List of NBA 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

[edit]

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season assists recorded.

Statistics accurate as of November 19, 2024.[1]
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
John Stockton has the most assists in NBA history, and he is the only player to reach 15,000 assists. Stockton is also the all-time leader in steals.
Jason Kidd has the second-most assists and the second-most steals in NBA history, having led the NBA in assists during five separate seasons.
Chris Paul has the third-most assists in NBA history and has the most assists among active NBA players.
In addition to having the fourth-most assists in NBA history, LeBron James is also the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. No other player is in the top ten for both categories.
Steve Nash has the fifth-most assists in NBA history, and he is the only player in NBA history to achieve the 50–40–90 club four times.
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 Hornets (2005–2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)
Houston Rockets (2017–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)
Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)
Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)
San Antonio Spurs (2024–present) 		12,022 1,287 9.3
4 LeBron James^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)
Miami Heat (2010–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present) 		11,141 1,506 7.4
5 Steve Nash* PG Phoenix Suns (1996–1998, 2004–2012)
Dallas Mavericks (1998–2004)
Los Angeles Lakers (2012–2015) 		10,335 1,217 8.5
6 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
7 Magic Johnson* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996) 10,141 906 11.2
8 Oscar Robertson* PG Cincinnati Royals (1960–1970)
Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974) 		9,887 1,040 9.5
9 Russell Westbrook^ PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)
Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024)
Denver Nuggets (2024–present) 		9,546 1,175 8.1
10 Isiah Thomas* PG Detroit Pistons (1981–1994) 9,061 979 9.3
11 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
12 Andre Miller PG Cleveland Cavaliers (1999–2002)
Los Angeles Clippers (2002–2003)
Denver Nuggets (2003–2006, 2011–2014)
Philadelphia 76ers (2006–2009)
Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Sacramento Kings (2015)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2016)
San Antonio Spurs (2016) 		8,524 1,304 6.5
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 James Harden^ SG/PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)
Houston Rockets (2012–2021)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present) 		7,764 1,087 7.1
15 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, 2021–2022)
Atlanta Hawks (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Clippers (2021)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2022) 		7,584 957 7.9
16 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
17 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
18 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
19 Tim Hardaway* PG Golden State Warriors (1989–1996)
Miami Heat (1996–2001)
Dallas Mavericks (2001–2002)
Denver Nuggets (2002)
Indiana Pacers (2003) 		7,095 867 8.2
20 Kyle Lowry^ PG Memphis Grizzlies (2006–2009)
Houston Rockets (2009–2012)
Toronto Raptors (2012–2021)
Miami Heat (2021–2024)
Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present) 		7,047 1,151 6.1
21 Tony Parker* PG San Antonio Spurs (2001–2018)
Charlotte Hornets (2018–2019) 		7,036 1,254 5.6
22 Bob Cousy* PG Boston Celtics (1950–1963)
Cincinnati Royals (1969–1970) 		6,955 924 7.5
23 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
24 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
25 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
26 Kevin Johnson PG Cleveland Cavaliers (1987–1988)
Phoenix Suns (1988–1998, 2000) 		6,711 735 9.1
27 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
28 Nate Archibald* PG Cincinnati Royals/Kansas City(-Omaha) Kings (1970–1976)
New York Nets (1976–1977)
Boston Celtics (1978–1983)
Milwaukee Bucks (1983–1984) 		6,476 876 7.4
29 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
30 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
31 Reggie Theus SG/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
32 Norm Nixon PG Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1983)
San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1983–1989) 		6,386 768 8.3
33 Mike Conley^ PG Memphis Grizzlies (2007–2019)
Utah Jazz (2019–2023)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2023–present) 		6,368 1,114 5.7
34 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) 6,306 1,346 4.7
35 Jrue Holiday^ PG Philadelphia 76ers (2009–2013)
New Orleans Pelicans (2013–2020)
Milwaukee Bucks (2020–2023)
Boston Celtics (2023–present) 		6,257 989 6.3
36 Jerry West* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1960–1974) 6,238 932 6.7
37 Stephen Curry^ PG Golden State Warriors (2009–present) 6,183 966 6.4
38 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003) 		6,135 1,178 5.2
39 Clyde Drexler* SG Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998) 		6,125 1,086 5.6
40 John Havlicek* SF/SG Boston Celtics (1962–1978) 6,114 1,270 4.8
41 Baron Davis PG Charlotte Hornets (1999–2002)
New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005)
Golden State Warriors (2005–2008)
Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2011)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2011)
New York Knicks (2011–2012) 		6,025 835 7.2
42 Mookie Blaylock PG New Jersey Nets (1989–1992)
Atlanta Hawks (1992–1999)
Golden State Warriors (1999–2002) 		5,972 889 6.7
43 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 (2008–2009) 		5,939 993 6.0
44 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
45 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
46 Damian Lillard^ PG Portland Trail Blazers (2012–2023)
Milwaukee Bucks (2023–present) 		5,735 853 6.7
John Wall† PG Washington Wizards (2010–2020)
Houston Rockets (2020–2022)
Los Angeles Clippers (2022–2023) 		647 8.9
48 Dwyane Wade* SG Miami Heat (2003–2016, 2018–2019)
Chicago Bulls (2016–2017)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018) 		5,701 1,054 5.4
49 Larry Bird* SF/PF Boston Celtics (1979–1992) 5,695 897 6.3
50 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1969–1975)
Los Angeles Lakers (1975–1989) 		5,660 1,560 3.6

