NBA Players with the Most Assists Recorded in Playoffs in Their Rookie Season

Explore the NBA players who delivered the best stats ever in a 1st NBA season, ranked by playoff total assists. See how the all-time greats compare in this top-50 historical list.

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Show: Season - Playoffs / Other Stats

Other Stats

Total

3-Pointers Made Per Game

Total

Which NBA player had the most total assists in the Playoffs in his rookie year?

Playing for the 1980 Los Angeles Lakers, Magic Johnson recorded a total of 151 assists in 16 games — the highest playoff total ever by an NBA player in his 1st season.

Total Assists, Rookie Season

151 ast
Magic Johnson
(1980 Los Angeles Lakers)

Note: = NBA champion in this season.

Total Assists in a Player's Rookie Season - Top 50

Playoffs

		Assists			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Stl	Blk	3pm
1	Magic Johnson (1980 Lakers)	151	9.4	16	293	168	49	6	2
2	Nate McMillan (1987 Supersonics)	112	8.0	14	71	54	14	10	0
3	Alvan Adams (1976 Suns)	98	5.2	19	341	191	24	20	-
4	Sam Cassell (1994 Rockets)	93	4.2	22	207	59	21	5	17
5	Julius Erving (1977 76ers)	85	4.5	19	518	122	41	23	-
6	John Lucas (1977 Rockets)	83	6.9	12	176	33	24	4	-
7	Maurice Lucas (1977 Trail Blazers)	79	4.2	19	403	188	28	23	-
	Ricky Sobers (1976 Suns)	79	4.2	19	247	63	18	6	-
9	Tyler Herro (2020 Heat)	77	3.7	21	335	107	8	2	48
	Ben Simmons (2018 76ers)	77	7.7	10	163	94	17	8	0

		Assists			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Stl	Blk	3pm
11	Dwyane Wade (2004 Heat)	73	5.6	13	234	52	17	4	3
12	Manu Ginobili (2003 Spurs)	70	2.9	24	226	92	41	9	28
13	Spud Webb (1986 Hawks)	65	7.2	9	110	31	4	1	0
14	Maurice Cheeks (1979 76ers)	63	7.0	9	169	35	37	4	-
	Jerry West (1961 Lakers)	63	5.3	12	275	104	-	-	-
16	Frank Johnson (1982 Bullets)	59	8.4	7	109	22	10	0	5
17	Tom Gola (1956 Warriors)	58	5.8	10	123	101	-	-	-
	Rodney Stuckey (2008 Pistons)	58	3.4	17	139	32	18	2	2
19	Bob Dandridge (1970 Bucks)	57	5.7	10	163	87	-	-	-
20	Anthony Carter (2000 Heat)	56	5.6	10	77	40	12	2	1

		Assists			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Stl	Blk	3pm
21	Andrew Toney (1981 76ers)	54	3.4	16	221	37	11	7	1
22	Al Cervi (1950 Nationals)	52	4.7	11	84	-	-	-	-
	Johnny Davis (1977 Trail Blazers)	52	3.3	16	168	33	28	3	-
	Ernie DiGregorio (1974 Braves)	52	8.7	6	82	16	1	0	-
	Jayson Tatum (2018 Celtics)	52	2.7	19	351	83	23	10	23
26	Oliver Miller (1993 Suns)	51	2.1	24	173	124	21	59	0
27	Matt Maloney (1997 Rockets)	50	3.1	16	179	19	10	3	43
28	Nathaniel Clifton (1951 Knicks)	46	3.3	14	100	137	-	-	-
	Donovan Mitchell (2018 Jazz)	46	4.2	11	268	65	16	4	25
30	Derrick Rose (2009 Bulls)	45	6.4	7	138	44	4	5	0

		Assists			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Stl	Blk	3pm
31	Elgin Baylor (1959 Lakers)	43	3.3	13	331	156	-	-	-
	Ray Scott (1962 Pistons)	43	4.3	10	173	145	-	-	-
	John Stockton (1985 Jazz)	43	4.3	10	68	28	11	2	0
34	Larry Bird (1980 Celtics)	42	4.7	9	192	101	14	8	4
	Lenny Wilkens (1961 Hawks)	42	3.5	12	170	72	-	-	-
36	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1970 Bucks)	41	4.1	10	352	168	-	-	-
	Greg Anthony (1992 Knicks)	41	3.4	12	63	17	16	1	5
	Dee Brown (1991 Celtics)	41	3.7	11	134	45	11	6	0
	Facundo Campazzo (2021 Nuggets)	41	4.1	10	93	30	14	4	19
	Connie Hawkins (1970 Suns)	41	5.9	7	178	97	-	-	-
	Chuck Noble (1956 Pistons)	41	4.1	10	74	30	-	-	-

		Assists			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Stl	Blk	3pm
42	Tony Parker (2002 Spurs)	40	4.0	10	155	29	9	1	10
43	Dick Garrett (1970 Lakers)	39	2.2	18	230	52	-	-	-
	Mark Jackson (1988 Knicks)	39	9.8	4	57	19	10	0	5
	Jim Pollard (1949 Lakers)	39	3.9	10	130	-	-	-	-
	Dave Twardzik (1977 Trail Blazers)	39	2.8	14	153	24	16	2	-
47	Robert Horry (1993 Rockets)	38	3.2	12	123	62	18	16	9
	Slick Leonard (1957 Lakers)	38	7.6	5	107	30	-	-	-
49	Steve Colter (1985 Trail Blazers)	37	4.1	9	80	16	5	0	3
	Rob Williams (1983 Nuggets)	37	5.3	7	57	13	8	1	2

* The NBA began recording rebounds in 1951, steals and blocks in 1974, and added the 3-point line in 1980.