Ranking The NBA Players With The Most Career Assists By Tiers

Over the course of NBA history, there have been a variety of players to impact the game at an elite level in multiple different ways on the basketball court. There are the scorers who can go out and get a string of buckets whenever asked. There are the rebounders who gain extra possessions and opportunities for their teams. There are defenders who put it all on the line in order to make things as difficult as possible for their opponents to score. Then, there are the facilitators and playmakers whose selflessness and leadership are put above everything else in order to maximize the potential for success on the team level. 

Just as we did with the greatest playoff scorers and rebounders in NBA history, it is time to do the same for the players who dished out the most career assists. These are undoubtedly the greatest facilitators and playmakers in NBA history and the ones who gave their teams the best chance to win every night they were on the floor. They made sacrifices for the betterment of their teams. If every offense was a symphony, these players below would be the conductors creating a beautiful medley of basketball through their vision, IQ, leadership, and selflessness.

This is the ranking of the NBA players with the most career assists by tiers.

Tier 8 – 6,500+ Assists

Bob Cousy, Guy Rodgers, Deron Williams, Kyle Lowry, Muggsy Bogues, Kevin Johnson, Derek Harper

The first tier of our assists pyramid belongs to the seven NBA players who recorded between 6,500 and 7,000 career assists. The first of these players is Bob Cousy, who played with the Boston Celtics from 1951 thru 1963. Cousy was known as the Houdini of the Hardwood for the way his ball handling and passing were ahead of their time during the 1950s and 60s. Cousy won eight career assists titles which all happened consecutively from 1953 thru 1960. Cousy would win six NBA championships with Boston and the 1957 MVP award as well.

Guy Rodgers was a 12-year NBA veteran from 1959 thru 1970, most notably with the Warriors for the first eight seasons. Rodgers was a four-time All-Star during his career, and a two-time assists title winner as well. Rodgers won the assists title in 1963, averaging 10.4 APG for a 31-49 Warriors team, and again in 1967 with 11.2 APG for the 33-48 Chicago Bulls. Rodgers ranks 22nd in NBA history with 6,917 assists in his career and still ranks second in Golden State Warriors history.

Deron Williams was undisputedly one of the best point guards during the 2010s for the Utah Jazz. Not only was he a talented scorer at the point guard position, but Williams was also one of the best playmakers in basketball at his absolute best. From 2008 to 2011, Williams averaged 19.2 PPG and 10.5 APG for the Jazz and Brooklyn Nets and 8.1 APG for the entirety of his 12-year career. Williams ranks 23rd all-time in assists with 6,819 in his career and fourth in Utah Jazz history with 4,003. Williams would be named an All-Star three times and to the All-NBA Second Team twice.

Over the last decade, Kyle Lowry has been one of the most consistent point guards in the NBA. After coming off the bench for the first four seasons of his career, Lowry quickly became an above-average playmaker as a starter for the Rockets in 2010. Lowry would really hit his stride as an overall point guard with the Raptors, whom he played for from 2014 thru 2021. Lowry averaged 7.1 APG in his nine seasons with Toronto and is their franchise leader in assists with 4,277. Lowry ranks 24th all-time in NBA history with 6,750 assists and is a six-time All-Star as well as an NBA champion in 2019 with the Raptors.

Muggsy Bogues will always be an NBA legend due to the skill he displayed on the basketball court despite standing just 5’3’’ tall. Bogues was a talented defender and playmaker with the Hornets, Bullets, Warriors, and Raptors during his 14-year career that saw him average 7.6 APG and 1.5 SPG. Bogues recorded multiple seasons of 10.0 APG or more along with multiple seasons of 2.0 SPG or more. He is 25th all-time in assists with 6,276 in his career but is also the Charlotte Hornets franchise leader in assists with 5,557.

Kevin Johnson is not only one of the most underrated players of the 1990s but maybe ever as well. Johnson’s athleticism and awareness on the court were incredible to watch, especially at his peak with the Phoenix Suns from 1989 thru 1997. Johnson never captured an assists title in his career, but from 1989 thru 1992, he averaged 10.0 APG or more for all four seasons and 11.1 APG during that stretch. Johnson recorded 9.1 APG for his career, which ranks sixth in NBA history behind the greatest point guards who ever lived.