Progressive list of assists leaders

[edit]

This is a progressive list of assists leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[2]

Statistics accurate as of November 19, 2024.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a]
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATL Atlanta Hawks DEN Denver Nuggets LAL Los Angeles Lakers PHW Philadelphia Warriors SEA Seattle SuperSonics
BOS Boston Celtics DET Detroit Pistons MIA Miami Heat PHX Phoenix Suns SFW San Francisco Warriors
BUF Buffalo Braves FTW Fort Wayne Pistons MIL Milwaukee Bucks POR Portland Trail Blazers TOR Toronto Raptors
CHI Chicago Bulls GSW Golden State Warriors NJN New Jersey Nets PRO Providence Steamrollers UTA Utah Jazz
CHS Chicago Stags HOU Houston Rockets NOH New Orleans Hornets ROC Rochester Royals WAS Washington Wizards
CIN Cincinnati Royals IND Indiana Pacers NYK New York Knicks SAC Sacramento Kings WSB Washington Bullets
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers KCO Kansas City–Omaha Kings OKC Oklahoma City Thunder SAS San Antonio Spurs
DAL Dallas Mavericks LAC Los Angeles Clippers PHI Philadelphia 76ers SDC San Diego Clippers
John Stockton has the most assists in NBA history. He is the first to surpass 10,000 career assists and the only player to reach 15,000.
Magic Johnson held the career assists record from 1991 to 1995.
Oscar Robertson held the record from 1969 to 1991.
Bob Cousy held the record from 1957 to 1969 and is the first player to eclipse 5,000 career assists.
Ernie Calverley held the record from the league's inaugural season to 1949.
Assists leaders and records at the end of every season
Season Year-by-year leader AST Active player leader AST Career record AST Single-season record AST Season
1946–47 Ernie Calverley000PRO 202 Ernie Calverley000PRO 202 Ernie Calverley000PRO 202 Ernie Calverley000PRO 202 1946–47
1947–48 Howie Dallmar000PHW 120 321 321 1947–48
1948–49 Bob Davies*000ROC 321 572 572 Bob Davies*000ROC 321 1948–49
1949–50 Dick McGuire*000NYK 386 Andy Phillip*
000CHS 1949–50
000PHW 1950–52
000FTW 1952–56
000BOS 1956–57		 770 Andy Phillip*
000CHS 1949–50
000PHW 1950–52
000FTW 1952–56
000BOS 1956–57		 770 Dick McGuire*000NYK 386 1949–50
1950–51 Andy Phillip*000PHW 414 1,184 1,184 Andy Phillip*000PHW 414 1950–51
1951–52 539 1,723 1,723 539 1951–52
1952–53 Bob Cousy*000BOS 547 2,120 2,120 Bob Cousy*000BOS 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*000BOS 3,987 Bob Cousy*000BOS 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*000CIN 690 5,846 5,846 1960–61
1961–62 899 6,430 6,430 Oscar Robertson*000CIN 899 1961–62
1962–63 Guy Rodgers*000SFW 825 6,945 6,945 1962–63
1963–64 Oscar Robertson*000CIN 868 Guy Rodgers*000SFW 3,444 1963–64
1964–65 861 Oscar Robertson*
000CIN 1964–70
000MIL 1970–74		 4,076 1964–65
1965–66 847 4,923 1965–66
1966–67 Guy Rodgers*000CHI 908 5,768 Guy Rodgers*000CHI 908 1966–67
1967–68 Wilt Chamberlain*000PHI 702 6,401 1967–68
1968–69 Oscar Robertson*000CIN 772 7,173 Oscar Robertson*
000CIN 1968–70
000MIL 1970–74		 7,173 1968–69
1969–70 Lenny Wilkens*000SEA 683 7,731 7,731 1969–70
1970–71 Norm Van Lier000CIN 832 8,399 8,399 1970–71
