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List of NBA career playoff assists leaders

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This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association (NBA) players by total career Playoffs 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 Playoffs assists recorded.[2]

Magic Johnson holds the NBA playoff career assists record.[3][4] He also holds the highest assists-per-game average in league history in both the regular season (11.19) and the playoffs (12.35).[5][6]
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[7]

Statistics accurate as of the 2026 NBA playoffs.

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player Position(s) Playoff team(s) played for (years)[8] Total assists Games played Assists per game
average[9]
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, 2023–2026)		 2,168 302 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 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)
Cleveland Cavaliers (2026)		 1,224 191 6.4
7 Tony Parker* PG San Antonio Spurs (2002–2018) 1,143 226 5.1
8 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
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
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Progressive list of playoff assist leaders

Bob Cousy held the NBA playoff career assists record from 1958 to 1973.
Jerry West held the NBA playoff career assists record from 1973 to 1985.
Among active players, LeBron James has recorded the most career assists in NBA playoff history.

This is a progressive list of assist leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1]

Statistics accurate as of the 2026 NBA playoffs.[10]

^ 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.
ATLAtlanta HawksINDIndiana PacersNYKNew York KnicksSFWSan Francisco Warriors
BOSBoston CelticsLACLos Angeles ClippersOKCOklahoma City ThunderSTLSt. Louis Hawks
CHIChicago BullsLALLos Angeles LakersORLOrlando MagicSYRSyracuse Nationals
CLECleveland CavaliersMIAMiami HeatPHIPhiladelphia 76ersTORToronto Raptors
DALDallas MavericksMILMilwaukee BucksPHOPhoenix SunsUTAUtah Jazz
DETDetroit PistonsMNLMinneapolis LakersPHWPhiladelphia WarriorsWASWashington Wizards
FTWFort Wayne PistonsNJNNew Jersey NetsPORPortland Trail BlazersWSBWashington Bullets
HOUHouston RocketsNOPNew Orleans PelicansSASSan Antonio Spurs
More information Season, Year-by-year leader ...
Playoff leaders and records for assists at the end of every season
SeasonYear-by-year leaderASTActive player leaderASTCareer recordASTSingle-season recordASTSeason
1946–47Howie DallmarPHW16Howie DallmarPHW16Howie DallmarPHW16Howie DallmarPHW161946–47
1947–48375353371947–48
1948–49Jim Pollard*MNL395757Jim Pollard*MNL391948–49
1949–5056Jim Pollard*MNL95Jim Pollard*MNL95561949–50
1950–51Dick McGuire*NYK78122122Dick McGuire*NYK781950–51
1951–5290Dick McGuire*NYK195Dick McGuire*NYK195901951–52
1952–53702652651952–53
1953–54Paul SeymourSYR602702701953–54
1954–55Andy Phillip*FTW782822821954–55
1955–56George KingSYR601955–56
1956–57Bob Cousy*BOS93Slater Martin*STL304Slater Martin*STL304Bob Cousy*BOS931956–57
1957–5882Bob Cousy*BOS372Bob Cousy*BOS3721957–58
1958–591194914911191958–59
1959–601166076071959–60
1960–61916986981960–61
1961–621238218211231961–62
1962–631169379371962–63
1963–64Guy Rodgers*SFW90Bill Russell*BOS3621963–64
1964–65Bill Russell*BOS764381964–65
1965–66855231965–66
1966–67Wilt Chamberlain*PHI135573Wilt Chamberlain*PHI1351966–67
1967–68John Havlicek*BOS142672John Havlicek*BOS1421967–68
1968–69Jerry West*LAL1357701968–69
1969–70Walt Frazier*NYK156Bob Cousy*BOS937Walt Frazier*NYK1561969–70
1970–71Oscar Robertson*MIL124Jerry West*LAL7031970–71
1971–72Jerry West*LAL1348371971–72
1972–73132969Jerry West*LAL9691972–73
1973–74Oscar Robertson*MIL1499709701973–74
1974–75Kevin PorterWSB124John Havlicek*BOS7121974–75
1975–76Alvan AdamsPHO987631975–76
1976–77Bill Walton*POR1048251976–77
1977–78Tom HendersonWSB1061977–78
1978–79107Walt Frazier*CLE5991978–79
1979–80Magic Johnson*LAL1511979–80
1980–81Maurice Cheeks*PHI116Wes Unseld*WSB4531980–81
1981–82172Maurice Cheeks*PHI462Maurice Cheeks*PHI1721981–82
1982–83Magic Johnson*LAL192553Magic Johnson*LAL1921982–83
1983–84284Magic Johnson*LAL7782841983–84
1984–852891,067Magic Johnson*LAL1,0672891984–85
1985–862111,2781,2781985–86
1986–872191,4971,4971986–87
1987–883031,8001,8003031987–88
1988–891651,9651,9651988–89
1989–90Kevin JohnsonPHO1702,0802,0801989–90
1990–91Magic Johnson*LAL2402,3202,3201990–91
1991–92John Stockton*UTA217Larry Bird*BOS1,0621991–92
1992–93Kevin JohnsonPHO182Isiah Thomas*DET9871992–93
1993–94John Stockton*UTA1571993–94
1994–95Penny HardawayORL162John Stockton*UTA9801994–95
1995–96John Stockton*UTA195Magic Johnson*LAL2,3462,3461995–96
1996–97191John Stockton*UTA1,3661996–97
1997–981551,5211997–98
1998–99Avery JohnsonSAS1261,6131998–99
1999–00Mark JacksonIND1781,7161999–00
2000–01Allen Iverson*PHI1341,7732000–01
2001–02Jason Kidd*NJN1821,8132001–02
2002–031631,8392002–03
2003–04Chauncey Billups*DET136Scottie Pippen*CHI1,0482003–04
2004–05Steve Nash*PHO170Gary Payton*
BOS 2004–05
MIA 2005–06		7722004–05
2005–062048082005–06
2006–07LeBron James^CLE159Jason Kidd*
NJN 2006–07
DAL 2008–12
NYK 2012–13		9272006–07
2007–08Rajon RondoBOS1729612007–08
2008–091371,0202008–09
2009–102231,0622009–10
2010–11Jason Kidd*DAL1531,2152010–11
2011–12Rajon RondoBOS2271,2392011–12
2012–13LeBron James^MIA1521,2632012–13
2013–14Russell Westbrook†OKC153Steve Nash*LAL1,0612013–14
2014–15LeBron James^CLE169LeBron James^
CLE 2014–18
LAL 2018–26		1,1882014–15
2015–16Russell Westbrook†OKC1981,3482015–16
2016–17LeBron James^CLE1411,4892016–17
2017–181981,6872017–18
2018–19Draymond Green^GSW1872018–19
2019–20LeBron James^LAL1841,8712019–20
2020–21Jrue Holiday^MIL1991,9192020–21
2021–22Jayson Tatum^BOS1482021–22
2022–23Nikola Jokić^DEN1902,0232022–23
2023–24Luka Dončić^DAL1782,0672023–24
2024–25Tyrese Haliburton^IND1972,0952024–25
2025–26Stephon Castle^SAS1412,1682025–26
SeasonYear-by-year leaderASTActive player leaderASTCareer recordASTSingle-season recordASTSeason
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