List of NBA annual assists leaders explained

In basketball, an assist is a pass to a teammate that directly leads to a score by field goal.^[1] The National Basketball Association's (NBA) assist title is awarded to the player with the highest assists per game average in a given season. The assists title was first recognized in the 1946–47 season when statistics on assists were first compiled by the Basketball Association of America (BAA), predecessor of the NBA.^[2] To qualify for the assist title, the player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as the annual assists leader if his assist total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season.^[3] The assists title was originally determined by assist total through the 1968–69 season, after which assists per game was used to determine the leader instead.

John Stockton holds the all-time records for total assists (1,164) and assists per game (14.54) in a season, achieved in the 1990–91 and 1989–90 seasons respectively.^[2] Mark Jackson holds the rookie records for total assists and assists per game when he had 868 and averaged 10.6 in the 1987–88 season.^{[2] [4]} Among active players, Chris Paul had the highest season assists total (925) in the 2007–08 season and Russell Westbrook had the highest season assists average (11.74) in the 2020–21 season.

Stockton has the most assists titles in his career, with nine. Bob Cousy won eight assists titles, while Oscar Robertson won six. Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash have five assists titles, while Kevin Porter and Magic Johnson each won four. Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook have three, while Andy Phillip, Guy Rodgers and James Harden are the only other players with multiple titles. Stockton also won the most consecutive assists titles, with nine. Four players have won both the assists title and the NBA championship in the same season: Cousy in 1957 and from 1959 to 1960 with the Boston Celtics; Jerry West in 1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers; Johnson in 1987 with the Lakers, and LeBron James with the Lakers in 2020.^[5]

Key

^	Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
‡	Denotes player who won the MVP award that year
Player (X)		Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season
G	Guard		F	Forward	C	Center

Annual leaders

Season	Player	Position	Team	Games played	Total assists	Assists per game	References
		G	Providence Steamrollers	59	202	3.42	[6] [7]
		F	Philadelphia Warriors	48	120	2.50	[8]
		G/F	Rochester Royals	60	321	5.35	[9]
		G	New York Knicks	68	386	5.68	[10]
		G/F	Philadelphia Warriors	66	414	6.27	[11]
	(2)	G/F	Philadelphia Warriors	66	539	8.17
		G	Boston Celtics	71	547	7.70	[12]
	(2)	G	Boston Celtics	72	518	7.19
	(3)	G	Boston Celtics	71	557	7.85
	(4)	G	Boston Celtics	72	642	8.92
‡	(5)	G	Boston Celtics	64	478	7.47
	(6)	G	Boston Celtics	65	463	7.12
	(7)	G	Boston Celtics	65	557	8.57
	(8)	G	Boston Celtics	75	715	9.53
		G	Cincinnati Royals	71	690	9.72	[13]
	(2)	G	Cincinnati Royals	79	899	11.38
		G	San Francisco Warriors	79	825	10.44	[14]
‡	(3)	G	Cincinnati Royals	79	868	10.99
	(4)	G	Cincinnati Royals	75	861	11.48
	(5)	G	Cincinnati Royals	76	847	11.14
	(2)	G	Chicago Bulls	81	908	11.21
‡		C	Philadelphia 76ers	82	702	8.56	[15]
	(6)	G	Cincinnati Royals	79	772	9.77
		G	Seattle SuperSonics	75	683	9.11	[16] [17]
		G	Cincinnati Royals	82	832	10.15	[18] [19]
		G	Los Angeles Lakers	77	747	9.70	[20] [21]
		G	Kansas City–Omaha Kings	80	910	11.38	[22] [23]
		G	Buffalo Braves	81	663	8.19	[24] [25]
		G	Washington Bullets	81	650	8.02	[26] [27]
		G	Seattle SuperSonics	82	661	8.06	[28] [29]
		G	Indiana Pacers	81	685	8.46	[30] [31]
	(2)	G	Detroit Pistons New Jersey Nets	82	837	10.21	[32]
	(3)	G	Detroit Pistons	82	1,099	13.40	[33]
		G/F	New York Knicks	82	835	10.15	[34] [35]
	(4)	G	Washington Bullets	81	734	9.06	[36]
		G	San Antonio Spurs	79	762	9.65	[37] [38]
		G	Los Angeles Lakers	79	829	10.49	[39] [40]
	(2)	G	Los Angeles Lakers	67	875	13.06	[41]
		G	Detroit Pistons	81	1,123	13.86	[42] [43]
	(3)	G	Los Angeles Lakers	72	907	12.60	[44]
‡	(4)	G	Los Angeles Lakers	80	977	12.21	[45]
		G	Utah Jazz	82	1,128	13.76	[46] [47]
	(2)	G	Utah Jazz	82	1,118	13.63	[48]
	(3)	G	Utah Jazz	78	1,134	14.54	[49]
	(4)	G	Utah Jazz	82	1,164	14.20	[50]
	(5)	G	Utah Jazz	82	1,126	13.73	<	-- [51] -->
	(6)	G	Utah Jazz	82	987	12.04	[52]
	(7)	G	Utah Jazz	82	1,031	12.57	[53]
	(8)	G	Utah Jazz	82	1,011	12.33	[54]
	(9)	G	Utah Jazz	82	916	11.17	[55]
		G	Denver Nuggets Indiana Pacers	82	935	11.40	[56] [57]
		G	Washington Wizards	76	801	10.54	[58] [59]
		G	Phoenix Suns	50	539	10.78	[60] [61]
	(2)	G	Phoenix Suns	67	678	10.12	[62]
	(3)	G	Phoenix Suns	77	753	9.78	[63]
		G	Cleveland Cavaliers	81	882	10.89	[64] [65]
	(4)	G	New Jersey Nets	80	711	8.89	[66]
	(5)	G	New Jersey Nets	67	618	9.22	[67]
‡		G	Phoenix Suns	75	861	11.48	[68] [69]
‡	(2)	G	Phoenix Suns	79	826	10.46	[70]
	(3)	G	Phoenix Suns	76	884	11.63	[71]
	^	G	New Orleans Hornets	80	925	11.56	[72] [73]
	^ (2)	G	New Orleans Hornets	78	861	11.04
	(4)	G	Phoenix Suns	81	892	11.01
	(5)	G	Phoenix Suns	74	845	11.42
	†	G	Boston Celtics	53	620	11.70	[74]
	† (2)	G	Boston Celtics	38	420	11.05
	^ (3)	G	Los Angeles Clippers	62	663	10.69
	^ (4)	G	Los Angeles Clippers	82	838	10.20
	† (3)	G	Sacramento Kings	72	839	11.70
	^	G	Houston Rockets	81	907	11.20	[75]
	^	G	Oklahoma City Thunder	80	820	10.25	[76]
	^ (2)	G	Oklahoma City Thunder	73	784	10.74
	^	G/F	Los Angeles Lakers	67	684	10.21	[77]
	^ (3)	G	Washington Wizards	65	763	11.74
	^ (5)	G	Phoenix Suns	65	702	10.80
	^ (2)	G	Philadelphia 76ers	58	618	10.66
	^	G	Indiana Pacers	69	752	10.90	[78]

