Chris Paul has recorded the most regular-season assists in the NBA since 2000 with 12,552. LeBron James ranks second with 12,016 assists, Russell Westbrook is third with 10,351 and Steve Nash is fourth with 9,716 during the selected period.
This leaderboard covers assists recorded from the beginning of the 1999-00 NBA season through the completed 2025-26 season. The phrase “since 2000” refers to the NBA season that ended in 2000 rather than a January 1 calendar cutoff. Playoff assists are not included.
The seven tier graphics rank the 17 players with at least 6,000 assists, while the complete table extends the same leaderboard to the top 50. This is not a subjective ranking of the greatest passers ever. Efficiency, turnovers, games played, era, position and offensive system can add context, but none of those factors changes the order.
For more playmaking history, compare this leaderboard with the most assists per game in NBA history, most NBA playoff assists since 2000 and best point guards in NBA history.
Quick answer: Chris Paul leads the NBA with 12,552 regular-season assists since the 1999-00 season. LeBron James is second with 12,016, Russell Westbrook is third with 10,351, Steve Nash is fourth with 9,716 and Jason Kidd is fifth with 8,921.
How This NBA Assist Leaderboard Works
The ranking uses regular-season assists recorded from the 1999-00 season through 2025-26. It is not adjusted for games played, pace, position, assist-to-turnover ratio or the amount of time each player controlled the ball.
The starting season matters for Steve Nash and Jason Kidd. Nash officially finished with 10,335 career assists, but 619 came during his first three seasons before 1999-00. That leaves 9,716 for this leaderboard. Kidd officially recorded 12,091, but 3,170 came before the cutoff, leaving 8,921.
Every other player shown debuted during 1999-00 or later, so each receives his complete regular-season career total through 2025-26.
The seven tier ranges are:
- Tier 1: 12,000 or more assists
- Tier 2: 11,000 to 11,999 assists
- Tier 3: 10,000 to 10,999 assists
- Tier 4: 9,000 to 9,999 assists
- Tier 5: 8,000 to 8,999 assists
- Tier 6: 7,000 to 7,999 assists
- Tier 7: 6,000 to 6,999 assists
Tier 2 is intentionally empty because the leaderboard drops from LeBron James at 12,016 assists to Russell Westbrook at 10,351.
What Counts as an NBA Assist?
An assist is awarded to the player who delivers the final pass leading directly to a made field goal, provided the scorer makes an immediate move toward the basket or shot after receiving the ball. Only one assist can be credited on a made basket.
The statistic does not credit a pass that creates an open miss, the pass before the assist, a screen that frees the scorer or every advantage that forces a defensive rotation. That is why total assists should not be treated as a complete measurement of passing talent or overall playmaking.
System and role matter as well. Ball-dominant pick-and-roll guards generally have more direct assist opportunities than players working in motion offenses. Stephen Curry’s shooting gravity can break a defense before he makes a pass, while Nikola Jokić creates offense from a position that historically produced far fewer assists.
Tier 7: 6,000-6,999 Assists
#17 Baron Davis — 6,025 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,025 regular-season assists, two All-Star selections and a career average of 7.2 assists per game.
Baron Davis closes the leaderboard with 6,025 assists. He debuted during the 1999-00 season, so every regular-season assist from his NBA career is included.
Davis combined power, creativity and transition speed with deep pull-up shooting. He was especially dangerous before defenses could organize, using early drag screens and hit-ahead passes to create high-value chances.
Injuries limited his career length, but his best seasons featured genuine lead-guard control and some of the most explosive open-floor playmaking of the era.
#16 Damian Lillard — 6,069 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,069 regular-season assists and nine All-Star selections.
Damian Lillard finished 2025-26 with 6,069 assists, placing him 44 ahead of Davis and only 11 behind Nikola Jokić.
Lillard’s deep shooting range forced traps well beyond the three-point line. Those coverages opened pocket passes to rolling big men and skip passes toward weak-side shooters.
