List of NBA single-game assists leaders

Last updated

This is a complete listing of National Basketball Association players who have recorded 22 or more assists in a game.

Contents

36 players have recorded 22 or more assists in a game. It has occurred 68 times in the regular season and six times in the playoffs.

John Stockton has performed the feat the most times (13), followed by Kevin Porter (9) and Earvin "Magic" Johnson (8).

Key
^Active NBA player
*Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration [lower-alpha 1]
Bold scoreOccurred in playoff competition
Italicized scorePlayer's team lost the game
MinMinutes playedPts Points Reb Rebounds
Stl Steals Blk Blocks Tov Turnovers
Team FG%Rest of team's field goal percentage (subtracting player's own shooting)
Single-game leaders
AssistsPlayerTeamScoreOpponentDateMinPtsRebStlBlkTovNotes
30 Scott Skiles Orlando Magic 155–116 Denver Nuggets December 30, 199044226204 [lower-alpha 2]
29 Kevin Porter New Jersey Nets 126–112 Houston Rockets February 24, 197848145200 [lower-alpha 3]
28 Bob Cousy * Boston Celtics 173–139 Minneapolis Lakers February 27, 195945315 [lower-alpha 4]
Guy Rodgers * San Francisco Warriors 109–114 St. Louis Hawks March 14, 196348145 [lower-alpha 5]
John Stockton * Utah Jazz 124–102 San Antonio Spurs January 15, 199139203805 [lower-alpha 6]
27 Geoff Huston Cleveland Cavaliers 110–106 Golden State Warriors January 27, 198246241004
John Stockton * (2) Utah Jazz 107–115 New York Knicks December 19, 198936183202 [lower-alpha 7]
26 John Stockton * (3) Utah Jazz 123–128 Portland Trail Blazers April 14, 198845173202
25 Ernie DiGregorio Buffalo Braves 120–119 Portland Trail Blazers January 1, 19744820920 [lower-alpha 8]
Kevin Porter (2) Detroit Pistons 160–119 Boston Celtics March 9, 197937303004
Kevin Porter (3) Detroit Pistons 105–116 Phoenix Suns April 1, 197946133204
Isiah Thomas * Detroit Pistons 124–119 Dallas Mavericks February 13, 198541235205 [lower-alpha 9]
Nate McMillan Seattle SuperSonics 124–112 Los Angeles Clippers February 23, 19874188143 [lower-alpha 10]
Kevin Johnson Phoenix Suns 107–95 San Antonio Spurs April 6, 199441163004
Jason Kidd * Dallas Mavericks 136–133 Utah Jazz February 8, 199649204405 [lower-alpha 11]
Rajon Rondo New Orleans Pelicans 128–113 Brooklyn Nets December 27, 201730:1827103
24 Guy Rodgers * (2) Chicago Bulls 110–107 New York Knicks December 21, 1966180
Kevin Porter (4) Washington Bullets 119–114 Detroit Pistons March 23, 198044121000
John Lucas San Antonio Spurs 157–154 Denver Nuggets April 15, 19842800202 [lower-alpha 12]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * Los Angeles Lakers 118–102 Phoenix Suns May 15, 19843867524 [lower-alpha 13]
Isiah Thomas * (2) Detroit Pistons 126–128 Washington Bullets February 7, 1985502510212 [lower-alpha 14]
John Stockton * (4) Utah Jazz 109–111 Los Angeles Lakers May 17, 198848233503 [lower-alpha 15]
John Stockton * (5) Utah Jazz 102–104 Houston Rockets January 3, 198945261601 [lower-alpha 16]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (2) Los Angeles Lakers 119–105 Denver Nuggets November 17, 198940248613 [lower-alpha 17]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (3) Los Angeles Lakers 118–121 Phoenix Suns January 9, 199045246224 [lower-alpha 18]
Ramon Sessions Milwaukee Bucks 135–151 Chicago Bulls April 14, 200844:27208112 [lower-alpha 19]
Rajon Rondo (2) Boston Celtics 105–101 New York Knicks October 29, 201045:201010107 [lower-alpha 20]
Russell Westbrook ^ Oklahoma City Thunder 147–154 San Antonio Spurs January 10, 201949:352413203 [lower-alpha 21]
Russell Westbrook ^ (2) Washington Wizards 154–141 Indiana Pacers May 3, 202138:381421116 [lower-alpha 22]
23 Jerry West * Los Angeles Lakers 143–133 Philadelphia 76ers February 1, 1967246 [lower-alpha 23]
Kevin Porter (5) Detroit Pistons 131–119 Houston Rockets December 27, 197841203100
Kevin Porter (6) Detroit Pistons 113–124 Los Angeles Lakers March 30, 197943153103
