurate as of December 26, 2021[1]
^ | Active NBA player |
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a] |
Rank | Player | Pos | Team(s) played for (years)[b] | Total assists | Games played |
Assists per game average[c] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Stockton* | PG | Utah Jazz (1984–2003) | 15,806 | 1,504 | 10.5 |
2 | Jason Kidd* | PG | Dallas Mavericks (1994–1996, 2008–2012) Phoenix Suns (1996–2001) New Jersey Nets (2001–2008) New York Knicks (2012–2013) |
12,091 | 1,391 | 8.7 |
3 | Chris Paul^ | PG | New Orleans(/Oklahoma City) Hornets (2005–2011) Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017) Houston Rockets (2017–2019) Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020) Phoenix Suns (2020–present) |
10,591 | 1,122 | 9.4 |
4 | Steve Nash* | PG | Phoenix Suns (1996–1998, 2004–2012) Dallas Mavericks (1999–2004) Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2014) |
10,335 | 1,217 | 8.5 |
5 | Mark Jackson | PG | New York Knicks (1987–1992, 2001–2002) Los Angeles Clippers (1992–1994) Indiana Pacers (1994–1996, 1997–2000) Denver Nuggets (1996–1997) Toronto Raptors (2000–2001) Utah Jazz (2002–2003) Houston Rockets (2003–2004) |
10,334 | 1,296 | 8.0 |
6 | Magic Johnson* | PG | Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996) | 10,141 | 906 | 11.2 |
7 | Oscar Robertson* | PG | Cincinnati Royals (1960–1970) Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974) |
9,887 | 1,040 | 9.5 |
8 | LeBron James^ | SF | Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018) Miami Heat (2010–2014) Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present) |
9,840 | 1,332 | 7.4 |
9 | Isiah Thomas* | PG | Detroit Pistons (1981–1994) | 9,061 | 979 | 9.3 |
10 | Gary Payton* | PG | Seattle SuperSonics (1990–2003) Milwaukee Bucks (2003) Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) Boston Celtics (2004–2005) Miami Heat (2005–2007) |
8,966 | 1,335 | 6.7 |
11 | Andre Miller | PG | Cleveland Cavaliers (1999–2002) Los Angeles Clippers (2002–2003) Denver Nuggets (2003–2006, 2011–2013) Philadelphia 76ers (2006–2009) Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011) Washington Wizards (2013–2015) Sacramento Kings (2015) Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2016) San Antonio Spurs (2016) |
8,524 | 1,304 | 6.5 |
12 | Russell Westbrook^ | PG | Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019) Houston Rockets (2019–2020) Washington Wizards (2020–2021) Los Angeles Lakers (2021–present) |
8,337 | 977 | 8.5 |
13 | Rod Strickland | PG | New York Knicks (1988–1990) San Antonio Spurs (1990–1992) Portland Trail Blazers (1992–1996, 2001) Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996–2001) Miami Heat (2001–2002) Minnesota Timberwolves (2002–2003) Orlando Magic (2003–2004) Toronto Raptors (2004) Houston Rockets (2005) |
7,987 | 1,094 | 7.3 |
14 | Rajon Rondo^ | PG | Boston Celtics (2006–2014) Dallas Mavericks (2014–2015) Sacramento Kings (2015–2016) Chicago Bulls (2016–2017) New Orleans Pelicans (2017–2018) Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2020, 2021–present) Atlanta Hawks (2020–2021) Los Angeles Clippers (2021) |
7,481 | 936 | 8 |
15 | Maurice Cheeks* | PG | Philadelphia 76ers (1978–1989) San Antonio Spurs (1989–1990) New York Knicks (1990–1991) Atlanta Hawks (1991–1992) New Jersey Nets (1993) |
7,392 | 1,101 | 6.7 |