Scoring was always the largest part of his offensive responsibility, but years of high pick-and-roll creation still carried him above 6,000 assists.
#15 Nikola Jokić — 6,080 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,080 regular-season assists through 2025-26, three MVP awards, one NBA championship and one Finals MVP.
Nikola Jokić finished 2025-26 with 6,080 assists. The current graphic displays 6,680, but the correct number keeps him 11 assists ahead of Lillard and does not change his rank or tier.
Jokić creates from the post, elbow, transition and full-court outlet situations. His size allows him to see over the defense, while his touch lets him deliver passes before openings become obvious.
Reaching this leaderboard as a center is the remarkable part. He turned a position historically associated with finishing possessions into the control center of an elite offense.
#14 Stephen Curry — 6,743 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,743 regular-season assists, four NBA championships, two MVP awards and the NBA career record for made three-pointers.
Stephen Curry ranks 14th with 6,743 assists. His official total is strong, but it cannot fully capture the playmaking value created by his range and constant movement.
Defenders often abandon assignments before Curry receives or passes the ball. Golden State’s motion offense then distributes the final assists among Draymond Green, Curry and other connectors.
Curry is therefore a useful reminder that the final-pass statistic measures one form of creation rather than every way a player bends a defense.
#13 Jrue Holiday — 6,762 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,762 regular-season assists, two NBA championships, two All-Star selections and multiple All-Defensive honors.
Jrue Holiday finished 2025-26 only 19 assists ahead of Curry and 20 behind Mike Conley. Few stretches of the leaderboard are tighter.
Holiday’s offensive role changed substantially across his career. He operated as a primary creator in Philadelphia and New Orleans before accepting lower-usage responsibilities beside championship-level stars.
His strength, handle and ability to pass from either guard position allowed him to remain productive even when the offense did not run through him.
#12 Mike Conley — 6,782 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,782 regular-season assists and more than 1,200 games of reliable point-guard play.
Mike Conley sits only 37 assists behind Deron Williams and 20 ahead of Holiday. His placement was built through steady pick-and-roll reads, careful possession management and unusual longevity.
Conley rarely produced the spectacular single-season assist averages associated with Paul, Nash or Rondo. Instead, he provided structure, controlled pace and consistently made the simple pass before a possession became difficult.
That long-term dependability produced one of the largest cumulative totals of the era.
#11 Deron Williams — 6,819 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 6,819 regular-season assists, three All-Star selections and a career average of 8.1 assists per game.
Deron Williams leads Tier 7 with 6,819 assists. At his peak in Utah, his combination of size, handle and pull-up shooting made him one of basketball’s most complete pick-and-roll guards.
Williams could punish defenders who went under a screen, move larger switches with strength and deliver passes to either side of the floor. His best years briefly placed him in direct comparison with Chris Paul.
The peak ended sooner than expected, but it was productive enough to keep Williams ahead of every other player in this tier.
Tier 6: 7,000-7,999 Assists
#10 Tony Parker — 7,036 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 7,036 regular-season assists, four NBA championships, one Finals MVP and six All-Star selections.
Tony Parker opens Tier 6 with 7,036 assists. His speed and paint scoring forced defenders to collapse, creating finishes for San Antonio’s big men and kick-outs toward perimeter shooters.
The Spurs spread creation across Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili and later Kawhi Leonard. That balanced structure limited Parker’s counting totals relative to more ball-dominant point guards.
His four championships and Finals MVP nevertheless show how effectively his scoring and passing translated when the competition became hardest.
#9 Kyle Lowry — 7,110 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 7,110 regular-season assists, six All-Star selections and one NBA championship.
Kyle Lowry reached 7,110 assists through pick-and-roll play, early outlet passes and a willingness to move the ball before the defense became set.
He developed into a lead guard later than many stars at the position. Once established in Toronto, Lowry balanced creation with shooting, defense and the physical details that made the Raptors successful.
He never led the league in assists, but years of steady offensive organization moved him comfortably beyond 7,000.
