List of NBA career playoff assists leaders

This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association (NBA) 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 2023 NBA playoffs.
Magic Johnson has the most assists in NBA playoff history.
^ 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) Playoff team(s) played for (years)[4] Total assists Games played Assists per game
average[5]
1 Magic Johnson* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996) 2,346 190 12.3
2 LeBron James^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2010, 2015–2018)
Miami Heat (2011–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023) 		2,023 282 7.2
3 John Stockton* PG Utah Jazz (1985–2003) 1,839 182 10.1
4 Jason 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 Chris Paul^ PG New Orleans Hornets (2008–2009, 2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2017)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2020)
Phoenix Suns (2021–2023) 		1,233 149 8.3
6 Tony Parker* PG San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018) 1,143 226 5.1
7 Rajon Rondo† PG Boston Celtics (2008–2012)
Dallas Mavericks (2015)
Chicago Bulls (2017)
New Orleans Pelicans (2018)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Los Angeles Clippers (2021) 		1,136 134 8.5
8 Larry Bird* SF/PF Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992) 1,062 164 6.5
9 Steve Nash* PG Phoenix Suns (1997–1998, 2005–2008, 2010)
Dallas Mavericks (2001–2004)
Los Angeles Lakers (2013) 		1,061 120 8.8
10 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1988–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003) 		1,048 208 5.0
11 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012) 1,040 220 4.7
12 Michael Jordan* SG Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998) 1,022 179 5.7
13 James Harden^ SG Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2013–2020)
Brooklyn Nets (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023) 		1,013 160 6.3
14 Dennis Johnson* PG/SG Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980)
Phoenix Suns (1981–1983)
Boston Celtics (1984–1990) 		1,006 180 5.6
15 Isiah Thomas* PG Detroit Pistons (1984–1992) 987 111 8.9
16 Draymond Green^ PF/C Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023) 974 157 6.2
17 Jerry West* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974) 970 153 6.3
18 Bob Cousy* PG Boston Celtics (1951–1963) 937 109 8.6
19 Kevin Johnson PG Phoenix Suns (1989–1998, 2000) 935 105 8.9
20 Maurice Cheeks* PG Philadelphia 76ers (1979–1987, 1989)
New York Knicks (1990–1991)
New Jersey Nets (1993) 		922 133 6.9
21 Stephen Curry^ PG Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023) 912 147 6.2
22 Russell Westbrook^ PG Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2014, 2016–2019)
Houston Rockets (2020)
Washington Wizards (2021)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023) 		911 116 7.9
23 Mark 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
24 Clyde Drexler* SG Portland Trail Blazers (1984–1994)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998) 		891 145 6.1
25 Dwyane Wade* SG Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017) 		870 177 4.9

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 2023 NBA playoffs.[6]
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[3]
Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATL Atlanta Hawks IND Indiana Pacers NYK New York Knicks SFW San Francisco Warriors
BOS Boston Celtics LAC Los Angeles Clippers OKC Oklahoma City Thunder STL St. Louis Hawks
CHI Chicago Bulls LAL Los Angeles Lakers ORL Orlando Magic SYR Syracuse Nationals
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers MIA Miami Heat PHI Philadelphia 76ers TOR Toronto Raptors
DAL Dallas Mavericks MIL Milwaukee Bucks PHO Phoenix Suns UTA Utah Jazz
DET Detroit Pistons MNL Minneapolis Lakers PHW Philadelphia Warriors WAS Washington Wizards
FTW Fort Wayne Pistons NJN New Jersey Nets POR Portland Trail Blazers WSB Washington Bullets
HOU Houston Rockets NOP New Orleans Pelicans SAS San Antonio Spurs
Playoff leaders and records for assists 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 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 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 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 Cheeks*000PHI 116 Wes Unseld*000WSB 453 1980–81
1981–82 172 Maurice Cheeks*000PHI 462 Maurice Cheeks*000PHI 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 1,067 Magic Johnson*000LAL 1,067 289 1984–85
1985–86 211 1,278 1,278 1985–86
1986–87 219 1,497 1,497 1986–87
1987–88 303 1,800 1,800 303 1987–88
1988–89 165 1,965 1,965 1988–89
1989–90 Kevin Johnson000PHO 170 2,080 2,080 1989–90
1990–91 Magic Johnson*000LAL 240 2,320 2,320 1990–91
1991–92 John Stockton*000UTA 217 Larry Bird*000BOS 1,062 1991–92
1992–93 Kevin Johnson000PHO 182 Isiah Thomas*000DET 987 1992–93
1993–94 John Stockton*000UTA 157 1993–94
1994–95 Penny Hardaway000ORL 162 John Stockton*000UTA 980 1994–95
1995–96 John Stockton*000UTA 195 Magic Johnson*000LAL 2,346 2,346 1995–96
1996–97 191 John Stockton*000UTA 1,366 1996–97
1997–98 155 1,521 1997–98
1998–99 Avery Johnson000SAS 126 1,613 1998–99
1999–00 Mark Jackson000IND 178 1,716 1999–00
2000–01 Allen Iverson*000PHI 134 1,773 2000–01
2001–02 Jason Kidd*000NJN 182 1,813 2001–02
2002–03 163 1,839 2002–03
2003–04 Chauncey Billups*000DET 136 Scottie Pippen*000CHI 1,048 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 1,020 2008–09
2009–10 223 1,062 2009–10
2010–11 Jason Kidd*000DAL 153 1,215 2010–11
2011–12 Rajon Rondo†000BOS 227 1,239 2011–12
2012–13 LeBron James^000MIA 152 1,263 2012–13
2013–14 Russell Westbrook^000OKC 153 Steve Nash*000LAL 1,061 2013–14
2014–15 LeBron James^000CLE 169 LeBron James^
000CLE 2014–18
000LAL 2018–23		 1,188 2014–15
2015–16 Russell Westbrook^000OKC 198 1,348 2015–16
2016–17 LeBron James^000CLE 141 1,489 2016–17
2017–18 198 1,687 2017–18
2018–19 Draymond Green^000GSW 187 2018–19
2019–20 LeBron James^000LAL 184 1,871 2019–20
2020–21 Jrue Holiday^000MIL 199 1,919 2020–21
2021–22 Jayson Tatum^000BOS 148 2021–22
2022–23 Nikola Jokić^000DEN 190 2,023 2022–23
Season Year-by-year leader AST Active player leader AST Career record AST Single-season record AST Season

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "NBA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  2. ^ "NBA Career Playoff Leaders and Records for Assists". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  3. ^ 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.
  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.
  6. ^ "2023 NBA Playoffs Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
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