# List of NBA annual assists leaders

In basketball, an assist is a pass to a teammate that directly leads to a score by field goal. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
Stockton has the most assists titles in his career, with nine. Bob Cousy won eight assists titles, while Oscar Robertson won six. Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash have five assists titles, while Kevin Porter and Magic Johnson each won four. Rajon Rondo and Russell Westbrook have three, while Andy Phillip, Guy Rodgers and James Harden are the only other players with multiple titles. Stockton also won the most consecutive assists titles, with nine. Four players have won both the assists title and the NBA championship in the same season: Cousy in 1957 and from 1959 to 1960 with the Boston Celtics; Jerry West in 1972 with the Los Angeles Lakers; Johnson in 1987 with the Lakers, and LeBron James with the Lakers in 2020.

## Key

| ^ | ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
| * | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| ‡ | ‡ | Denotes player who won the MVP award that year | Denotes player who won the MVP award that year | Denotes player who won the MVP award that year | Denotes player who won the MVP award that year | Denotes player who won the MVP award that year |
| Player (X) | Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the assists leader up to and including that season |
| G | Guard | Guard | F | Forward | C | Center |

## Annual leaders

| Season | Player | Position | Team | Games played | Total assists | Assists per game |
| 1946–47 | Ernie Calverley | G | Providence Steamrollers | 59 | 202 | 3.42 |
| 1947–48 | Howie Dallmar | F | Philadelphia Warriors | 48 | 120 | 2.50 |
| 1948–49 | Bob Davies* | G/F | Rochester Royals | 60 | 321 | 5.35 |
| 1949–50 | Dick McGuire* | G | New York Knicks | 68 | 386 | 5.68 |
| 1950–51 | Andy Phillip* | G/F | Philadelphia Warriors | 66 | 414 | 6.27 |
| 1951–52 | Andy Phillip* (2) | G/F | Philadelphia Warriors | 66 | 539 | 8.17 |
| 1952–53 | Bob Cousy* | G | Boston Celtics | 71 | 547 | 7.70 |
| 1953–54 | Bob Cousy* (2) | G | Boston Celtics | 72 | 518 | 7.19 |
| 1954–55 | Bob Cousy* (3) | G | Boston Celtics | 71 | 557 | 7.85 |
| 1955–56 | Bob Cousy* (4) | G | Boston Celtics | 72 | 642 | 8.92 |
| 1956–57 ‡ | Bob Cousy* (5) | G | Boston Celtics | 64 | 478 | 7.47 |
| 1957–58 | Bob Cousy* (6) | G | Boston Celtics | 65 | 463 | 7.12 |
| 1958–59 | Bob Cousy* (7) | G | Boston Celtics | 65 | 557 | 8.57 |
| 1959–60 | Bob Cousy* (8) | G | Boston Celtics | 75 | 715 | 9.53 |
| 1960–61 | Oscar Robertson* | G | Cincinnati Royals | 71 | 690 | 9.72 |
| 1961–62 | Oscar Robertson* (2) | G | Cincinnati Royals | 79 | 899 | 11.38 |
| 1962–63 | Guy Rodgers* | G | San Francisco Warriors | 79 | 825 | 10.44 |
| 1963–64 ‡ | Oscar Robertson* (3) | G | Cincinnati Royals | 79 | 868 | 10.99 |
| 1964–65 | Oscar Robertson* (4) | G | Cincinnati Royals | 75 | 861 | 11.48 |
| 1965–66 | Oscar Robertson* (5) | G | Cincinnati Royals | 76 | 847 | 11.14 |
| 1966–67 | Guy Rodgers* (2) | G | Chicago Bulls | 81 | 908 | 11.21 |
| 1967–68 ‡ | Wilt Chamberlain* | C | Philadelphia 76ers | 82 | 702 | 8.56 |
| 1968–69 | Oscar Robertson* (6) | G | Cincinnati Royals | 79 | 772 | 9.77 |
| 1969–70 | Lenny Wilkens* | G | Seattle SuperSonics | 75 | 683 | 9.11 |
| 1970–71 | Norm Van Lier | G | Cincinnati Royals | 82 | 832 | 10.15 |
| 1971–72 | Jerry West* | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 77 | 747 | 9.70 |
| 1972–73 | Nate Archibald* | G | Kansas City–Omaha Kings | 80 | 910 | 11.38 |
| 1973–74 | Ernie DiGregorio | G | Buffalo Braves | 81 | 663 | 8.19 |
| 1974–75 | Kevin Porter | G | Washington Bullets | 81 | 650 | 8.02 |
| 1975–76 | Slick Watts | G | Seattle SuperSonics | 82 | 661 | 8.06 |
| 1976–77 | Don Buse | G | Indiana Pacers | 81 | 685 | 8.46 |
| 1977–78 | Kevin Porter (2) | G | Detroit Pistons New Jersey Nets | 82 | 837 | 10.21 |
| 1978–79 | Kevin Porter (3) | G | Detroit Pistons | 82 | 1,099 | 13.40 |
| 1979–80 | Michael Ray Richardson | G/F | New York Knicks | 82 | 835 | 10.15 |
| 1980–81 | Kevin Porter (4) | G | Washington Bullets | 81 | 734 | 9.06 |
| 1981–82 | Johnny Moore | G | San Antonio Spurs | 79 | 762 | 9.65 |
| 1982–83 | Magic Johnson* | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 79 | 829 | 10.49 |
| 1983–84 | Magic Johnson* (2) | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 67 | 875 | 13.06 |
| 1984–85 | Isiah Thomas* | G | Detroit Pistons | 81 | 1,123 | 13.86 |
| 1985–86 | Magic Johnson* (3) | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 72 | 907 | 12.60 |
| 1986–87 ‡ | Magic Johnson* (4) | G | Los Angeles Lakers | 80 | 977 | 12.21 |
| 1987–88 | John Stockton* | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 1,128 | 13.76 |
| 1988–89 | John Stockton* (2) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 1,118 | 13.63 |
| 1989–90 | John Stockton* (3) | G | Utah Jazz | 78 | 1,134 | 14.54 |
| 1990–91 | John Stockton* (4) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 1,164 | 14.20 |
| 1991–92 | John Stockton* (5) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 1,126 | 13.73 |
| 1992–93 | John Stockton* (6) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 987 | 12.04 |
| 1993–94 | John Stockton* (7) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 1,031 | 12.57 |
| 1994–95 | John Stockton* (8) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 1,011 | 12.33 |
| 1995–96 | John Stockton* (9) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 916 | 11.17 |
| 1996–97 | Mark Jackson | G | Denver Nuggets Indiana Pacers | 82 | 935 | 11.40 |
| 1997–98 | Rod Strickland | G | Washington Wizards | 76 | 801 | 10.54 |
| 1998–99 | Jason Kidd* | G | Phoenix Suns | 50 | 539 | 10.78 |
| 1999–00 | Jason Kidd* (2) | G | Phoenix Suns | 67 | 678 | 10.12 |
| 2000–01 | Jason Kidd* (3) | G | Phoenix Suns | 77 | 753 | 9.78 |
| 2001–02 | Andre Miller | G | Cleveland Cavaliers | 81 | 882 | 10.89 |
| 2002–03 | Jason Kidd* (4) | G | New Jersey Nets | 80 | 711 | 8.89 |
| 2003–04 | Jason Kidd* (5) | G | New Jersey Nets | 67 | 618 | 9.22 |
| 2004–05 ‡ | Steve Nash | G | Phoenix Suns | 75 | 861 | 11.48 |
| 2005–06 ‡ | Steve Nash* (2) | G | Phoenix Suns | 79 | 826 | 10.46 |
| 2006–07 | Steve Nash* (3) | G | Phoenix Suns | 76 | 884 | 11.63 |
| 2007–08 | Chris Paul^ | G | New Orleans Hornets | 80 | 925 | 11.56 |
| 2008–09 | Chris Paul^ (2) | G | New Orleans Hornets | 78 | 861 | 11.04 |
| 2009–10 | Steve Nash* (4) | G | Phoenix Suns | 81 | 892 | 11.01 |
| 2010–11 | Steve Nash* (5) | G | Phoenix Suns | 74 | 845 | 11.42 |
| 2011–12 | Rajon Rondo | G | Boston Celtics | 53 | 620 | 11.70 |
| 2012–13 | Rajon Rondo (2) | G | Boston Celtics | 38 | 420 | 11.05 |
| 2013–14 | Chris Paul^ (3) | G | Los Angeles Clippers | 62 | 663 | 10.69 |
| 2014–15 | Chris Paul^ (4) | G | Los Angeles Clippers | 82 | 838 | 10.20 |
| 2015–16 | Rajon Rondo (3) | G | Sacramento Kings | 72 | 839 | 11.70 |
| 2016–17 | James Harden^ | G | Houston Rockets | 81 | 907 | 11.20 |
| 2017–18 | Russell Westbrook^ | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | 80 | 820 | 10.25 |
| 2018–19 | Russell Westbrook^ (2) | G | Oklahoma City Thunder | 73 | 784 | 10.74 |
| 2019–20 | LeBron James^ | G/F | Los Angeles Lakers | 67 | 684 | 10.21 |
| 2020–21 | Russell Westbrook^ (3) | G | Washington Wizards | 65 | 763 | 11.74 |
| 2021–22 | Chris Paul^ (5) | G | Phoenix Suns | 65 | 702 | 10.80 |
| 2022–23 | James Harden^ (2) | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 58 | 618 | 10.66 |
| 2023–24 | Tyrese Haliburton^ | G | Indiana Pacers | 69 | 752 | 10.90 |

