The National Basketball Association has a long, rich history. From the birth of basketball to “The Great NBA Draft” and beyond, these pioneers have made legends out of their players while creating some unforgettable moments in sport.
The “nba all-stars” is an event that takes place every year in the NBA. The event consists of the best players from each conference and they compete against one another to see who has the best basketball skills.
Following a seven-assist effort against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James overtook Oscar Robertson for seventh place on the NBA’s all-time assist list.
Despite missing many games this season and lately taking over as the Lakers’ starting center, James is still averaging over seven assists per game.
His ability to properly pass the ball, as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted in 2016, is extremely impressive, especially at his position.
2 Related
“All of LeBron’s passing rules are broken. You’re not permitted to pass while standing on your feet… It’s against the rules to drive through traffic. Two defenders’ ears vibrate as he delivers backhanded fastballs. He is constantly aware of where everyone will be.”
James is in the company of several high-powered individuals, and he is the only non-guard among the top ten. Here’s where he ranks among the greats of the NBA:
15,806 assists
1,504 games have been played.
Stockton’s style of play would be the blueprint for point guards if there were such a thing. During his career, the Utah Jazz star appeared in the playoffs 19 times in a row.
Stockton also holds the marks for most assists in a season (1,164), highest average for a season (14.5), most seasons leading the league (nine), and most consecutive seasons leading the league (nine), according to NBA.com (nine).
The two-time Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer is also the all-time steals leader in the NBA.
12,091 assists
1,391 games have been played.
Kidd, who was drafted second overall by the Dallas Mavericks in 1994, had a talent for passing the ball. He also played for the Phoenix Suns, the former New Jersey Nets, and the New York Knicks.
He averaged more than nine assists per game with the Nets, setting a club record with 4,620 assists.
In 2011, he won his lone NBA championship with Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks, and he returned to the city as its head coach in 2021.
Getty Images/Dustin Bradford
10,658 assists and counting
There have been 1,128 games played thus far.
Paul, dubbed “Point God,” climbed to third position in November 2021.
He spent the most of his career with the New Orleans Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans) and the Los Angeles Clippers, averaging 9.9 and 9.8 assists per game, respectively, during the regular season. He has the most assists in both organizations’ history.
Paul’s start to the 2021-22 NBA season was pretty exciting. He was also nominated to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team after being the only player in NBA history to score 20,000 points with 10,000 assists.
10,335 assists
There have been 1,217 games played.
Nash was a member of a Phoenix Suns club recognized for its offensive skill in the early 2000s, led by head coach Mike D’Antoni. The Suns’ “Seven Seconds or Less” offense swept the league. And it worked for a few years, as Nash won the league MVP award two years in a row and finished second to Nowitzki in a third.
10,334 assists
There have been 1,296 games played.
During his 17 years in the NBA, Jackson was a member of seven different teams. He played with the Knicks for the most of his career. Jackson was voted First of the Year in 1988 after averaging over 10 assists in his rookie season.
In the 1996-97 season, he split time between the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets, averaging 11.4 assists per game.
Getty Images/NBAE/Andrew D. Bernstein
10,141 assists
906 games have been played.
Johnson is widely recognized as the best point guard in NBA history, having amassed over 10,000 assists in fewer than 1,000 games.
From 1982 until 1991, Johnson averaged a double-double every season and led the NBA in assists four times. The Lakers great is still the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and triple-doubles.
There have been 9,888 assists thus far.
There have been 1,339 games played thus far.
Still going strong in Year 19, James is on his way to entering the 10K-assist club with the six players above him.
As a four-time MVP, Finals MVP, and NBA champion, he prides himself on being a “pass-first person.”
When he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he had a large number of assists (6,228).
9,887 assists
There have been 1,040 games played.
At the guard position, Robertson embodied authority and flexibility. He was named Debut of the Year after averaging 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and an NBA-high 9.7 assists in his rookie season.
He became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a whole season in his second season, a record he maintained until Russell Westbrook joined him after the 2016-17 season. The Sacramento Kings (then-Cincinnati Royals) and Milwaukee Bucks have retired Robertson’s jersey numbers as a part of the 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams.
Getty Images/Mike Powell/Allsport
9,061 assists
979 games have been played.
Only Thomas and Johnson have played fewer than 1,000 games among the top ten.
Thomas’ “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons were renowned for their tough defense, and he brought that attitude to the offense as well. He played his entire career with the Red Wings and is the franchise’s all-time assist leader with 4,449 more than the next closest player.
8.996 assists
There have been 1,335 games played.
Payton is the only point guard to earn Defensive Player of the Year, and he is widely regarded as a lockdown defender. His attacking contributions, on the other hand, are remarkable.
Payton played with the Seattle SuperSonics for the majority of his assists (7,386). (now Oklahoma City Thunder). He still holds the team record for most assists with 6,897, while Westbrook is in second place with 6,897.
Watch This Video-
The “nba all-star players” is a list of all the NBA All-Star players. The list includes the player’s name, position, team, and year.
Related Tags
- nba all-star 2020
- nba all-star roster
- nba all-stars 2021
- nba all-star locations
- nba all star vote