#8 Rajon Rondo — 7,584 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 7,584 regular-season assists, three assist titles, two NBA championships and four All-Star selections.
Rajon Rondo leads Tier 6 by 474 assists. At his peak, he controlled tempo, manipulated help defenders and found passing angles that most point guards would not attempt.
Opponents often defended him from well below the three-point line, but Rondo answered with patience and exceptional coverage recognition. He could hold the dribble until a cutter or screener created the exact opening he wanted.
His playoff résumé adds context beyond the regular-season total. “Playoff Rondo” became a real phenomenon because he repeatedly elevated his decision-making in long series.
Tier 5: 8,000-8,999 Assists
#7 Andre Miller — 8,524 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 8,524 regular-season assists, one assist title and 17 NBA seasons.
Andre Miller recorded 8,524 assists after debuting in 1999-00, which means his entire NBA total is included.
Miller relied on strength, timing and court awareness rather than elite speed or three-point shooting. He used post-ups, changes of pace and accurate entry passes to organize many different offenses.
Durability was a major part of the achievement. Miller appeared in 1,304 regular-season games, remained useful across nine franchises and rarely surrendered control of a possession.
#6 James Harden — 8,873 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 8,873 regular-season assists, one MVP, two assist titles and three scoring titles.
James Harden finished 2025-26 only 48 assists behind Jason Kidd’s period total. His path to the leaderboard was different from that of a traditional pass-first point guard.
Harden first forced defenses to fear his scoring. Isolation drives, step-back threes and free-throw pressure brought extra defenders toward the ball, creating pocket passes, lobs and kick-outs across the floor.
His later career placed even more responsibility on his passing. Few players have ever combined scoring and assist volume at this level for this long.
#5 Jason Kidd — 8,921 Assists Since 1999-00
Playmaking snapshot: 8,921 assists from 1999-00 onward, 12,091 full-career assists, five assist titles and one NBA championship.
Jason Kidd leads Tier 5 by 48 assists over Harden. His official career total is much higher, but 3,170 assists from his first five seasons are removed by this leaderboard’s cutoff.
Kidd could create offense before the defense was set. His rebounding allowed him to start fast breaks himself, and his hit-ahead passing regularly turned routine possessions into layups.
He later became a reliable three-point shooter and adapted to a smaller offensive role during Dallas’ 2011 championship season, extending both his career and his playmaking value.
Tier 4: 9,000-9,999 Assists
#4 Steve Nash — 9,716 Assists Since 1999-00
Playmaking snapshot: 9,716 assists from 1999-00 onward, 10,335 full-career assists, two MVP awards and five assist titles.
Steve Nash owns Tier 4 by himself. His first three NBA seasons produced 619 assists that are excluded, reducing his displayed total from 10,335 to 9,716.
Nash controlled games through pace, shooting gravity and precise pick-and-roll reads. His ability to keep the dribble alive forced defenders to make repeated decisions until a high-quality shot appeared.
Phoenix’s Seven Seconds or Less offense helped push the league toward modern spacing and tempo. The total is impressive, but Nash’s efficiency and influence make the larger playmaking case even stronger.
Tier 3: 10,000-10,999 Assists
#3 Russell Westbrook — 10,351 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 10,351 regular-season assists, one MVP, three assist titles and four seasons averaging a triple-double.
Russell Westbrook stands alone in Tier 3 as the only player between 10,000 and 10,999 assists during the selected period.
Westbrook’s greatest playmaking weapon was force. His speed pushed defenses backward, his drives collapsed the paint and his rebounding allowed him to initiate transition before opponents could match up.
The aggressive style produced turnovers, but it also generated an enormous amount of offense. His combined scoring, rebounding and passing workload remains unique among modern guards.
Tier 2: 11,000-11,999 Assists
No player currently occupies Tier 2. LeBron James moved beyond 12,000 assists in April 2026, while Westbrook finished the season at 10,351.
Tier 1: 12,000+ Assists
#2 LeBron James — 12,016 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 12,016 regular-season assists, four NBA championships, four MVP awards and four Finals MVP awards.