16 | Lenny Wilkens* | PG | St. Louis Hawks (1960–1968) Seattle SuperSonics (1968–1972) Cleveland Cavaliers (1972–1974) Portland Trail Blazers (1974–1975) |
7,211 | 1,077 | 6.7 |
17 | Terry Porter | PG | Portland Trail Blazers (1985–1995) Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–1998) Miami Heat (1999) San Antonio Spurs (1999–2002) |
7,160 | 1,274 | 5.6 |
18 | Tim Hardaway | PG | Golden State Warriors (1989–1993, 1994–1996) Miami Heat (1996–2001) Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002) Denver Nuggets (2002) Indiana Pacers (2003) |
7,095 | 867 | 8.2 |
19 | Tony Parker† | PG | San Antonio Spurs (2001–2018) Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019) |
7,036 | 1,254 | 5.6 |
20 | Bob Cousy* | PG | Boston Celtics (1950–1963) Cincinnati Royals (1969–1970) |
6,955 | 924 | 7.5 |
21 | Guy Rodgers* | PG | Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1958–1966) Chicago Bulls (1966–1967) Cincinnati Royals (1967–1968) Milwaukee Bucks (1968–1970) |
6,917 | 892 | 7.8 |
22 | Deron Williams | PG | Utah Jazz (2005–2011) New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets (2011–2015) Dallas Mavericks (2015–2017) Cleveland Cavaliers (2017) |
6,819 | 845 | 8.1 |
23 | Muggsy Bogues | PG | Washington Bullets (1987–1988) Charlotte Hornets (1988–1997) Golden State Warriors (1997–1999) Toronto Raptors (1999–2001) |
6,726 | 889 | 7.6 |
24 | Kevin Johnson | PG | Cleveland Cavaliers (1987–1988) Phoenix Suns (1988–1998, 2000) |
6,711 | 735 | 9.1 |
25 | Derek Harper | PG | Dallas Mavericks (1983–1994, 1996–1997) New York Knicks (1994–1996) Orlando Magic (1997–1998) Los Angeles Lakers (1999) |
6,577 | 1,199 | 5.5 |
26 | Nate Archibald* | PG | Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City(-Omaha) Kings (1970–1976) New York Nets (1976–1977) Buffalo Braves (1977–1978) Boston Celtics (1978–1983) Milwaukee Bucks (1983–1984) |
6,476 | 876 | 7.4 |
27 | Stephon Marbury | PG | Minnesota Timberwolves (1996–1999) New Jersey Nets (1999–2001) Phoenix Suns (2001–2004) New York Knicks (2004–2009) Boston Celtics (2009) |
6,471 | 846 | 7.6 |
28 | John Lucas II | PG | Houston Rockets (1976–1978, 1984–1986, 1989–1990) Golden State Warriors (1978–1981) Washington Bullets (1981–1983) San Antonio Spurs (1983–1984) Milwaukee Bucks (1986–1988) Seattle SuperSonics (1988–1989) |
6,454 | 928 | 7.0 |
29 | Reggie Theus | PG | Chicago Bulls (1978–1984) Kansas City/Sacramento Kings (1984–1988) Atlanta Hawks (1988–1989) Orlando Magic (1989–1990) New Jersey Nets (1990–1991) |
6,453 | 1,026 | 6.3 |
30 | Norm Nixon | PG | Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1983) San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1983–1986, 1989) |
6,386 | 768 | 8.3 |
31 | Kobe Bryant* | SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) | 6,306 | 1,346 | 4.7 |
32 | Kyle Lowry^ | PG | Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2009) Houston Rockets (2009–2012) Toronto Raptors (2012–2021) Miami Heat (2021–present) |
6,250 | 991 | 6.3 |
33 | Jerry West* | PG | Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) | 6,238 | 932 | 6.7 |
34 | Scottie Pippen* | SF | Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004) Houston Rockets (1999) Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003) |
6,135 | 1,178 | 5.2 |
35 | Clyde Drexler* | SG | Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995) Houston Rockets (1995–1998) |