The final member of Tier 7 for most career assists is a bit of a surprise. Derek Harper was known much more for his defensive effort and scoring ability than his passing or playmaking, but he could do a bit of everything on an above-average level. Harper played 16 seasons in the NBA from 1984 thru 1999 and spent the majority of that with the Dallas Mavericks for 12 seasons. During his time with the Mavericks, Harper averaged 5.9 APG but had five straight seasons from 1987 thru 1991, where he averaged at least 7.0 APG. Harper is the all-time leader in Mavericks history with 5,11s assists, but there is a man by the name of Luka Doncic who will be looking to change that in the near future.

Tier 8 – 7,000+ Assists

Rod Strickland, Rajon Rondo, Maurice Cheeks, Lenny Wilkens, Terry Porter, Tim Hardaway, Tony Parker, James Harden

The next tier of players that we will be presenting all recorded between 7,00 and 8,000 assists in their career. Rod Strickland is one of the legendary “point Gods” from the City of New York that made their way to the NBA during the 80s and 90s. Strickland won just one assist title during his 17-year NBA career, but it would be his consistency that landed him 13th all-time in assists. Strickland averaged 7.3 APG for his career, with eight seasons of above 8.0 APG. Strickland’s lone assist title came during the 1998 season with the Bullets when he averaged 10.5 APG in 76 appearances.

Rajon Rondo is widely regarded as one of the better playmakers and passers over the last 15 seasons in the NBA. Rondo made an impact immediately with the Celtics during his early years in the late 2000s, a trend that continued for the rest of his career. From 2011 thru 2016, Rondo would average 10.6 APG for the Celtics and Kings, winning all three of his career assists titles during that time. He averaged 7.9 APG for his career and ranks 14th in NBA history with 7,584 career assists.

Maurice Cheeks is another underrated point guard who makes his way onto Tier 7 of our list with 7,392 career assists. Cheeks played 15 seasons in the NBA but is remembered mostly for his 11 years with the 76ers from 1979 thru 1989. Cheeks averaged 7.3 APG with the 76ers in his career and is the franchise’s all-time leader with 6,212. He helped lead Philadelphia to an NBA championship in 1983 as well as four All-Star appearances and five selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive Team.

Much like Cheeks, the next member of Tier 7 would go from greatness on the court as a player to a long and rich career as a head coach. Lenny Wilkens was a 15-year veteran of the NBA with the Hawks, SuperSonics, Cavaliers, and Trail Blazers. He averaged 6.7 APG for his career and captured one scoring title in 1970 with 9.1 APG as a member of the Seattle SuperSonics. His best stretch as a passer was from 1968 thru 1973 with Seattle and Cleveland, as he averaged 8.8 APG over that time to go with 19.8 PPG as well.

Clyde Drexler usually gets all the credit and recognition for the Portland Trail Blazers’ success during the late 80s and 90s. The fact is that they aren’t half the team they were without the leadership and playmaking of Terry Porter. In his 10 seasons with Portland, Porter averaged 7.0 APG and recorded one season with 10.1 APG in 1988. Porter’s best stretch came from 1989 thru 1992 when he averaged 17.6 PPG and 8.1 APG to help Portland advance to two NBA Finals during that time.

Tim Hardaway is the pioneer of the modern-day crossover, as his Killer Crossover ranks among the best signature moves in NBA history. Hardaway was as smooth as can be as a scorer, ball-handler, and you guessed it, a passer. During his career, Hardaway recorded 7,095 total assists and averaged 8.2 APG in his 13 seasons with the Warriors, Heat, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Pacers. Despite never winning an assist title, Hardaway has eight seasons with at least 8.0 APG and two seasons with at least 10.0 APG. Hardaway would go on to earn five All-Star selections and five All-NBA Team selections in his career and ranks second in Miami Heat history with 2,867 assists.

