In
basketball, an
assist is a pass to a teammate that directly leads to a score by
field goal.[1] The
National Basketball Association's (NBA) assist title is awarded to the player with the highest assists per game average in a given season. The assists title was first recognized in the
1946–47 season when statistics on assists were first compiled by the
Basketball Association of America (BAA), predecessor of the NBA.[2] To qualify for the assist title, the player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as the annual assists leader if his assist total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the
2013–14 season.[3] The assists title was originally determined by assist total through the
1968–69 season, after which assists per game was used to determine the leader instead.
John Stockton holds the all-time records for total assists (1,164) and assists per game (14.54) in a season, achieved in the
1990–91 and
1989–90 seasons respectively.[2]Mark Jackson holds the
rookie records for total assists and assists per game when he had 868 and averaged 10.6 in the
1987–88 season.[2][4] Among active players,
Chris Paul had the highest season assists total (925) in the
2007–08 season and
Russell Westbrook had the highest season assists average (11.74) in the
2020–21 season.
^Chamberlain became the first and, as of the
2019–20 NBA season, only center to win the assists title.
^In the 1971–72 season,
Lenny Wilkens had the highest assist total (766) but was second in assist average (9.6).[20]
^In the 1983–84 season,
Isiah Thomas and
Norm Nixon both had the highest assist totals (914) but they were tied for second in assist average (11.1).[41]
^John Stockton holds the all-time record for total assists per game in a single season.[2]
^John Stockton holds the all-time record for total assists in a single season.[2]
^The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's
lockout.[59] The qualification of this season's assist title is to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at least 244 assists.[3]
^In the 1999–2000 season, Jason Kidd had only played in 67 games and ranked fifth in assist total.
Gary Payton had the highest total (732).[62]
^In the 2003–04 season,
Stephon Marbury and
Steve Nash both had higher assist totals (719 and 687 respectively) but they ranked second and third in assist average (8.9 and 8.8), respectively.[67]
^The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's
lockout.[74] The qualification of this season's assist title is to appear in at least 56 games (out of 66) or to have at least 321 assists.[3]
^In the 2011–12 season,
Steve Nash had the highest assist total (664) but was second in assist average (10.7).[75]
^In the 2012–13 season,
Greivis Vásquez had the highest assist total (704) but was third in assist average (9.0).[77]
^In the 2013–14 season,
John Wall,
Ricky Rubio,
Stephen Curry all had higher assist totals (721, 703 and 666 respectively) but they were tied for second, ranked fifth and sixth in assist average (8.8, 8.6 and 8.5), respectively.[78][79]
^In the 2021–22 season,
Trae Young had the highest assist total (737), but was third in assist average (9.7).[83][73]
^In the 2022–23 season,
Trae Young and
Nikola Jokić all had higher assist totals (741 and 678 respectively), but they were ranked second and third in assist average (10.2 and 9.8 respectively).[84][80]
In
basketball, an
assist is a pass to a teammate that directly leads to a score by
field goal.[1] The
National Basketball Association's (NBA) assist title is awarded to the player with the highest assists per game average in a given season. The assists title was first recognized in the
1946–47 season when statistics on assists were first compiled by the
Basketball Association of America (BAA), predecessor of the NBA.[2] To qualify for the assist title, the player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as the annual assists leader if his assist total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the
2013–14 season.[3] The assists title was originally determined by assist total through the
1968–69 season, after which assists per game was used to determine the leader instead.
John Stockton holds the all-time records for total assists (1,164) and assists per game (14.54) in a season, achieved in the
1990–91 and
1989–90 seasons respectively.[2]Mark Jackson holds the
rookie records for total assists and assists per game when he had 868 and averaged 10.6 in the
1987–88 season.[2][4] Among active players,
Chris Paul had the highest season assists total (925) in the
2007–08 season and
Russell Westbrook had the highest season assists average (11.74) in the
2020–21 season.
^Chamberlain became the first and, as of the
2019–20 NBA season, only center to win the assists title.
^In the 1971–72 season,
Lenny Wilkens had the highest assist total (766) but was second in assist average (9.6).[20]
^In the 1983–84 season,
Isiah Thomas and
Norm Nixon both had the highest assist totals (914) but they were tied for second in assist average (11.1).[41]
^John Stockton holds the all-time record for total assists per game in a single season.[2]
^John Stockton holds the all-time record for total assists in a single season.[2]
^The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's
lockout.[59] The qualification of this season's assist title is to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at least 244 assists.[3]
^In the 1999–2000 season, Jason Kidd had only played in 67 games and ranked fifth in assist total.
Gary Payton had the highest total (732).[62]
^In the 2003–04 season,
Stephon Marbury and
Steve Nash both had higher assist totals (719 and 687 respectively) but they ranked second and third in assist average (8.9 and 8.8), respectively.[67]
^The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's
lockout.[74] The qualification of this season's assist title is to appear in at least 56 games (out of 66) or to have at least 321 assists.[3]
^In the 2011–12 season,
Steve Nash had the highest assist total (664) but was second in assist average (10.7).[75]
^In the 2012–13 season,
Greivis Vásquez had the highest assist total (704) but was third in assist average (9.0).[77]
^In the 2013–14 season,
John Wall,
Ricky Rubio,
Stephen Curry all had higher assist totals (721, 703 and 666 respectively) but they were tied for second, ranked fifth and sixth in assist average (8.8, 8.6 and 8.5), respectively.[78][79]
^In the 2021–22 season,
Trae Young had the highest assist total (737), but was third in assist average (9.7).[83][73]
^In the 2022–23 season,
Trae Young and
Nikola Jokić all had higher assist totals (741 and 678 respectively), but they were ranked second and third in assist average (10.2 and 9.8 respectively).[84][80]