6,125 | 1,086 | 5.6 |
36 | John Havlicek* | SF/SG | Boston Celtics (1962–1978) | 6,114 | 1,270 | 4.8 |
37 | Baron Davis | PG | Charlotte Hornets/New Orleans Hornets (1999–2005) Golden State Warriors (2005–2008) Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2011) Cleveland Cavaliers (2011) New York Knicks (2011–2012) |
6,025 | 835 | 7.2 |
38 | James Harden^ | SG | Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012) Houston Rockets (2012–2021) Brooklyn Nets (2021–present) |
5,990 | 904 | 6.6 |
39 | Mookie Blaylock | PG | New Jersey Nets (1989–1992) Atlanta Hawks (1992–1999) Golden State Warriors (1999–2002) |
5,972 | 889 | 6.7 |
40 | Sam Cassell | PG | Houston Rockets (1993–1996) Phoenix Suns (1996) Dallas Mavericks (1996–1997) New Jersey Nets (1997–1999) Milwaukee Bucks (1999–2003) Minnesota Timberwolves (2003–2005) Los Angeles Clippers (2005–2008) Boston Celtics (2008) |
5,939 | 993 | 6.0 |
41 | Avery Johnson | PG | Seattle SuperSonics (1988–1990) Denver Nuggets (1990, 2001–2002) San Antonio Spurs (1991, 1992–1993, 1994–2001) Houston Rockets (1992) Golden State Warriors (1993–1994, 2003–2004) Dallas Mavericks (2002–2003) |
5,846 | 1,054 | 5.5 |
42 | Nick Van Exel | PG/SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1993–1998) Denver Nuggets (1998–2002) Dallas Mavericks (2002–2003) Golden State Warriors (2003–2004) Portland Trail Blazers (2004–2005) San Antonio Spurs (2005–2006) |
5,777 | 880 | 6.6 |
43 | Dwyane Wade† | SG | Miami Heat (2003–2016, 2018–2019) Chicago Bulls (2016–2017) Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018) |
5,701 | 1,054 | 5.4 |
44 | Larry Bird* | SF/PF | Boston Celtics (1979–1992) | 5,695 | 897 | 6.3 |
45 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* | C | Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975) Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) |
5,660 | 1,560 | 3.6 |
46 | Chauncey Billups | PG/SG | Boston Celtics (1997–1998) Toronto Raptors (1998) Denver Nuggets (1999, 2008–2011) Minnesota Timberwolves (2000–2002) Detroit Pistons (2002–2008, 2013–2014) New York Knicks (2011) Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2013) |
5,636 | 1,043 | 5.4 |
47 | Michael Jordan* | SG | Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998) Washington Wizards (2001–2003) |
5,633 | 1,072 | 5.3 |
48 | Allen Iverson* | SG/PG | Philadelphia 76ers (1996–2006, 2009–2010) Denver Nuggets (2006–2008) Detroit Pistons (2008–2009) Memphis Grizzlies (2009) |
5,624 | 914 | 6.2 |
49 | John Wall^ | PG | Washington Wizards (2010–2020) Houston Rockets (2020–present) |
5,557 | 613 | 9.1 |
50 | Mike Bibby | PG | Vancouver Grizzlies (1999–2001) Sacramento Kings (2001–2008) Atlanta Hawks (2008–2011) Washington Wizards (2011) Miami Heat (2011) New York Knicks (2011–2012) |
5,517 | 1,001 | 5.5 |
Progressive list of assists leaders[]
This is a progressive list of assists leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[2]
- Statistics accurate as of December 26, 2021.
^ | Active NBA player |
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a] |
BOS | Boston Celtics | DET | Detroit Pistons | MIL | Milwaukee Bucks | POR | Portland Trail Blazers | TOR | Toronto Raptors |
BUF | Buffalo Braves | FTW | Fort Wayne Pistons | NJN | New Jersey Nets | PRO | Providence Steamrollers | UTA | Utah Jazz |