Tony Parker is a four-time NBA champion and a former Finals MVP, yet he somehow remains one of the more underrated players in NBA history. His place in the top 20 in career assists further confirms his status as one of the better point guards to ever play the game. Parker’s longevity has a lot to do with where he stands in career assists, never having averaged over 8.0 APG in his career and averaging 5.6 APG over 18 seasons. In 17 seasons with the Spurs, he would win four NBA championships, one Finals MVP, six All-Star selections, and four All-NBA Team selections.

The final member of Tier 7 and the man who ranks 20th all-time in NBA history in assists is none other than James Harden. It would take a few seasons for Harden to unlock his powers as an overall offensive threat, but once he did, he became one of the best in the business. After spending three seasons off the bench in Oklahoma City, Harden moved on to the Rockets in 2013 and immediately became an All-Star. By 2016, he was a 29.0 PPG and 8.0 APG player, winning his first assists title in 2017 with 11.2 APG. Over the last three seasons with the Nets and Sixers, Harden has tapped even more into his abilities as a passer averaging 10.0 APG or better all three seasons and winning another assists title in 2023 with 10.7 APG.

Tier 6 – 8,000+ Assists

Gary Payton, Andre Miller

There are just two players in NBA history who ended their careers with between 8,000 and 9,000 career assists. The first of these point guards is Gary Payton, who was known much more for his defense and no-BS attitude on the court. Payton was a gifted scorer and passer as well, despite the lopsided praise he gets for his defense. Payton most notably spent 13 seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, where he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 as well as averaged 19.0 PPG and 7.0 APG for nine years straight from 1995 thru 2003. Payton averaged 6.7 APG for his career and ranks 11th in NBA history with 8,966.

The other point guard, who is a member of Tier 6, is a bit of a shock but not surprising to the ones who really paid attention to 2000s basketball. Andre Miller was as consistent as they come during his 17 seasons in the NBA, even if he played for nine different teams over that span. Miller is a former assists champion in 2022 with the Cavaliers, averaging 10.0 APG and recorded 10 seasons of at least 6.0 APG in his career. Miller’s longevity is definitely the main factor in his being 12th all-time in assists, but 6.5 APG is damn good for someone who played over 15 years in the NBA.

Tier 5 – 9,000+ Assists

Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Isiah Thomas

Despite the dominance of Russell Westbrook at his peak and losing his triple-double record, Oscar Robertson is still over 700 career assists ahead of him in career assists. As the original Mr. Triple-Double, Robertson had a stranglehold on the NBA during the 60s and 70s as the best all-around player in the game. Robertson would win seven assists titles in his first nine seasons in the NBA and ended up averaging 9.5 APG for his career. Robertson is also a former scoring champion and NBA champion with the Bucks in 1971. He also is the Sacramento Kings’ all-time leader in assists with 7,731.

The NBA has never seen a point guard like Russell Westbrook. Strictly off pure athleticism, Westbrook is one of one, combining that, his explosiveness, and his feel for the game to become one of the 10 best point guards in NBA history. Westbrook spent the first 11 seasons of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he shattered franchise records, including for assists with 6,897. Westbrook would win three assists titles in his career as well as record four different seasons averaging a triple-double and an MVP award in 2017. Westbrook sits in ninth place in assists with 9,162 and is one of only 10 players with at least 9,000 assists in his career.

As the leader of the most hated Bad Boy Detroit Pistons, Isiah Thomas rubbed a lot of people the wrong way on the basketball court. That being said, there is no denying his standing as a top-five point guard in NBA history, considering all he accomplished in his career. Strictly as a passer, Thomas was incredibly talented, and his job was made easier due to his unbelievable control of the ball when it was in his hands. He averaged 9.3 APG for his career, which ranks fifth in NBA history, and recorded four seasons of at least 10.0 APG, including an assists title with 13.9 APG in 1985. He is far and away the Pistons’ all-time leader in assists, having spent all 13 years of his career in the Motor City.