1971–72 Lenny Wilkens*000SEA 766 8,890 8,890 1971–72
1972–73 Nate Archibald*000KCO 910 9,441 9,441 Nate Archibald*000KCO 910 1972–73
1973–74 Ernie DiGregorio000BUF 663 9,887 9,887 1973–74
1974–75 Kevin Porter000WSB 650 Lenny Wilkens*000POR 7,211 1974–75
1975–76 Slick Watts000SEA 661 John Havlicek*000BOS 5,386 1975–76
1976–77 Don Buse000IND 685 5,786 1976–77
1977–78 Kevin Porter
0DET & NJN 1977–78
0DET 1978–79		 837 6,114 1977–78
1978–79 1,099 Norm Van Lier000MIL 5,217 Kevin Porter000DET 1,099 1978–79
1979–80 Micheal Ray Richardson000NYK 832 Walt Frazier*000CLE 5,040 1979–80
1980–81 Kevin Porter000WSB 734 Nate Archibald*
000BOS 1980–83
000MIL 1983–84		 5,366 1980–81
1981–82 Johnny Moore000SAS 762 5,907 1981–82
1982–83 Magic Johnson*000LAL 829 6,316 1982–83
1983–84 Norm Nixon000SDC 914 6,476 1983–84
1984–85 Isiah Thomas*000DET 1,123 Norm Nixon000LAC 5,471 Isiah Thomas*000DET 1,123 1984–85
1985–86 Magic Johnson*000LAL 907 6,047 1985–86
1986–87 977 Magic Johnson*000LAL 6,179 1986–87
1987–88 John Stockton*000UTA 1,128 7,037 John Stockton*000UTA 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*000LAL 9,921 1,164 1990–91
1991–92 1,126 Isiah Thomas*000DET 7,991 1991–92
1992–93 987 8,662 1992–93
1993–94 1,031 John Stockton*000UTA 9,383 1993–94
1994–95 1,011 10,394 John Stockton*000UTA 10,394 1994–95
1995–96 916 11,310 11,310 1995–96
1996–97 Mark Jackson000DEN & IND 935 12,170 12,170 1996–97
1997–98 Rod Strickland000WAS 801 12,713 12,713 1997–98
1998–99 Jason Kidd*000PHX 539 13,087 13,087 1998–99
1999–00 Gary Payton*000SEA 732 13,790 13,790 1999–00
2000–01 Jason Kidd*000PHX 753 14,503 14,503 2000–01
2001–02 Andre Miller000CLE 882 15,177 15,177 2001–02
2002–03 Jason Kidd*000NJN 711 15,806 15,806 2002–03
2003–04 Stephon Marbury000PHX 719 Mark Jackson000HOU 10,334 2003–04
2004–05 Steve Nash*000PHX 861 Gary Payton*
000BOS 2004–05
000MIA 2005–07		 8,508 2004–05
2005–06 826 8,765 2005–06
2006–07 884 8,966 2006–07
2007–08 Chris Paul^000NOH 925 Jason Kidd*
000NJN 2007–08
000DAL 2008–12
000NYK 2012–13		 9,497 2007–08
2008–09 861 10,199 2008–09
2009–10 Steve Nash*000PHX 892 10,923 2009–10
2010–11 855 11,578 2010–11
2011–12 664 11,842 2011–12
2012–13 Greivis Vásquez000NOH 704 12,091 2012–13
2013–14 John Wall†000WAS 721 Steve Nash*000LAL 10,335 2013–14
2014–15 Chris Paul^000LAC 838 Andre Miller
000SAC 2014–15
000MIN 2015–16
000SAS 2016		 8,437 2014–15
2015–16 Rajon Rondo†000SAC 839 8,524 2015–16
2016–17 James Harden^000HOU 907 Chris Paul^
000LAC 2016–17
000HOU 2017–19
000OKC 2019–20
000PHX 2020–23
000GSW 2023–24
000SAS 2024–		 8,251 2016–17
2017–18 Russell Westbrook^000OKC 820 8,708 2017–18
2018–19 784 9,181 2018–19
2019–20 LeBron James^000LAL 684 9,653 2019–20
2020–21 Russell Westbrook^000WAS 763 10,275 2020–21
2021–22 Trae Young^000ATL 737 10,977 2021–22
2022–23 741 11,501 2022–23
2023–24 Tyrese Haliburton^000IND 752 11,894 2023–24
2024–25 Trae Young^000ATL 163 12,022 2024–25
Season Year-by-year leader AST Active player leader AST Career record AST Single-season record AST Season


See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NBA & ABA Career Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
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