Unbelievable Playmaking: The NBA’s Single-Game Assist Record That Changed Basketball Forever

Assists have morphed from a point guard’s signature move into a league-wide art form — with big men like LeBron James and Nikola Jokic redefining what it means to create plays. Ever wonder who’s made the most folks smile with a flurry of dimes in a single game? Wilt Chamberlain, the towering 76ers legend, once racked up 21 assists alongside a monster stat line, but intriguingly, the frontcourt assist crown technically belongs to George McCloud, a small forward who dished out 22 helpers. Yet, despite these standout performances, the all-time leaderboard still bows down to the traditional floor generals. Ready to dive into the jaw-dropping top single-game assist feats that have electrified the NBA? Let’s break down the dazzling passes and record-setting nights that turned teammates into scoring machines and redefine what it takes to “make two people happy.” LEARN MORE.

Whether it’s LeBron James playing a point forward role or Nikola Jokic dishing them out from the center position, assists aren’t just for point guards anymore.

And there’s a perfectly good reason for that.

“They say an assist makes two people happy,” Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic told reporters prior to the start of the 2021-22 season. “So, that’s how I (grew) up.”

So which big man has made the most people happy in a single game? Well, Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers once had 21 assists to go along with 22 points and 25 rebounds against the Detroit Pistons on Feb. 2, 1968.

But technically, 6-foot-6 small forward George McCloud of the Denver Nuggets had the most assists in a game in NBA history among frontcourt players with 22 against the Chicago Bulls on March 26, 2001.

The big men, however, still have a ways to go to get into the all-time top-five list, which remains dominated by the traditional point guard. Here’s a look at the top single-game assist performances of all time by an NBA player:

Most Assists in a Game

30 – Scott Skiles (Dec. 30, 1990)

With his ability to read the floor, it’s no wonder Skiles went on to become a head coach with the Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic. Playing a team known for its ‘run and gun’ style and little regard for defense under Paul Westhead, Skiles carved up the Nuggets and snapped Kevin Porter’s 12-year-old NBA record in the final minute of this regular-season contest. Eight different Orlando players scored in double figures and the Magic also set a franchise record for points in the 155-116 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

29 – Kevin Porter (Feb. 24, 1978)

Porter had three other 20-assist games during a 1977-78 season in which he was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Nets on Nov. 7, 1977. Apparently realizing their mistake, the Pistons then re-acquired Porter from the Nets just 10 months later. During his historic 29-assist effort in the Nets’ 126-112 win over the Houston Rockets. John Williamson (39 points) and Bernard King (35) were the primary targets as Porter surpassed, at that time, Bob Cousy and Guy Rodgers on the all-time list. Then on March 9, 1979, Porter set a Pistons franchise record with 25 dimes.

28 – Bob Cousy (Feb. 27, 1959)

When a team sets the record for the most points in an NBA game (it’s now tied for the third most), you figure someone had to have racked up some assists. That would be Cousy, who, at that time, set the all-time record with his 28-assist effort in Boston’s 173-139 win over the Minneapolis Lakers. He led the league in assists per game in eight straight seasons between 1952-53 and 1959-60.

28 – John Stockton (Jan. 15, 1991)

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Stockton’s full stat line in a 124-102 win over the Spurs in 1991. The Utah Jazz great finished with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, eight steals and, of course, the 28 assists.

28 – Guy Rodgers (March 14, 1963)

Rodgers matched Cousy’s single-game assist record four years later in the St. Louis Hawks’ 114-109 win over the San Francisco Warriors.

Most Assists in a Game by a Rookie

25 – Nate McMillan (Feb. 23, 1987)

McMillan was midway through the first of what would be a 12-year NBA career when he finished with eight points, eight rebounds, four blocks and 25 assists to match DiGregorio’s single-game rookie record.

As a result, Dale Ellis (29), Xavier McDaniel (28) and Tom Chambers (25) all poured in 25 or more points for the SuperSonics in a 124-112 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

25 – Ernie DiGregorio (Jan. 1, 1974)

DiGregorio had 20 points and 25 assists in his record-setting performance – a 120-119 victory for the Buffalo Braves over the Portland Trail Blazers. DiGregorio took home NBA Rookie of the Year honors during a 1973-74 season after averaging 15.2 points and a league-best 8.2 assists.

However, he never put up more than 11.0 points or 5.0 assists in any of his other four NBA seasons.

24 – Ramon Sessions (April 14, 2008)

Sessions had his run of assists for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Chicago Bulls.

24 – Darren Collison (March 8, 2010)

Collison of the New Orleans Hornets was the most recent rookie to threaten the record. He took over for the injured Chris Paul and had 20 dimes against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2010.

Most Assists Per Game in a Season

14.5 – John Stockton (1989-90)

Most Assists in a Game by a Team

53 – Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons (Dec. 26, 1978)

Most Assists in a Playoff Game

24 – John Stockton (May 17, 1988)

Though he had to watch in person as Stockton tied his playoff record with 24 assists, Magic Johnson had the last laugh when Michael Cooper’s 22-foot jumper with seven seconds left lifted the Lakers to a 111-109 Game 5 victory at The Forum. Los Angeles went up 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals and would go on to win the NBA title.

“Winning is what matters,” Stockton told reporters afterward.

24 – Magic Johnson (May 15, 1984)

Magic had keyed another Lakers push to the NBA Finals and set the league-playoff record with 24 assists as Los Angeles won 118-102 to take a 2-0 lead over the Suns in the 1984 Western Conference finals. Incredibly, he only had five field-goal attempts in the 118-102 victory.

Steve Nash of the Suns (April 29, 2007), Stockton (April 25, 1996) and Magic (May 3, 1985) are next with 23-assist efforts in the postseason.