The most assists by a player in a single NBA game
Scott Skiles’ record single-game assists record has stood for more than 3 decades.
On Dec. 30, 1990, Orlando’s Scott Skiles dished out an NBA-record 30 assists to go with 22 points and only four turnovers to lead the Magic to a franchise-record 155 points in a win over the Nuggets. Skiles’ assists record and Magic scoring record still stand entering the 2024-25 season.
Skiles’ record-breaking performance topped the previous mark held by Kevin Porter (29 assists in 1978). Porter’s record stood for 12 years, and it took Skiles shattering his previous career-high (18) by 12 assists to set the new mark that has held for the past three-plus decades.
There have been eight games in NBA history in which a player dished out more than 25 assists in a game. While Skiles has the top mark, all-time assists leader John Stockton is the only player with multiple games with over 25 dimes and the only player to have such a game on the road.
- Scott Skiles: 30 assists (Magic vs. Nuggets, Dec. 30, 1990)
- Kevin Porter: 29 assists (Nets vs. Rockets, Feb. 24, 1978)
- John Stockton: 28 assists (Jazz vs. Spurs, Jan. 15, 1991)
- Guy Rodgers: 28 assists (Warriors vs. Hawks, March 14, 1963)
- Bob Cousy: 28 assists (Celtics vs. Lakers, Feb. 27, 1959)
- John Stockton: 27 assists (Jazz at Knicks, Dec. 19, 1989)
- Geoff Huston: 27 assists (Cavaliers vs. Warriors, Jan. 27, 1982)
- John Stockton: 26 assists (Jazz vs. Trail Blazers, Apr. 14, 1988)
In the playoffs, there has yet to be a 25+ assist game as Magic Johnson (1984) and Stockton (1988) share the postseason record with 24 assists.
There have been 20 instances in which a player dished out 20 or more assists in the playoffs. Magic (10) owns half of those games, while Stockton (4) and Rajon Rondo (2) are the only other players with multiple such games.
- Magic Johnson: 24 assists (Lakers vs. Suns, May 15, 1984)
- John Stockton: 24 assists (Jazz at Lakers, May 17, 1988)
- Magic Johnson: 23 assists (Lakers at Trail Blazers, May 3, 1985)
- John Stockton: 23 assists (Utah vs. Trail Blazers, April 25, 1996)
- Steve Nash: 23 assists (Suns at Lakers, April 29, 2007)
- Doc Rivers: 22 assists (Hawks vs. Celtics, May 16, 1988)