Multiple-time leaders

Rank	Player	Team	Times leader	Years
1	John Stockton	Utah Jazz	9	,,,,,,,,
2	Bob Cousy	Boston Celtics	8	,,,,,,,
3	Oscar Robertson	Cincinnati Royals	6	,,,,,
4	Jason Kidd	Phoenix Suns (3) / New Jersey Nets (2)	5	,,,,
		New Orleans Hornets (2) / Los Angeles Clippers (2) / Phoenix Suns (1)		,,,,
	Steve Nash	Phoenix Suns		,,,,
7	Magic Johnson	Los Angeles Lakers	4	,,,
	Kevin Porter	Washington Bullets (2) / Detroit Pistons (1) / New Jersey Nets (1)		,,,
9	Rajon Rondo	Boston Celtics (2) / Sacramento Kings (1)	3	,,
		Oklahoma City Thunder (2) / Washington Wizards (1)		,,
11	James Harden	Houston Rockets (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (1)	2	,
	Andy Phillip	Philadelphia Warriors		,
	Guy Rodgers	San Francisco Warriors (1) / Chicago Bulls (1)		,

See also

• NBA records
• List of National Basketball Association career assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual field goal percentage leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual minutes played leaders
• List of NBA Most Valuable players per season

References

General

• Web site: Yearly Leaders and Records for Assists Per Game. Basketball Reference. February 27, 2010. May 9, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120509154016/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/ast_per_g_yearly.html. live.