Nate "Tiny" Archibald * Boston Celtics 145–144 Denver Nuggets February 5, 198238154001 [lower-alpha 24]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (4) Los Angeles Lakers 128–112 Seattle SuperSonics February 21, 19843695203 [lower-alpha 25]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (5) Los Angeles Lakers 130–126 Portland Trail Blazers May 3, 198541137106 [lower-alpha 26]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (6) Los Angeles Lakers 114–107 Dallas Mavericks April 20, 198842810018 [lower-alpha 27]
Lafayette "Fat" Lever Denver Nuggets 139–121 Golden State Warriors April 21, 1989421513501 [lower-alpha 28]
John Stockton * (6) Utah Jazz 107–104 Los Angeles Lakers April 12, 199044154303 [lower-alpha 29]
John Stockton * (7) Utah Jazz 105–95 Los Angeles Clippers December 8, 199041273401 [lower-alpha 30]
John Stockton * (8) Utah Jazz 135–108 Golden State Warriors November 29, 199136212214
John Stockton * (9) Utah Jazz 120–106 Minnesota Timberwolves April 17, 19923692504
Daron "Mookie" Blaylock Atlanta Hawks 139–118 Utah Jazz March 6, 199337110402
John Stockton * (10) Utah Jazz 110–102 Portland Trail Blazers April 25, 199641112001 [lower-alpha 31]
Nick Van Exel Los Angeles Lakers 95–82 Vancouver Grizzlies January 5, 199743:3288102 [lower-alpha 32]
Jamaal Tinsley Indiana Pacers 110–103 Washington Wizards November 22, 200145:021911115 [lower-alpha 33]
Steve Nash * Phoenix Suns 113–100 Los Angeles Lakers April 29, 200739:05171213 [lower-alpha 34]
Rajon Rondo (3) Boston Celtics 105–103 San Antonio Spurs January 5, 201143:301210615 [lower-alpha 35]
Tyrese Haliburton ^ Indiana Pacers 140–126 New York Knicks December 30, 202335:43225212
22 Oscar Robertson * Cincinnati Royals 139–132 Syracuse Nationals October 29, 19612611 [lower-alpha 36]
Oscar Robertson * (2) Cincinnati Royals 149–145 New York Knicks March 5, 196653448 [lower-alpha 37]
Art Williams San Diego Rockets 136–126 Phoenix Suns December 28, 19684289
Art Williams (2) San Diego Rockets 141–123 San Francisco Warriors February 14, 19702786
Kevin Porter (7) Washington Bullets 118–112 Atlanta Hawks March 5, 197546142000
Kevin Porter (8) Detroit Pistons 126–130 San Antonio Spurs December 23, 197845101200
Kevin Porter (9) Detroit Pistons 117–124 Chicago Bulls February 27, 197944325404
John Lucas (2) Golden State Warriors 130–137 Denver Nuggets February 27, 198136135124
Allen Leavell Houston Rockets 114–111 New Jersey Nets January 25, 198341247105 [lower-alpha 38]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (7) Los Angeles Lakers 127–114 Cleveland Cavaliers November 17, 198337239312
Ennis Whatley Chicago Bulls 111–113 New York Knicks January 14, 19844185403
Ennis Whatley (2) Chicago Bulls 102–98 Atlanta Hawks March 3, 198437102204 [lower-alpha 39]
John Stockton * (11) Utah Jazz 107–101 Los Angeles Lakers January 8, 198743115102 [lower-alpha 40]
Glenn "Doc" Rivers Atlanta Hawks 118–109 Boston Celtics May 16, 198838144301
John Stockton * (12) Utah Jazz 110–113 Cleveland Cavaliers December 11, 198944142404 [lower-alpha 41]
Earvin "Magic" Johnson * (8) Los Angeles Lakers 123–125 Portland Trail Blazers November 6, 199049246305 [lower-alpha 42]
John Stockton * (13) Utah Jazz 112–98 Philadelphia 76ers December 18, 199232172201 [lower-alpha 43]
Sherman Douglas Boston Celtics 135–112 Philadelphia 76ers April 3, 199446278304
Tim Hardaway * Golden State Warriors 128–131 Orlando Magic December 16, 199445151504 [lower-alpha 44]
Robert Pack New Jersey Nets 114–91 Dallas Mavericks November 23, 199639:13172504
Mark Jackson Denver Nuggets 132–123 New Jersey Nets January 20, 199739:35217002
George McCloud Denver Nuggets 109–104 Chicago Bulls March 26, 200149:2154005 [lower-alpha 45]
Andre Miller Cleveland Cavaliers 91–94 Philadelphia 76ers December 15, 200143:43144904
Steve Nash * (2) Phoenix Suns 133–140 New York Knicks January 2, 200655:28285104 [lower-alpha 46]
Chris Duhon New York Knicks 138–125 Golden State Warriors November 29, 200845:15124103 [lower-alpha 47]
Russell Westbrook ^ (3) Oklahoma City Thunder 114–101 Phoenix Suns December 17, 201634:012611215 [lower-alpha 48]

