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 2025 NBA playoffs.

Magic Johnson has the most assists in NBA playoff history.

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Rank	Player	Position(s)	Playoff team(s) played for (years)[3]	Total assists	Games played	Assists per game average[4]
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, 2023–2025)	2,095	292	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	James Harden^	SG/PG	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012) Houston Rockets (2013–2020) Brooklyn Nets (2021) Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023) Los Angeles Clippers (2024–2025)	1,125	173	6.5
9	Larry Bird*	SF/PF	Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992)	1,062	164	6.5
10	Steve Nash*	PG	Phoenix Suns (1997–1998, 2005–2008, 2010) Dallas Mavericks (2001–2004) Los Angeles Lakers (2013)	1,061	120	8.8
11	Scottie Pippen*	SF	Chicago Bulls (1988–1998) Houston Rockets (1999) Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)	1,048	208	5.0
12	Kobe Bryant*	SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012)	1,040	220	4.7
13	Michael Jordan*	SG	Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998)	1,022	179	5.7
14	Draymond Green^	PF	Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023, 2025)	1,020	169	6.0
15	Dennis Johnson*	PG/SG	Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980) Phoenix Suns (1981–1983) Boston Celtics (1984–1990)	1,006	180	5.6
16	Isiah Thomas*	PG	Detroit Pistons (1984–1992)	987	111	8.9
17	Jerry West*	PG	Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974)	970	153	6.3
18	Russell Westbrook^	PG	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2014, 2016–2019) Houston Rockets (2020) Washington Wizards (2021) Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024) Denver Nuggets (2025)	955	135	7.1
19	Stephen Curry^	PG	Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023, 2025)	953	155	6.1
20	Bob Cousy*	PG	Boston Celtics (1951–1963)	937	109	8.6
21	Kevin Johnson	PG	Phoenix Suns (1989–1998, 2000)	935	105	8.9
22	Maurice Cheeks*	PG	Philadelphia 76ers (1979–1987, 1989) New York Knicks (1990–1991) New Jersey Nets (1993)	922	133	6.9
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 2025 NBA playoffs.^[5]

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

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	Slater Martin*000MNL 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	Jo Jo White*000BOS 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 Rondo000BOS	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 Rondo000BOS	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 2018–25	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
2023–24	Luka Dončić^000DAL	178		2,067					2023–24
2024–25	Tyrese Haliburton^000IND	197		2,095					2024–25
Season	Year-by-year leader	AST	Active player leader	AST	Career record	AST	Single-season record	AST	Season

See also

• Basketball statistics
• NBA post-season records