List of National Basketball Association career playoff assists leaders

This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff assists recorded.

A progressive list of assist leaders showing how the record increased through the years.^[1]

Playoff Assist Leaders

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff assists recorded.^[2]

Statistics accurate as of the conclusion of the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[3]

Rank	Player	Position(s)	Team(s) played for (years)[4]	Total assists	Games played	Assists per game average[5]
1	Johnson, MagicMagic Johnson*	PG/SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996)	2,346	190	12.3
2	Stockton, JohnJohn Stockton*	PG	Utah Jazz (1985–2003)	1,839	182	10.1
3	James, LeBronLeBron James^	SF	Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2010, 2015–2016) Miami Heat (2011–2014)	1,348	199	6.8
4	Kidd, JasonJason Kidd^†	PG	Phoenix Suns (1997–2001) New Jersey Nets (2002–2007) Dallas Mavericks (2008–2012) New York Knicks (2013)	1,263	158	8.0
5	Parker, TonyTony Parker^	PG	San Antonio Spurs (2002–2016)	1,112	213	5.2
6	Bird, LarryLarry Bird*	SF/PF	Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992)	1,062	164	6.5
7	Nash, SteveSteve Nash	PG	Phoenix Suns (1997–1998, 2005–2008, 2010) Dallas Mavericks (2001–2004) Los Angeles Lakers (2013)	1,061	120	8.8
8	Pippen, ScottieScottie Pippen*	SF	Chicago Bulls (1988–1998) Houston Rockets (1999) Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)	1,048	208	5.0
9	Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant^†	SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012)	1,040	220	4.7
10	Jordan, MichaelMichael Jordan*	SG	Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998)	1,022	179	5.7
11	Johnson, DennisDennis Johnson*	PG/SG	Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980) Phoenix Suns (1981–1983) Boston Celtics (1984–1990)	1,006	180	5.6
12	Thomas, IsiahIsiah Thomas*	PG	Detroit Pistons (1984–1992)	987	111	8.9
13	West, JerryJerry West*	PG	Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974)	970	153	6.3
14	Cousy, BobBob Cousy*	PG	Boston Celtics (1951–1963)	937	109	8.6
15	Johnson, KevinKevin Johnson	PG	Phoenix Suns (1989–1998, 2000)	935	105	8.9
16	Cheeks, MauriceMaurice Cheeks	PG	Philadelphia 76ers (1979–1987, 1989) New York Knicks (1990–1991), New Jersey Nets (1993)	922	133	6.9
17	Jackson, MarkMark Jackson	PG	New York Knicks (1988–1992, 2001) Los Angeles Clippers (1993) Indiana Pacers (1995–1996, 1998–2000) Utah Jazz (2003) Houston Rockets (2004)	905	131	6.9
18	Drexler, ClydeClyde Drexler*	SG	Portland Trail Blazers (1984–1994) Houston Rockets (1995–1998)	891	145	6.1
19	Rondo, RajonRajon Rondo^	PG	Boston Celtics (2008–2012) Dallas Mavericks (2015)	851	94	9.1
20	Billups, ChaunceyChauncey Billups†	PG/SG	Minnesota Timberwolves (2001–2002) Detroit Pistons (2003–2008) Denver Nuggets (2009–2010) New York Knicks (2011) Los Angeles Clippers (2013)	831	146	5.7
21	Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade^	SG	Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016)	828	166	5.0
22	Havlicek, JohnJohn Havlicek*	SF/SG	Boston Celtics (1963–1969, 1972–1977)	825	172	4.8
23	Payton, GaryGary Payton*	PG	Seattle SuperSonics (1991–1998, 2000, 2002) Milwaukee Bucks (2003) Los Angeles Lakers (2004) Boston Celtics (2005) Miami Heat (2006–2007)	811	154	5.3
24	Ginóbili, ManuManu Ginóbili^	SG	San Antonio Spurs (2003–2008, 2010–2016)	772	197	3.9
25	Russell, BillBill Russell*	C	Boston Celtics (1957–1969)	770	165	4.7

Progressive List of Playoff Assist Leaders

This is a progressive list of assist leaders showing how the record increased through the years.^[1]

Statistics accurate as of the 2016 playoffs.

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[3]

Team Abbreviations

Team listed is the one player was on when he established the record.

ATL	Atlanta Hawks	IND	Indiana Pacers	OKC	Oklahoma City Thunder	SFW	San Francisco Warriors
BOS	Boston Celtics	LAC	Los Angeles Clippers	ORL	Orlando Magic	STL	St. Louis Hawks
CHI	Chicago Bulls	LAL	Los Angeles Lakers	PHI	Philadelphia 76ers	SYR	Syracuse Nationals
CLE	Cleveland Cavaliers	MIA	Miami Heat	PHO	Phoenix Suns	TOR	Toronto Raptors
DAL	Dallas Mavericks	MIL	Milwaukee Bucks	PHW	Philadelphia Warriors	UTA	Utah Jazz
DET	Detroit Pistons	MNL	Minneapolis Lakers	POR	Portland Trail Blazers	WAS	Washington Wizards
FTW	Fort Wayne Pistons	NJN	New Jersey Nets	SAS	San Antonio Spurs	WSB	Washington Bullets
HOU	Houston Rockets	NYK	New York Knicks

Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists at the end of every season

