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
This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season assists recorded.
Statistics accurate as of the 2024–25 NBA season . [ 1]
John Stockton has the most assists in NBA history. Stockton is also the all-time leader in steals .
Chris Paul has the second-most assists in NBA history and has the most assists among active NBA players.
Jason Kidd has the third-most assists and the third-most steals in NBA history, having led the NBA in assists during five separate seasons.
In addition to having the fourth-most assists in NBA history, LeBron James is also the all-time leading scorer in NBA history .
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)[ a]
Total assists
Games played
Assists per gameaverage [ b]
1
John Stockton *
PG
Utah Jazz (1984 –2003 )
15,806
1,504
10.5
2
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 (2024–2025 )
12,499
1,354
9.2
3
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
4
LeBron James ^
SF
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003 –2010 , 2014 –2018 )Miami Heat (2010 –2014 )Los Angeles Lakers (2018 –present)
11,584
1,562
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
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 (2024–2025 )
9,925
1,237
8.0
9
Oscar Robertson *
PG
Cincinnati Royals (1960 –1970 )Milwaukee Bucks (1970 –1974 )
9,887
1,040
9.5
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
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)
8,316
1,151
7.2
14
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
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
Kyle Lowry ^
PG
Memphis Grizzlies (2006 –2009 )Houston Rockets (2009 –2012 )Toronto Raptors (2012 –2021 )Miami Heat (2021 –2024 )Philadelphia 76ers (2024 –present)
7,099
1,173
6.1
20
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
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
Mike Conley ^
PG
Memphis Grizzlies (2007 –2019 )Utah Jazz (2019 –2023 )Minnesota Timberwolves (2023 –present)
6,625
1,172
5.7
28
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
29
Stephen Curry ^
PG
Golden State Warriors (2009 –present)
6,540
1,026
6.4
30
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
31
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
32
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
33
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
34
Jrue Holiday ^
PG
Philadelphia 76ers (2009 –2013 )New Orleans Pelicans (2013 –2020 )Milwaukee Bucks (2020 –2023 )Boston Celtics (2023 –2025 )
6,440
1,037
6.2
35
Norm Nixon
PG
Los Angeles Lakers (1977 –1983 )San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1983 –1989 )
6,386
768
8.3
36
Kobe Bryant *
SG
Los Angeles Lakers (1996 –2016 )
6,306
1,346
4.7
37
Jerry West *
PG
Los Angeles Lakers (1960 –1974 )
6,238
932
6.7
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
Damian Lillard ^
PG
Portland Trail Blazers (2012 –2023 )Milwaukee Bucks (2023 –2025 )
6,069
900
6.7
42
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
43
Mookie Blaylock
PG
New Jersey Nets (1989 –1992 )Atlanta Hawks (1992 –1999 )Golden State Warriors (1999 –2002 )
5,972
889
6.7
44
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
45
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
46
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
47
John Wall §
PG
Washington Wizards (2010 –2020 )Houston Rockets (2020 –2022 )Los Angeles Clippers (2022–2023 )
5,735
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
This is a progressive list of assists leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[ 3]
Statistics accurate as of the 2024–25 NBA season .
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 Calverley 0 0 0 PRO
202
Ernie Calverley 0 0 0 PRO
202
Ernie Calverley 0 0 0 PRO
202
Ernie Calverley 0 0 0 PRO
202
1946–47
1947–48
Howie Dallmar 0 0 0 PHW
120
321
321
1947–48
1948–49
Bob Davies *0 0 0 ROC
321
572
572
Bob Davies *0 0 0 ROC
321
1948–49
1949–50
Dick McGuire *0 0 0 NYK
386
Andy Phillip *0 0 0 CHS 1949–50 0 0 0 PHW 1950–52 0 0 0 FTW 1952–56 0 0 0 BOS 1956–57
770
Andy Phillip *0 0 0 CHS 1949–50 0 0 0 PHW 1950–52 0 0 0 FTW 1952–56 0 0 0 BOS 1956–57
770
Dick McGuire *0 0 0 NYK
386
1949–50
1950–51
Andy Phillip *0 0 0 PHW
414
1,184
1,184