See also

Notes

  1. 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.
  2. Scott Skiles had 14 assists in the first half, 10 assists in the third quarter, and 6 assists in the fourth quarter. Skiles passed for more than twice as many assists as the opposing team, 30–14.
  3. Kevin Porter passed for more assists than the opposing team, 29–18.
  4. Bob Cousy passed for 19 assists in a half, setting the NBA record, and 12 assists in a quarter, the NBA record at the time. Cousy passed for more assists than the opposing team, 28–15.
  5. Guy Rodgers had 16 assists in one half. For the game, he had more assists than the opposing team, 28–24.
  6. John Stockton had 15 assists in the second half. For the game, he had more assists than the opposing team, 28–27.
  7. Stockton passed for more assists than the opposing team, 27–25.
  8. Ernie DiGregorio established the rookie single-game record.
  9. Isiah Thomas passed for 16 assists in the first half.
  10. Nate McMillan tied Ernie DiGregorio's rookie single-game record. McMillan had 17 assists in the second half. For the game, he passed for more assists than the opposing team, 25–24.
  11. The game went to double overtime. Kidd had more assists than the opposing team, 25–23.
  12. John Lucas did not start in the game. He also did not score in the game. He passed for 14 assists in the second quarter, setting the NBA record. The Spurs had 50 assists as a team. This was also the last game of the regular season.
  13. Magic Johnson had 13 assists in the second half, setting a playoff record at the time.
  14. Isiah Thomas registered a triple-double. The game went to double overtime.
  15. John Stockton had 14 assists in the first half.
  16. Stockton passed for more assists than the opposing team, 24–22.
  17. Magic Johnson passed for more assists than the opposing team, 24–15.
  18. Magic Johnson had 16 assists in the first half. The game went to overtime.
  19. Ramon Sessions was a rookie. His 24 assists were one shy of the rookie record.
  20. Rajon Rondo registered a triple-double and tied the opposing team in assists total.
  21. Russell Westbrook registered a triple-double. The game went to double overtime.
  22. Russell Westbrook registered a triple-double.
  23. Jerry West's teammate Elgin Baylor scored 44 points in the same game.
  24. The Celtics scored 50 points in the first quarter and 85 points in the first half.
  25. Magic Johnson had 12 assists in the first quarter, tying the NBA record at the time. He also had 18 assists in the first half.
  26. Magic Johnson had 15 assists in the first half, setting the playoff record.
  27. Magic Johnson tied the opposing team in assists, 23–23.
  28. Fat Lever registered a triple-double.
  29. The game marked the second time that Karl Malone scored 40 or more points and Stockton had 20 or more assists in the same game. Stockton had more assists than the opposing team, 23–20.
  30. Stockton had more assists than the opposing team, 23–22.
  31. Stockton had 14 assists in the second half. For the game, he had more assists than the opposing team, 23–20.
  32. Nick Van Exel had more assists than the opposing team, 23–21.
  33. Jamaal Tinsley had a triple-double. He was also a rookie.
  34. Steve Nash passed for 15 assists in the first half, tying the playoff record. For the game, he had more assists than the opposing team, 23–21.
  35. Rajon Rondo had a triple-double. Rondo had 21 assists after three quarters. For the game, he had more assists than the opposing team, 23–20.
  36. Oscar Robertson had a triple-double.
  37. The game went to overtime.
  38. Allen Leavell tied the opposing team in assists, 22–22.
  39. Ennis Whatley passed for more assists than the opposing team, 22–18.
  40. John Stockton passed for more assists than the opposing team, 22–18.
  41. The game went to overtime.
  42. The game went to overtime.
  43. John Stockton passed for more assists than the opposing team, 22–21.
  44. The game went to overtime.
  45. The game went to overtime.
  46. The game went to triple overtime.
  47. Chris Duhon passed for more assists than the opposing team, 22–21.
  48. Russell Westbrook registered a triple-double. He passed for more assists than the opposing team, 22–16.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Kidd</span> American basketball player and coach (born 1973)

Jason Frederick Kidd is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Widely regarded as one of the greatest point guards of all time, Kidd was a 10-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA First Team member, and a nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He won an NBA championship in 2011 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and was a two-time gold medal winner in the Olympics with the U.S. national team in 2000 and 2008. He was inducted as a player into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In October 2021, Kidd was honored as one of the league's greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1989 NBA Finals</span> 1989 basketball championship series