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: Basketball glossary. https://web.archive.org/web/20100516175956/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/baskBasi/glos.asp. dead. May 16, 2010. FIBA.com. March 5, 2010.
2. Web site: Regular Season Records: Assists. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. March 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160511044308/http://www.nba.com/history/nba-all-time-records/index.html. May 11, 2016. dead.
3. Web site: Rate Statistic Requirements. basketball-reference.com. February 6, 2020. May 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130514040849/http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/rate_stat_req.html. live.
4. Web site: Mark Jackson is Unanimous Choice. Rome News-Tribune. March 5, 2010. May 6, 1988. May 12, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220512003624/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PlgvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OzYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6445%2C2052929. live.
5. Web site: NBA Honors: Assists Leaders, Year by Year. Land of Basketball. October 15, 2020. February 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240213160450/https://www.landofbasketball.com/awards/nba_assists_leader_year.htm. live.
6. Web site: 2013-14 Official NBA Guide. Gardella. John. 2013. 131. NBA Properties. March 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20160313052807/https://turnernbahangtime.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/2013-nba-guide.pdf. March 13, 2016. dead.
7. c/calveer01. Ernie Calverley. February 27, 2010.
8. d/dallmho01. Howie Dallmar. December 30, 2013.
9. d/daviebo01. Bob Davies. February 27, 2010.
10. m/mcguidi01. Dick McGuire. December 30, 2013.
11. p/phillan01. Andy Phillip. February 27, 2010.
12. c/cousybo01. Bob Cousy. February 27, 2010.
13. r/roberos01. Oscar Robertson. February 27, 2010.
14. r/rodgegu01. Guy Rodgers. February 27, 2010.
15. c/chambwi01. Wilt Chamberlain. December 30, 2013.
16. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1969–70. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022012338/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19691970.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
17. w/wilkele01. Lenny Wilkens. February 27, 2010.
18. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1970–71. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091918/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19701971.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
19. v/vanlino01. Norm Van Lier. February 27, 2010.
20. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1971–72. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095203/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19711972.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
21. w/westje01. Jerry West. February 27, 2010.
22. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1972–73. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407114234/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19721973.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
23. a/architi01. Nate Archibald. February 27, 2010.
24. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1973–74. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407114239/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19731974.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
25. d/digreer01. Ernie DiGregorio. February 27, 2010.
26. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1974–75. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160322043957/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/digreer01.html. March 22, 2016. dead.
27. p/porteke01. Kevin Porter. February 27, 2010.
28. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1975–76. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315083018/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/porteke01.html. March 15, 2016. dead.
29. w/wattssl01. Slick Watts. February 27, 2010.
30. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1976–77. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095133/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19761977.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
31. b/busedo01. Don Buse. February 27, 2010.
32. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1977–78. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407114243/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19771978.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
33. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1978–79. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095139/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19781979.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
34. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1979–80. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095148/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19791980.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
35. r/richami01. Micheal Ray Richardson. February 27, 2010.
36. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1980–81. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091815/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19801981.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
37. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1981–82. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091803/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19811982.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
38. m/moorejo01. Johnny Moore. February 27, 2010.
39. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1982–83. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095157/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19821983.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
40. j/johnsma02. Magic Johnson. February 27, 2010.
41. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1983–84. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407114250/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19831984.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
42. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1984–85. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407114254/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19841985.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
43. t/thomais01. Isiah Thomas. February 27, 2010.
44. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1985–86. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095136/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19851986.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
45. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1986–87. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091739/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19861987.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
46. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1987–88. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091908/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19871988.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
47. s/stockjo01. John Stockton. February 27, 2010.
48. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1988–89. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091733/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19881989.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
49. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1989–90. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091925/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19891990.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
50. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1990–91. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095135/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19901991.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
51. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1991–92. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010.
52. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1992–93. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091851/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19921993.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
53. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1993–94. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091851/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19921993.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
54. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1994–95. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407114300/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19941995.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
55. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1995–96. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091814/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19951996.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
56. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1996–97. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091814/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19951996.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
57. j/jacksma01. Mark Jackson. February 27, 2010.
58. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1997–98. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091724/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19971998.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
59. s/stricro02. Rod Strickland. February 27, 2010.
60. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1998–99. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091921/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19981999.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
61. k/kiddja01. Jason Kidd. February 27, 2010.
62. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 1999–2000. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091844/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/19992000.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
63. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2000–01. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095115/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/20002001.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
64. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2001–02. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095115/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/20002001.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
65. m/millean02. Andre Miller. February 27, 2010.
66. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2002–03. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160405101149/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/millean02.html. April 5, 2016. dead.
67. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2003–04. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091748/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/20032004.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
68. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2004–05. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091837/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/20042005.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
69. n/nashst01. Steve Nash. February 27, 2010.
70. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2005–06. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160509143623/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nashst01.html. May 9, 2016. dead.
71. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2006–07. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095211/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/20062007.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
72. Web site: League Leaders: Assists – 2007–08. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091849/http://www.nba.com/history/assists/20072008.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
73. p/paulch01. Chris Paul. February 27, 2010.
74. r/rondora01. Rajon Rondo. April 26, 2012.
75. h/hardeja01. James Harden. April 13, 2017.
76. w/westbru01. Russell Westbrook. April 12, 2018.
77. j/jamesle01. LeBron James. September 7, 2020.
78. h/halibty01. Tyrese Haliburton. April 14, 2024.