Assists in Basketball: Complete Guide and Fantasy Advice

If you’re even somewhat familiar with basketball, you have likely heard the term “assist.”

Whether you are new to the sport or you’d just like some more info, we’ll cover everything you need to know about assists, including what exactly they are, the NBA’s all-time leaders, how they work in fantasy basketball, the best passers in today’s NBA and more.

We’ll even break down potential assists, hockey assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. Without further ado, let’s begin Assists 101.

What Is an Assist in Basketball?

Here is the NBA’s official definition:

“An assist is a pass that directly leads to a basket. This can be a pass to the low post that leads to a direct score, a long pass for a layup, a fast-break pass to a teammate for a layup, and/or a pass that results in an open perimeter shot for a teammate. In basketball, an assist is awarded only if, in the judgment of the statistician, the last player’s pass contributed directly to a made basket. An assist can be awarded for a basket scored after the ball has been dribbled if the player’s pass led to the field goal being made.”

Assists are a bit subjective, as it’s up to the statistician to decide if the pass was directly responsible for the basket. Some statisticians are a bit more lenient than others.

Why Are Assists Important?

The goal in basketball is obviously to outscore your opponent, and excellent ball movement is a crucial aspect of the game. It’s no coincidence that many of the best teams play within the flow of the offense and move the ball extremely well. Assists are the best way to track a player or team’s facilitating and unselfishness.

Who Has The Most Assists in NBA History?

The NBA's all-time leader in assists is Utah Jazz guard John Stockton, who totaled 15,806 assists throughout his 19-year NBA career. The gap between Stockton and everyone else is enormous, as no other player in NBA history has even totaled 12,100 assists.

For context, the gap between Stockton and the runner-up, Jason Kidd, is 3,715 assists; that's roughly the same as the gap between Kidd and No. 12 on the list, Andre Miller.

Here are the top 10 leaders in career assists (as of the completion of 2023-24):

1. John Stockton, 15,806

2. Jason Kidd, 12,091

3. Chris Paul, 11,894

4. LeBron James, 11,009

5. Steve Nash, 10,335

6. Mark Jackson, 10,334

7. Magic Johnson, 10,141

8. Oscar Robertson, 9,887

9. Russell Westbrook, 9,468

10. Isiah Thomas, 9,061

The Importance of Assists in Fantasy Basketball

Assists are very important in fantasy basketball. Whether you’re playing in a nine-category league or a points league, you’ll need to find talented passers as you build your lineup.

In the most common points leagues, players earn 1.5 fantasy points for each assist. Every points league is different, but this is the default scoring system:

Points = 1
Rebounds = 1.2
Assists = 1.5
Steals = 3
Blocks = 3
Turnovers = -1

It’s also worth noting that assists are some of the least volatile stats from game to game, which is great for fantasy managers looking for consistent production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best passers in the NBA today?

During the 2023-24 NBA season, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton led the league in assists per game (10.9), followed by Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Dončić (9.8), Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (9.0), Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden (8.5), and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (8.3). These five players are among the best passers in today's NBA.

Others who are known for their passing ability include San Antonio Spurs point guard Chris Paul (6.8 assists per game), Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (5.1), Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving (5.2) and Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün (5.0).

What are potential assists?

The NBA defines a potential assist as “any pass to a teammate who shoots within one dribble of receiving the ball.” While a player must score in order for a player to receive an assist, potential assists count every shot attempt that was directly set up by a teammate. If a player averages significantly more potential assists than actual assists, it can be a sign that his or her supporting cast is failing to do their part when being set up to score.

In 2023-24, the leaders in potential assists per game were:

1. Trae Young, 18.2

2. Tyrese Haliburton, 17.8

3. Luka Dončić, 16.9

4. Ja Morant, 15.8

5. Nikola Jokić, 14.9

6. LaMelo Ball, 14.0

7. Fred VanVleet, 13.9

8. James Harden, 13.5

9. LeBron James, 13.2

10. Chris Paul, 12.9

What are secondary assists or hockey assists?

A secondary assist is when a player “passed the ball to a player who recorded an assist within one second and without dribbling,” according to the NBA’s official definition. It’s essentially when a player makes the pass before the pass that leads directly to a basket. These are often called hockey assists since two players can get credited for an assist on the same goal in hockey.

Last season, the league leaders in secondary assists per game were Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant (1.3), Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey (1.3), and Dončić (1.3), followed by Milwaukee Bucks point guard Damian Lillard (1.2), Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland (1.2), Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1.2), and Suns forward Kevin Durant (1.2).

What is assist-to-turnover ratio?

Assist-to-turnover ratio is a player’s assists divided by turnovers. Floor generals are expected to facilitate for their teammates and protect the ball, so this stat is a terrific way of determining which players are best at doing both. If a player has 40 assists and 10 turnovers, for instance, then he or she has a 4-1 assist to turnover ratio.

In 2023-24, Washington Wizards point guard Tyus Jones led the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (7.3) for the fifth time in the last six seasons — and the one year he didn’t lead the league, he finished second.

The next-best in this category were Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (6.2), Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jordan McLaughlin (5.3), Paul (5.1), Houston Rockets point guard Fred VanVleet (4.7), and Haliburton (4.6).

Is a player still credited with an assist if defensive goaltending is called?

Yes, as long as the pass directly led to the basket in question. In the NBA, it’s not uncommon to see a player receive an assist following a goaltend.

Sleeper Can Assist Your Fantasy Game

Now that you’re up to speed on assists, hopefully you’ll have a greater appreciation for terrific ball movement and high-level facilitators the next time you turn on a basketball game. If you’re interested in taking this knowledge and applying it to fantasy basketball, Sleeper has you covered, and you can sign up via the website or by downloading the app.

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