Andy Phillip *0 0 0 PHW
414
1950–51
1951–52
539
1,723
1,723
539
1951–52
1952–53
Bob Cousy *0 0 0 BOS
547
2,120
2,120
Bob Cousy *0 0 0 BOS
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 *0 0 0 BOS
3,987
Bob Cousy *0 0 0 BOS
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 *0 0 0 CIN
690
5,846
5,846
1960–61
1961–62
899
6,430
6,430
Oscar Robertson *0 0 0 CIN
899
1961–62
1962–63
Guy Rodgers *0 0 0 SFW
825
6,945
6,945
1962–63
1963–64
Oscar Robertson *0 0 0 CIN
868
Guy Rodgers *0 0 0 SFW
3,444
1963–64
1964–65
861
Oscar Robertson *0 0 0 CIN 1964–70 0 0 0 MIL 1970–74
4,076
1964–65
1965–66
847
4,923
1965–66
1966–67
Guy Rodgers *0 0 0 CHI
908
5,768
Guy Rodgers *0 0 0 CHI
908
1966–67
1967–68
Wilt Chamberlain *0 0 0 PHI
702
6,401
1967–68
1968–69
Oscar Robertson *0 0 0 CIN
772
7,173
Oscar Robertson *0 0 0 CIN 1968–70 0 0 0 MIL 1970–74
7,173
1968–69
1969–70
Lenny Wilkens *0 0 0 SEA
683
7,731
7,731
1969–70
1970–71
Norm Van Lier 0 0 0 CIN
832
8,399
8,399
1970–71
1971–72
Lenny Wilkens *0 0 0 SEA
766
8,890
8,890
1971–72
1972–73
Nate Archibald *0 0 0 KCO
910
9,441
9,441
Nate Archibald *0 0 0 KCO
910
1972–73
1973–74
Ernie DiGregorio 0 0 0 BUF
663
9,887
9,887
1973–74
1974–75
Kevin Porter 0 0 0 WSB
650
Lenny Wilkens *0 0 0 POR
7,211
1974–75
1975–76
Slick Watts 0 0 0 SEA
661
John Havlicek *0 0 0 BOS
5,386
1975–76
1976–77
Don Buse 0 0 0 IND
685
5,786
1976–77
1977–78
Kevin Porter 0 DET & NJN 1977–78 0 DET 1978–79
837
6,114
1977–78
1978–79
1,099
Norm Van Lier 0 0 0 MIL
5,217
Kevin Porter 0 0 0 DET
1,099
1978–79
1979–80
Micheal Ray Richardson 0 0 0 NYK
832
Walt Frazier *0 0 0 CLE
5,040
1979–80
1980–81
Kevin Porter 0 0 0 WSB
734
Nate Archibald *0 0 0 BOS 1980–83 0 0 0 MIL 1983–84
5,366
1980–81
1981–82
Johnny Moore 0 0 0 SAS
762
5,907
1981–82
1982–83
Magic Johnson *0 0 0 LAL
829
6,316
1982–83
1983–84
Norm Nixon 0 0 0 SDC
914
6,476
1983–84
1984–85
Isiah Thomas *0 0 0 DET
1,123
Norm Nixon 0 0 0 LAC
5,471
Isiah Thomas *0 0 0 DET
1,123
1984–85
1985–86
Magic Johnson *0 0 0 LAL
907
6,047
1985–86
1986–87
977
Magic Johnson *0 0 0 LAL
6,179
1986–87
1987–88
John Stockton *0 0 0 UTA
1,128
7,037
John Stockton *0 0 0 UTA
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 *0 0 0 LAL
9,921
1,164
1990–91
1991–92
1,126
Isiah Thomas *0 0 0 DET
7,991
1991–92
1992–93
987
8,662
1992–93
1993–94
1,031
John Stockton *0 0 0 UTA
9,383
1993–94
1994–95
1,011
10,394
John Stockton *0 0 0 UTA
10,394
1994–95
1995–96
916
11,310
11,310
1995–96
1996–97
Mark Jackson 0 0 0 DEN & IND
935
12,170
12,170
1996–97
1997–98
Rod Strickland 0 0 0 WAS
801
12,713
12,713
1997–98
1998–99
Jason Kidd *0 0 0 PHX
539
13,087
13,087
1998–99
1999–00
Gary Payton *0 0 0 SEA
732
13,790
13,790
1999–00
2000–01
Jason Kidd *0 0 0 PHX
753
14,503
14,503
2000–01
2001–02
Andre Miller 0 0 0 CLE
882
15,177
15,177
2001–02
2002–03
Jason Kidd *0 0 0 NJN
711
15,806
15,806
2002–03
2003–04
Stephon Marbury 0 0 0 PHX
719
Mark Jackson 0 0 0 HOU
10,334
2003–04
2004–05
Steve Nash *0 0 0 PHX
861
Gary Payton *0 0 0 BOS 2004–05 0 0 0 MIA 2005–07
8,508
2004–05
2005–06
826
8,765
2005–06
2006–07
884
8,966
2006–07
2007–08
Chris Paul ^0 0 0 NOH
925
Jason Kidd *0 0 0 NJN 2007–08 0 0 0 DAL 2008–12 0 0 0 NYK 2012–13
9,497
2007–08
2008–09
861
10,199
2008–09
2009–10
Steve Nash *0 0 0 PHX
892
10,923
2009–10
2010–11
855
11,578
2010–11
2011–12
664
11,842
2011–12
2012–13
Greivis Vásquez 0 0 0 NOH
704
12,091
2012–13
2013–14
John Wall § 0 0 0 WAS
721
Steve Nash *0 0 0 LAL
10,335
2013–14
2014–15
Chris Paul ^0 0 0 LAC
838
Andre Miller 0 0 0 SAC 2014–15 0 0 0 MIN 2015–16 0 0 0 SAS 2016
8,437
2014–15
2015–16
Rajon Rondo 0 0 0 SAC
839
8,524
2015–16
2016–17
James Harden ^0 0 0 HOU
907
Chris Paul ^0 0 0 LAC 2016–17 0 0 0 HOU 2017–19 0 0 0 OKC 2019–20 0 0 0 PHX 2020–23 0 0 0 GSW 2023–24 0 0 0 SAS 2024–25
8,251
2016–17
2017–18
Russell Westbrook ^0 0 0 OKC
820
8,708
2017–18
2018–19
784
9,181
2018–19
2019–20
LeBron James ^0 0 0 LAL
684
9,653
2019–20
2020–21
Russell Westbrook ^0 0 0 WAS
763
10,275
2020–21
2021–22
Trae Young ^0 0 0 ATL
737
10,977
2021–22
2022–23
741
11,501
2022–23
2023–24
Tyrese Haliburton ^0 0 0 IND
752
11,894
2023–24
2024–25
Trae Young ^0 0 0 ATL
880
12,499
2024–25
Season
Year-by-year leader
AST
Active player leader
AST
Career record
AST
Single-season record
AST
Season
See also
Notes
References
External links