Season	Year-by-Year Leader	Ast	Active Player Assist Leader	Ast	Career Assist Record	Ast	Single Season Record	Ast	Season
1946–47	Howie Dallmar000PHW	16	Howie Dallmar000PHW	16	Howie Dallmar000PHW	16	Howie Dallmar000PHW	16	1946–47
1947–48		37		53		53		37	1947–48
1948–49	Jim Pollard*000MNL	39		57		57	Jim Pollard*000MNL	39	1948–49
1949–50		56	Jim Pollard*000MNL	95	Jim Pollard*000MNL	95		56	1949–50
1950–51	Dick McGuire*000NYK	78		122		122	Dick McGuire*000NYK	78	1950–51
1951–52		90	Dick McGuire*000NYK	195	Dick McGuire*000NYK	195		90	1951–52
1952–53		70		265		265			1952–53
1953–54	Slater Martin*000MNL Paul Seymour000SYR	60		270		270			1953–54
1954–55	Andy Phillip*000FTW	78		282		282			1954–55
1955–56	George King000SYR	60							1955–56
1956–57	Bob Cousy*000BOS	93	Slater Martin*000STL	304	Slater Martin*000STL	304	Bob Cousy*000BOS	93	1956–57
1957–58		82	Bob Cousy*000BOS	372	Bob Cousy*000BOS	372			1957–58
1958–59		119		491		491		119	1958–59
1959–60		116		607		607			1959–60
1960–61		91		698		698			1960–61
1961–62		123		821		821		123	1961–62
1962–63		116		937		937			1962–63
1963–64	Guy Rodgers*000SFW	90	Bill Russell*000BOS	362					1963–64
1964–65	Bill Russell*000BOS	76		438					1964–65
1965–66		85		523					1965–66
1966–67	Wilt Chamberlain*000PHI	135		573			Wilt Chamberlain*000PHI	135	1966–67
1967–68	John Havlicek*000BOS	142		672			John Havlicek*000BOS	142	1967–68
1968–69	Jerry West*000LAL	135		770					1968–69
1969–70	Walt Frazier*000NYK	156	Bob Cousy*000BOS	937			Walt Frazier*000NYK	156	1969–70
1970–71	Oscar Robertson*000MIL	124	Jerry West*000LAL	703					1970–71
1971–72	Jerry West*000LAL	134		837					1971–72
1972–73		132		969	Jerry West*000LAL	969			1972–73
1973–74	Oscar Robertson*000MIL	149		970		970			1973–74
1974–75	Kevin Porter000WSB	124	John Havlicek*000BOS	712					1974–75
1975–76	Jo Jo White*000BOS Alvan Adams000PHO	98		763					1975–76
1976–77	Bill Walton*000POR	104		825					1976–77
1977–78	Tom Henderson000WSB	106							1977–78
1978–79		107	Walt Frazier*000CLE	599					1978–79
1979–80	Magic Johnson*000LAL	151							1979–80
1980–81	Maurice Cheeks000PHI	116	Wes Unseld*000WSB	453					1980–81
1981–82		172	Maurice Cheeks000PHI	462			Maurice Cheeks000PHI	172	1981–82
1982–83	Magic Johnson*000LAL	192		553			Magic Johnson*000LAL	192	1982–83
1983–84		284	Magic Johnson*000LAL	778				284	1983–84
1984–85		289		1067	Magic Johnson*000LAL	1067		289	1984–85
1985–86		211		1278		1278			1985–86
1986–87		219		1497		1497			1986–87
1987–88		303		1800		1800		303	1987–88
1988–89		165		1965		1965			1988–89
1989–90	Kevin Johnson000PHO	170		2080		2080			1989–90
1990–91	Magic Johnson*000LAL	240		2320		2320			1990–91
1991–92	John Stockton*000UTA	217	Larry Bird*000BOS	1062					1991–92
1992–93	Kevin Johnson000PHO	182	Isiah Thomas*000DET	987					1992–93
1993–94	John Stockton*000UTA	157							1993–94
1994–95	Anfernee Hardaway000ORL	162	John Stockton*000UTA	980					1994–95
1995–96	John Stockton*000UTA	195	Magic Johnson*000LAL	2346		2346			1995–96
1996–97		191	John Stockton*000UTA	1366					1996–97
1997–98		155		1521					1997–98
1998–99	Avery Johnson000SAS	126		1613					1998–99
1999–00	Mark Jackson000IND	178		1716					1999–00
2000–01	Allen Iverson*000PHI	134		1773					2000–01
2001–02	Jason Kidd ^†000NJN	182		1813					2001–02
2002–03		163		1839					2002–03
2003–04	Chauncey Billups ^†000DET	136	Scottie Pippen*000CHI	1048					2003–04
2004–05	Steve Nash ^†000PHO	170	Gary Payton* 000BOS 2004–05 000MIA 2005–06	772					2004–05
2005–06		204		808					2005–06
2006–07	LeBron James^000CLE	159	Jason Kidd ^† 000NJN 2006–07 000DAL 2008–12 000NYK 2012–13	927					2006–07
2007–08	Rajon Rondo^000BOS	172		961					2007–08
2008–09		137		1020					2008–09
2009–10		223		1062					2009–10
2010–11	Jason Kidd ^†000DAL	153		1215					2010–11
2011–12	Rajon Rondo^000BOS	227		1239					2011–12
2012–13	LeBron James^000MIA	152		1263					2012–13
2013–14	Russell Westbrook^000OKC	153	Steve Nash ^†000LAL	1061					2013–14
2014–15	LeBron James^000CLE	169	LeBron James^000CLE	1188					2014–15
2015–16	Russell Westbrook^000OKC	198		1348					2015–16
Season	Year-by-Year Leader	Ast	Active Player Assist Leader	Ast	Career Assist Record	Ast	Single Season Record	Ast	Season

See also

• Basketball statistics
• NBA post-season records

References

1. "NBA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
2. "NBA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
3. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for four calendar years (reduced from five in 2015); player was not eligible for induction upon the commencement of the 2016–17 NBA season.
4. 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. The years listed are only ones in which the player played in a playoff game.
5. Average is rounded to the nearest tenth.

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com enumeration of NBA career playoff leaders in assists