## Multiple-time leaders

| Rank | Player | Team | Times leader | Years |
| 1 | John Stockton | Utah Jazz | 9 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| 2 | Bob Cousy | Boston Celtics | 8 | 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 |
| 3 | Oscar Robertson | Cincinnati Royals | 6 | 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1969 |
| 4 | Jason Kidd | Phoenix Suns (3) / New Jersey Nets (2) | 5 | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004 |
| 4 | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets (2) / Los Angeles Clippers (2) / Phoenix Suns (1) | 5 | 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2022 |
| 4 | Steve Nash | Phoenix Suns | 5 | 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 |
| 7 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 4 | 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987 |
| 7 | Kevin Porter | Washington Bullets (2) / Detroit Pistons (1) / New Jersey Nets (1) | 4 | 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981 |
| 9 | Rajon Rondo | Boston Celtics (2) / Sacramento Kings (1) | 3 | 2012, 2013, 2016 |
| 9 | Russell Westbrook | Oklahoma City Thunder (2) / Washington Wizards (1) | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2021 |
| 11 | James Harden | Houston Rockets (1) / Philadelphia 76ers (1) | 2 | 2017, 2023 |
| 11 | Andy Phillip | Philadelphia Warriors | 2 | 1951, 1952 |
| 11 | Guy Rodgers | San Francisco Warriors (1) / Chicago Bulls (1) | 2 | 1963, 1967 |