LeBron James finished 2025-26 with 12,016 assists. He crossed 12,000 on April 11, 2026, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to reach the milestone after John Stockton, Chris Paul and Jason Kidd.
James creates offense from almost every area of the floor. He can lead transition, pass over smaller defenders, manipulate help from the post and find weak-side shooters with either hand.
His scoring receives most of the attention, but the assist total is historic on its own. No other player identified primarily as a forward has approached this level of completed playmaking volume.
#1 Chris Paul — 12,552 Assists
Playmaking snapshot: 12,552 regular-season assists, 12 All-Star selections, five assist titles and six steals titles.
Chris Paul holds the top position with 12,552 assists. He retired in February 2026 after 21 NBA seasons, making this his final career total and leaving him 536 assists ahead of LeBron at the end of 2025-26.
Paul combined elite ball control, passing accuracy, pick-and-roll command and midrange scoring. Defenders had to respect his pull-up jumper, which created passing windows toward rollers, corner shooters and cutters.
His possession management separated him from most high-volume creators. Paul consistently produced high-value shots without accumulating the turnover totals normally associated with such a large playmaking workload.
Biggest Takeaways
Chris Paul Retired With the Lead
Paul’s 12,552 assists are now a final career total. He retired in February 2026 as the second-leading passer in NBA history behind John Stockton and the clear leader for the period covered by this article.
LeBron Became the Fourth Member of the 12,000-Assist Club
LeBron reached 12,000 assists in April 2026. His combination of more than 43,000 points and more than 12,000 assists gives him a scoring-and-creation profile without a historical parallel.
Jason Kidd and James Harden Are Separated by 48
Kidd holds fifth place with 8,921 assists during the selected period, while Harden has 8,873. The comparison is especially interesting because Kidd was a transition-first floor general and Harden created many of his assists through scoring pressure.
Four Tier 7 Players Are Separated by 76 Assists
Williams has 6,819, Conley 6,782, Holiday 6,762 and Curry 6,743. One productive season could significantly change the order among the active players in that cluster.
Assists Do Not Capture Every Form of Creation
Curry’s gravity, Jokić’s positional influence and LeBron’s ability to force rotations often generate advantages before the final pass. The assist remains an important statistic, but it is not a complete measure of offensive creation.
Complete Top 50 NBA Assists Since 2000 Table
The seven graphics cover the 17 players with at least 6,000 assists. This table extends the same regular-season leaderboard to the top 50. Players ranked 18 through 50 fall below the 6,000-assist cutoff and therefore do not receive one of the seven graphic tiers.
| Rank | Player | Assists | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Paul | 12,552 | Tier 1 |
| 2 | LeBron James | 12,016 | Tier 1 |
| 3 | Russell Westbrook | 10,351 | Tier 3 |
| 4 | Steve Nash | 9,716 | Tier 4 |
| 5 | Jason Kidd | 8,921 | Tier 5 |
| 6 | James Harden | 8,873 | Tier 5 |
| 7 | Andre Miller | 8,524 | Tier 5 |
| 8 | Rajon Rondo | 7,584 | Tier 6 |
| 9 | Kyle Lowry | 7,110 | Tier 6 |
| 10 | Tony Parker | 7,036 | Tier 6 |
| 11 | Deron Williams | 6,819 | Tier 7 |
| 12 | Mike Conley | 6,782 | Tier 7 |
| 13 | Jrue Holiday | 6,762 | Tier 7 |
| 14 | Stephen Curry | 6,743 | Tier 7 |
| 15 | Nikola Jokić | 6,080 | Tier 7 |
| 16 | Damian Lillard | 6,069 | Tier 7 |
| 17 | Baron Davis | 6,025 | Tier 7 |
| 18 | Kobe Bryant | 5,826 | — |
| 19 | John Wall | 5,735 | — |
| 20 | Dwyane Wade | 5,701 | — |