The 1989 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1988–89 National Basketball Association (NBA) season, and the conclusion of the 1989 NBA Playoffs. The series was a rematch of the previous year's championship round between the Eastern Conference playoff champion Detroit Pistons and the defending NBA champion and Western Conference playoff champion Los Angeles Lakers. This, along with the 1983 NBA Finals, were the only two NBA championships of the 1980s not to be won by either the Lakers or the Boston Celtics; every NBA Finals of that decade featured either the Lakers or Celtics, and sometimes both. Coincidentally, the Lakers were also swept in the 1983 NBA Finals, that time by the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 1984 NBA Finals was the championship round of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 1983–84 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeated the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. Celtics forward Larry Bird averaged 27 points and 14 rebounds a game during the series, earning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajon Rondo</span> American basketball player (born 1986)

Rajon Pierre Rondo is an American former professional basketball player. A point guard, Rondo played two years of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats before being drafted 21st overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 NBA draft and subsequently traded to the Celtics in a draft-day trade. Rondo is a two-time NBA champion, four-time NBA All-Star, has earned four NBA All-Defensive Team honors including two First Team honors, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russell Westbrook</span> American basketball player (born 1988)

Russell Westbrook III is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A point guard, Westbrook made his NBA debut in 2008 and became a star as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has played for five NBA teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 NBA All-Star Game</span> Exhibition basketball game

The 2011 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game that was played on February 20, 2011, during the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2010–11 season. It was the 60th edition of the NBA All-Star Game, and was played at Staples Center in Los Angeles, home of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Western Conference defeated the Eastern Conference, 148–143. Kobe Bryant was named the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wall</span> American basketball player (born 1990)

Johnathan Hildred Wall Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Wall was chosen with the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft by the Washington Wizards after playing one year of college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. Wall, who plays the point guard position, was a five-time NBA All-Star from 2014 to 2018 and was named to the All-NBA Team in 2017. However, he experienced multiple injuries in 2019 and missed more than two years of basketball before being traded to the Houston Rockets in December 2020. After two seasons with the Rockets he joined the Clippers via free agency in the 2022 off-season before being dealt back to the Rockets with whom he reached a buyout in February 2023.

The 2012 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2011–12 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeating the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals. LeBron James was named NBA Finals MVP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elfrid Payton (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

Elfrid Payton Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League. He played college basketball at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where in 2014 he won the Lefty Driesell Award as the National College Defensive Player of the Year. Payton was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, but was then traded to the Orlando Magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikola Jokić</span> Serbian basketball player (born 1995)

Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who is a center for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Joker", he is regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time, and is often considered the greatest draft steal in NBA history. A six-time NBA All-Star, Jokić has been named to the All-NBA Team on six occasions, and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons. He represents the Serbian national team, with which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Angelo Russell</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

D'Angelo Russell, nicknamed "DLo", is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected as a McDonald's All-American in 2014 and played college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was selected second overall in the 2015 NBA draft by the Lakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luka Dončić</span> Slovenian basketball player (born 1999)

Luka Dončić is a Slovenian professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Luka Magic", he also plays for the Slovenia national team and is regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time.

The 2015–16 Oklahoma City Thunder season was the 8th season of the franchise in Oklahoma City and the 50th in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the first under head coach Billy Donovan. After coming just short of making the playoffs the previous season, the Thunder won the Northwest Division and clinched the third seed in the Western Conference. In the playoffs, the Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games in the First Round, and the San Antonio Spurs in six games in the Semifinals before reaching the Western Conference finals for the fourth time in a span of six seasons, but were eliminated by the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors in seven games after leading the series 3–1.

The 2016–17 NBA season was the 71st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 25, 2016, with the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers hosting a game against the New York Knicks. The 2017 NBA All-Star Game was played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 19, 2017, with the West defeating the East 192–182. Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans was named the All Star Game MVP after breaking Wilt Chamberlain's record by scoring 52 points in the All Star Game. The original host of the game, Charlotte's Spectrum Center, was removed as the host on July 21, 2016, due to the league's opposition against North Carolina's Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. The regular season ended on April 12, 2017, and the playoffs began on April 15, 2017, and ended on June 12, 2017, with the Golden State Warriors going 16–1 in the playoffs and beating the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games during their third consecutive matchup in the NBA Finals. This was the last season for the NBA to use Adidas jerseys. Starting with the 2017-18 NBA season, the jerseys were from Nike. Additionally, Kevin Durant signed with the Golden State Warriors, and Dwyane Wade with the Chicago Bulls, after playing their entire careers until then with one team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder is an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was established in 2008 when the Sonics left Seattle.

The 2020–21 Phoenix Suns season was their 53rd season as a franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 28th season at the Footprint Center. The Suns achieved their first winning season since the 2013–14 season after a 134–106 win over the Washington Wizards on April 10, 2021. The Suns then clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2010 following a 109-101 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 28, 2021. They also clinched the Pacific Division for the first time since 2007. They finished 51-21, with a winning percentage that, in a full 82-game season, would be equivalent to 58 wins.

References