CHI | Chicago Bulls | HOU | Houston Rockets | NOH | New Orleans Hornets | ROC | Rochester Royals | WAS | Washington Wizards |
CHS | Chicago Stags | IND | Indiana Pacers | NYK | New York Knicks | SAC | Sacramento Kings | WSB | Washington Bullets |
CIN | Cincinnati Royals | KCO | Kansas City-Omaha Kings | OKC | Oklahoma City Thunder | SAS | San Antonio Spurs | ||
CLE | Cleveland Cavaliers | LAC | Los Angeles Clippers | PHI | Philadelphia 76ers | SDC | San Diego Clippers | ||
DAL | Dallas Mavericks | LAL | Los Angeles Lakers | PHW | Philadelphia Warriors | SEA | Seattle SuperSonics | ||
DEN | Denver Nuggets | MIA | Miami Heat | PHX | Phoenix Suns | SFW | San Francisco Warriors |
Season | Year-by-year leader | AST | Active player leader | AST | Career record | AST | Single-season record | AST | Season |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1946–47 | Ernie CalverleyPRO | 202 | Ernie CalverleyPRO | 202 | Ernie CalverleyPRO | 202 | Ernie CalverleyPRO | 202 | 1946–47 |
1947–48 | Howie DallmarPHW | 120 | 321 | 321 | 1947–48 | ||||
1948–49 | Bob Davies*ROC | 321 | 572 | 572 | Bob Davies*ROC | 321 | 1948–49 | ||
1949–50 | Dick McGuire*NYK | 386 | Andy Phillip* CHS 1949–50 PHW 1950–52 FTW 1952–56 BOS 1956–57 |
770 | Andy Phillip* CHS 1949–50 PHW 1950–52 FTW 1952–56 BOS 1956–57 |
770 | Dick McGuire*NYK | 386 | 1949–50 |
1950–51 | Andy Phillip*PHW | 414 | 1,184 | 1,184 | Andy Phillip*PHW | 414 | 1950–51 | ||
1951–52 | 539 | 1,723 | 1,723 | 539 | 1951–52 | ||||
1952–53 | Bob Cousy*BOS | 547 | 2,120 | 2,120 | Bob Cousy*BOS | 547 | 1952–53 | ||
1953–54 | 518 | 2,569 | 2,569 | 1953–54 | |||||
1954–55 | 557 | 3,060 | 3,060 | 557 | 1954–55 | ||||
1955–56 | 642 | 3,470 | 3,470 | 642 | 1955–56 | ||||
1956–57 | 478 | 3,638 | 3,638 | 1956–57 | |||||
1957–58 | 463 | Bob Cousy*BOS | 3,987 | Bob Cousy*BOS | 3,987 | 1957–58 | |||
1958–59 | 557 | 4,544 | 4,544 | 1958–59 | |||||
1959–60 | 715 | 5,259 | 5,259 | 715 | 1959–60 | ||||
1960–61 | Oscar Robertson*CIN | 690 | 5,846 | 5,846 | 1960–61 | ||||
1961–62 | 899 | 6,430 | 6,430 | Oscar Robertson*CIN | 899 | 1961–62 | |||
1962–63 | Guy Rodgers*SFW | 825 | 6,945 | 6,945 | 1962–63 | ||||
1963–64 | Oscar Robertson*CIN | 868 | Guy Rodgers*SFW | 3,444 | 1963–64 | ||||
1964–65 | 861 | Oscar Robertson* CIN 1964–70 MIL 1970–74 |
4,076 | 1964–65 | |||||
1965–66 | 847 | 4,923 | 1965–66 | ||||||
1966–67 | Guy Rodgers*CHI | 908 | 5,768 | Guy Rodgers*CHI | 908 | 1966–67 | |||
1967–68 | Wilt Chamberlain*PHI | 702 | 6,401 | 1967–68 | |||||
1968–69 | Oscar Robertson*CIN | 772 | 7,173 | Oscar Robertson* CIN 1968–70 MIL 1970–74 |
7,173 | 1968–69 | |||
1969–70 | Lenny Wilkens*SEA | 683 | 7,731 | 7,731 | 1969–70 | ||||
1970–71 | Norm Van LierCIN | 832 | 8,399 | 8,399 | 1970–71 | ||||
1971–72 | Lenny Wilkens*SEA | 766 | 8,890 | 8,890 | 1971–72 | ||||
1972–73 | Nate Archibald*KCO | 910 | 9,441 | 9,441 | Nate Archibald*KCO | 910 | 1972–73 | ||
1973–74 | Ernie DiGregorioBUF | 663 | 9,887 | 9,887 | 1973–74 | ||||
1974–75 | Kevin PorterWSB | 650 | Lenny Wilkens*POR | 7,211 | 1974–75 | ||||
1975–76 | Slick WattsSEA | 661 | John Havlicek*BOS | 5,386 | 1975–76 | ||||
1976–77 | Don BuseIND | 685 | 5,786 | 1976–77 | |||||
1977–78 | Kevin Porter DET & NJN 1977–78 DET 1978–79 |
837 | 6,114 | 1977–78 | |||||
1978–79 | 1,099 | Norm Van LierMIL | 5,217 | Kevin PorterDET | 1,099 | 1978–79 | |||
1979–80 | Micheal Ray RichardsonNYK | 832 | Walt Frazier*CLE | 5,040 | 1979–80 | ||||