| 21 | Jason Terry | 5,415 | — |
| 22 | Draymond Green | 5,324 | — |
| 23 | Kevin Durant | 5,280 | — |
| 24 | Mike Bibby | 5,192 | — |
| 25 | DeMar DeRozan | 5,185 | — |
| 26 | Ricky Rubio | 5,160 | — |
| 27 | Chauncey Billups | 5,149 | — |
| 28 | Jose Calderon | 5,148 | — |
| 29 | Andre Iguodala | 5,147 | — |
| 30 | Raymond Felton | 5,096 | — |
| 31 | Joe Johnson | 5,001 | — |
| 32 | Trae Young | 4,868 | — |
| 33 | Stephon Marbury | 4,808 | — |
| 34 | Paul Pierce | 4,593 | — |
| 35 | Jeff Teague | 4,585 | — |
| 36 | Vince Carter | 4,565 | — |
| 37 | Jamal Crawford | 4,541 | — |
| 38 | Kevin Garnett | 4,514 | — |
| 39 | Jameer Nelson | 4,508 | — |
| 40 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 4,484 | — |
| 41 | Dennis Schröder | 4,438 | — |
| 42 | Goran Dragic | 4,405 | — |
| 43 | Kyrie Irving | 4,365 | — |
| 44 | Allen Iverson | 4,340 | — |
| 45 | Jason Williams | 4,312 | — |
| 46 | Kirk Hinrich | 4,245 | — |
| 47 | Luka Dončić | 4,230 | — |
| 48 | Gary Payton | 4,150 | — |
| 49 | Sam Cassell | 4,120 | — |
| 50 | Manu Ginobili | 4,001 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the most assists in the NBA since 2000?
Chris Paul leads with 12,552 regular-season assists from the 1999-00 season through 2025-26.
Who ranks second in NBA assists since 2000?
LeBron James ranks second with 12,016 regular-season assists.
Why are Steve Nash and Jason Kidd shown below their career totals?
The leaderboard begins with the 1999-00 season. Nash loses 619 assists recorded during his first three seasons, while Kidd loses 3,170 from his first five seasons.
What is Nikola Jokić’s correct assist total?
Jokić finished the 2025-26 regular season with 6,080 career assists. The 6,680 figure in the current Tier 7 graphic is incorrect.
Are playoff assists included?
No. This leaderboard uses regular-season assists only.
How does the NBA decide whether a pass is an assist?
The final pass must lead directly to a made field goal, with the scorer making an immediate move toward the basket or shot after receiving it. Only one assist can be awarded on a made basket.
Sources and Data Notes
The NBA’s Video Rulebook assist examples were used for the explanation of what qualifies as an assist.
Nash and Kidd’s pre-1999-00 assists were subtracted from their official career totals. Playoff assists were excluded from every calculation.
Period covered: 1999-00 through 2025-26
Statistic: Regular-season assists
Players included: Top 50 in the complete table; 17 players with at least 6,000 assists in the tier graphics
Last reviewed: July 22, 2026
Conclusion
Chris Paul finishes first on the most assists made in the NBA since 2000 leaderboard with 12,552. LeBron James follows at 12,016, Russell Westbrook owns the 10,000-assist tier and Steve Nash stands alone above 9,000 during the selected period.
The deeper tiers show several different versions of playmaking. Kidd created in transition, Harden used scoring pressure to open passing lanes, Miller relied on strength and timing, and Rondo built his game around patience and coverage recognition.
Tier 7 adds even more variety. Curry creates advantages through shooting gravity, Jokić has redefined passing at center and Lillard stretched pick-and-roll defenses with deep range. Their official assists matter, but their offensive influence extends beyond the final pass.
The two essential context notes are the date restriction and the Jokić correction. Nash and Kidd lose early-career production because the leaderboard begins with 1999-00, while Jokić’s graphic should show 6,080 rather than 6,680.
More NBA Rankings
- Most Assists Per Game in NBA History
- Most Assists in the NBA Playoffs Since 2000
- Best Point Guards in NBA History
- Most Points Scored in NBA History
- SOG Sports NBA
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