Tier 4 – 10,000 Assists

LeBron James, Steve Nash, Mark Jackson, Magic Johnson

There have been only seven players in NBA history to record over 10,000 assists in their careers and just four who land between 10,000 and 11,000. Take a glance over this list one more time for me. LeBron James is the only forward in the entire top 25 in career assists and just one of two in the top 35. That is a testament to both his longevity and his ability to excel at everything on the court as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and one of the greatest playmakers ever simultaneously. James is fourth all-time in assists in NBA history with one career assists title and 7.3 APG over the last 20 seasons.

Steve Nash is a former back-to-back MVP who happened to earn those awards due to his innate ability to find teammates in any given situation. Nash averaged 8.5 APG over the course of his 18-year career with the Suns, Mavericks, and Lakers. Nash would win five assists titles in his career, including three in a row from 2005 thru 2007 and back-to-back in 2010 and 2011. Nash had a total of six seasons with at least 10.5 APG and five with at least 11.0 APG in his career, and ranks first in Suns history with 6,997 assists.

Mark Jackson was also one of the most talented point guards ever, who played 17 seasons in the NBA and averaged 8.0 APG for his career. Jackson was at his best during his time from 1988 thru 2000 with the Knicks and Pacers. During this time, Jackson averaged 8.5 APG and won his only career assists title in 1997 with 11.4 APG. Jackson averaged at least 6.0 APG every season of his career apart from his final two when he was 37 and 38 years old. He ranks sixth in NBA history with 10,334 assists as well as third in Pacers history and second in Knicks history.

The final member of Tier 4 is the greatest point guard to ever play the game, Magic Johnson. Let’s take a minute to appreciate Johnson and admit that if he never got sick, he could quite possibly be sitting on top of this list in Tier 1. Johnson ran the position like nobody ever had before. He was a magician in the open court and seemingly had eyes everywhere at all times during his 12 years in the NBA. Johnson was the catalyst for five NBA championships for the Lakers during the 1980s and a total of nine NBA Finals appearances in his career. He won three Finals MVP awards as well as three MVP awards and is among the greatest Lakers players to ever play the game of basketball.

Tier 3 – 11,000+ Assists

Chris Paul

For all the flack Chris Paul receives for not winning an NBA championship during his career, he has surely done enough for it to be considered a more than valiant effort. Paul is a former five-time assists champion who averaged 9.5 APG for his career and has six seasons of 10.0 APG or more. Paul is one of the great two-way players in NBA history and still is to this day in 2022-23. As far as assists go, Paul is one of only three players to hit the 11,000-assist mark in NBA history and is New Orleans’ all-time leader in assists as well as the Clippers’ all-time leader in assists. 

Tier 2 – 12,000+ Assists

Jason Kidd

For what he accomplished in his career and where he stands in all the record books, Jason Kidd doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what he did in his career. Kidd played 19 seasons in the NBA with the Suns, Mavericks, Nets, and Knicks, averaging 8.7 APG and collecting five assists titles over that time. He averaged 9.0 APG or more in 14 seasons out of 19 and 10.0 APG or more three times. He is the Nets’ all-time leader in assists and ranks third in Mavericks history as well.

Tier 1 – 15,000+ Assists

John Stockton

Sitting atop the list is the man who everyone has been waiting for, John Stockton. His assists record is one of a few records he holds that are likely to never be broken in our lifetime. Think about it. Someone would have to average 10.0 APG for 15 seasons to catch Stockton at this point. He played his entire 19-year career in Utah with the Jazz and recorded an NBA-record nine assist titles along the way. These nine titles happened consecutively from 1988 thru 1996 as he averaged 13.1 APG over this time and 10.5 APG for his career, which ranks second in NBA history. Stockton was a playmaker like no other. Out of the 29 different franchises he faced in his career, he recorded at least one game with at least 20 assists against 14 of them and a total of 34 20-assist games in his career, which is the most in NBA history by any player. Expect Stockton to be ahead of the pack and all alone on Tier 1 for the time being and for the distant future as one of the greatest passers in NBA history. 

We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.

Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.

Next

The Most Seasons In Top 5 MVP And DPOY Voting: Michael Jordan Is The Greatest Two-Way Player Ever

20 NBA Players Who Scored The Most Points In A Single Playoff Game

20 NBA Players With The Highest Field-Goal Percentage Of All Time