1980–81 | Kevin PorterWSB | 734 | Nate Archibald* BOS 1980–83 MIL 1983–84 |
5,366 | 1980–81 | ||||
1981–82 | Johnny MooreSAS | 762 | 5,907 | 1981–82 | |||||
1982–83 | Magic Johnson*LAL | 829 | 6,316 | 1982–83 | |||||
1983–84 | Isiah Thomas*DET Norm NixonSDC |
914 | 6,476 | 1983–84 | |||||
1984–85 | Isiah Thomas*DET | 1,123 | Norm NixonLAC | 5,471 | Isiah Thomas*DET | 1,123 | 1984–85 | ||
1985–86 | Magic Johnson*LAL | 907 | 6,047 | 1985–86 | |||||
1986–87 | 977 | Magic Johnson*LAL | 6,179 | 1986–87 | |||||
1987–88 | John Stockton*UTA | 1,128 | 7,037 | John Stockton*UTA | 1,128 | 1987–88 | |||
1988–89 | 1,118 | 8,025 | 1988–89 | ||||||
1989–90 | 1,134 | 8,932 | 1,134 | 1989–90 | |||||
1990–91 | 1,164 | 9,921 | Magic Johnson*LAL | 9,921 | 1,164 | 1990–91 | |||
1991–92 | 1,126 | Isiah Thomas*DET | 7,991 | 1991–92 | |||||
1992–93 | 987 | 8,662 | 1992–93 | ||||||
1993–94 | 1,031 | John Stockton*UTA | 9,383 | 1993–94 | |||||
1994–95 | 1,011 | 10,394 | John Stockton*UTA | 10,394 | 1994–95 | ||||
1995–96 | 916 | 11,310 | 11,310 | 1995–96 | |||||
1996–97 | Mark JacksonDEN & IND | 935 | 12,170 | 12,170 | 1996–97 | ||||
1997–98 | Rod StricklandWAS | 801 | 12,713 | 12,713 | 1997–98 | ||||
1998–99 | Jason Kidd*PHx | 539 | 13,087 | 13,087 | 1998–99 | ||||
1999–00 | Gary Payton*SEA | 732 | 13,790 | 13,790 | 1999–00 | ||||
2000–01 | Jason Kidd*PHX | 753 | 14,503 | 14,503 | 2000–01 | ||||
2001–02 | Andre MillerCLE | 882 | 15,177 | 15,177 | 2001–02 | ||||
2002–03 | Jason Kidd*NJN | 711 | 15,806 | 15,806 | 2002–03 | ||||
2003–04 | Stephon MarburyPHX | 719 | Mark JacksonHOU | 10,334 | 2003–04 | ||||
2004–05 | Steve Nash*PHX | 861 | Gary Payton* BOS 2004–05 MIA 2005–07 |
8,508 | 2004–05 | ||||
2005–06 | 826 | 8,765 | 2005–06 | ||||||
2006–07 | 884 | 8,966 | 2006–07 | ||||||
2007–08 | Chris Paul^NOH | 925 | Jason Kidd* NJN 2007–08 DAL 2008–12 NYK 2012–13 |
9,497 | 2007–08 | ||||
2008–09 | 861 | 10,199 | 2008–09 | ||||||
2009–10 | Steve Nash*PHX | 892 | 10,923 | 2009–10 | |||||
2010–11 | 855 | 11,578 | 2010–11 | ||||||
2011–12 | 664 | 11,842 | 2011–12 | ||||||
2012–13 | Greivis VásquezNOH | 704 | 12,091 | 2012–13 | |||||
2013–14 | John Wall^WAS | 721 | Steve Nash*LAL | 10,335 | 2013–14 | ||||
2014–15 | Chris Paul^LAC | 838 | Andre Miller SAC 2014–15 MIN 2015–16 SAS 2016 |
8,437 | 2014–15 | ||||
2015–16 | Rajon Rondo^SAC | 839 | 8,524 | 2015–16 | |||||
2016–17 | James Harden^HOU | 907 | Chris Paul^ LAC 2016–17 HOU 2017–19 OKC 2019–20 PHX 2020–21 |
8,251 | 2016–17 | ||||
2017–18 | Russell Westbrook^OKC | 820 | 8,708 | 2017–18 | |||||
2018–19 | 784 | 9,181 | 2018–19 | ||||||
2019–20 | LeBron James^LAL | 684 | 9,653 | 2019–20 | |||||
2020–21 | Russell Westbrook^WAS | 763 | 10,275 | 2020–21 | |||||
2021–22 | Chris Paul^PHX | 316 | 10,591 | 2021–22 | |||||
Season | Year-by-year leader | AST | Active player leader | AST | Career record | AST | Single-season record | AST | Season |
See also[]
- Basketball statistics
- NBA regular season records
- Basketball portal
- Sports portal
Notes[]
- ^ a b A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
- ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
- ^ Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.
References[]
- ^ "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
External links[]
Categories:
- National Basketball Association statistical leaders