On a recent episode of Byron Scott’s Fast Break podcast, the former NBA coach shared a fascinating moment he had with Chris Paul during their time together in New Orleans.
The discussion centered around the seemingly untouchable all-time assist record held by Utah Jazz legend John Stockton, a record so lofty, even Paul, one of the greatest point guards in NBA history, admitted it was likely out of reach.
“When we were in New Orleans and I was coaching Chris Paul, he looked at Stockton’s assists for his career. And this is probably Chris’s fourth or fifth year in the league. He said, ‘Coach, I would have to average 12 or 13 assists for the next 20 years to catch him.’”
That one statement captures the enormity of John Stockton’s historic feat. The Hall of Fame point guard dished out 15,806 assists over his 19-year career, more than 3,000 ahead of Chris Paul, who is currently second all-time with 12,499. To put it simply: Stockton’s number isn’t just a record; it’s a monument.
What makes Stockton’s record nearly unbreakable is a combination of consistency, elite playmaking, and, most importantly, durability. Stockton averaged 10.51 assists per game for his entire career, second only to Magic Johnson’s 11.19 per game.
But while Magic missed significant time due to injury and an early retirement, Stockton was the NBA’s iron man.
The numbers are stunning: Stockton missed just 22 games in his 19-year career. From 1984 to 2003, he played in 1,504 out of 1,526 possible games, including an astounding 17 straight seasons without missing a single game. No rest management. No load reduction. No days off.
By contrast, Chris Paul, despite being one of the most intelligent and skilled floor generals of his era, has never been able to replicate that level of availability. Injuries have plagued various stretches of his career, particularly in the playoffs. Now entering what would be his 21st NBA season, Paul is too far behind to close the gap.
Even LeBron James, who sits at No. 4 on the all-time assists list, is unlikely to challenge Stockton’s throne. While LeBron has defied Father Time like no one else, and may still play for two or three more seasons, the math just doesn’t add up. He’s still more than 5,000 assists short, and he’s no longer a full-time point guard.
Russell Westbrook, the other active player in the top ten, is even further away, sitting at No. 8 with nowhere near enough time or opportunity left to make a serious run.
It’s the kind of record that seems almost mythic in nature, like Cal Ripken Jr.’s consecutive games streak in baseball or Wayne Gretzky’s 2,857 career NHL points. While Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record once felt similarly out of reach, LeBron James eventually shattered it, proving that no mark is truly safe forever.
Still, Stockton’s assist record feels different. He wasn’t flashy. He wasn’t loud. But every night for nearly two decades, he just showed up and delivered. Over and over and over again.
And that, as Chris Paul himself acknowledged early in his career, is what makes it almost impossible to top.
