I looked at some of the all-time assist records for the playoffs and I was blown away by how much Magic Johnson dominated some of these statistical categories. Some of these records seem like they may last a looooong time.
Total playoff assists:
- Magic Johnson - 2346
- LeBron James - 2067
- John Stockton - 1839
- Jason Kidd - 1263
- Chris Paul - 1233
Total assists in a playoff run:
- Magic Johnson - 303 (1988)
- Magic Johnson - 289 (1985)
- Magic Johnson - 284 (1984)
- Magic Johnson - 240 (1991)
- Rajon Rondo - 227 (2012)
Highest career playoff assists per game average:
- Magic Johnson - 12.4
- John Stockton - 10.1
- John Wall - 9.8
- Trae Young - 9.0
- Oscar Robertson - 8.9
Highest assists per game in a playoff run:
- Magic Johnson - 15.2 (1985)
- Magic Johnson - 15.1 (1986)
- John Stockton - 15.0 (1990)
- John Stockton - 14.8 (1988)
- Johnny Moore - 14.6 (1983)
Most assists in a playoff game:
- Magic Johnson/John Stockton - 24
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It can only happen if someone like Luka starts his career with a Tatum-esque playoff start
Not impossible but if someone will do it they’re not in the league yet
These stats are crazy insane and Magic Johnson has forever crowned himself as the ultimate provider of assists. But some factors have to be taken into account when looking at these numbers. (1) The game was played differently then. The greatest weapon of a team was the center play in the low post. It helps if the guy playing with you was the greatest scorer of all time for 40 (or more?) years. Not all assists come from Kareem but I guess a great deal came from center/ pick&roll play.
(2) The PG used to be the smallest/ fastest guy on the court. Magic had his height, he was the first big PG. Which in a way introduced the possibility of a point forward. Which gave him an edge on the opponents. Meaning he was lucky he was the right guy at the right time.
(3) Through the years the game changed. From post play to small range to big range. The 3p has become the strongest weapon (after a small James Harden stint which made the FT strong). This made the assist a stat that’s gotten rarer. While the PG position still exists most teams have a point forward now. A star player that can create his own shot and gets the most FGA in a game.
I think this number will last at the top of this list. Magic was a unicorn at his time and took his opportunity. The 3p shot is here to stay and teams have gotten more single player oriented. Bottom line Magic was truly fucking good.
The only player right now that could do it would be Haliburton if he is able to go to playoffs for a decade straight.
Bill Russell’s rebound total in the Finals is absurdly higher than second place, which is Tim Duncan. That will never be beat.
How much does Wilt have?
I don’t know off the top of my head but it’s not anywhere near Russell
I love how the guys with the two highest playoff rebounding stat totals are also two of the players in NBA history who gave the fewest shits about what their own stats were.
idk
For total playoff assists, LeBron needs like 270.
Assuming he gets 7 per game, that’s about 38 games?
So best case scenario he plays two more post seasons. Only way he gets to 38 games in two post seasons is back to back finals runs.
Possible? Sure.
Is it gonna happen? No.
I mean he averaged near 9 assists per game this year in the playoffs… if he wants to play another 5 years and decline fully he could absolutely get that
I want a couple years of 25 minutes per game mid 40s LeBron averaging 16/7/7…
Lebrons decline is magics prime.
That’s the crazy part about it.
The crazy part about this comment is the lack of sense put into it. The stats clearly show that even prime Lebron can’t fuck with Magic specifically on assists…
Lebron’s team (whichever team that happens to be at the time) we need to be just good enough to win in 7 game series. If he is on a super team, and playoff series end in 4 games, he’s going to need twice many years to reach it.
Two more post seasons isn’t the best case scenario for LeBron, it’s probably the median scenario. The best case scenario is like 4-5 more post seasons.
Call it 4 post seasons, 8 series total. Maybe he makes it to the conference finals one year and gets bounced in the first round the next. Okay, that’s probably 40 games. Assuming he averages close to 7 assists he’s there.
Unlikely, sure, but it could easily happen. Well within the realm of possibility.
4-5 more postseasons for Lebron is “well within the realm of possibility”? And not only that, but 40 postseason games meaning he is actually succeeding somewhat in all or most of these 4-5 postseason runs at ages 41-46? Despite getting swept in the most recent ones where he wasn’t 45 years old?
Dude, what strain is that? I need to hit that blunt.
The best case scenario is just making the postseason two more times
Of current players- I weirdly think Lebron is the only chance. 2 more deep playoff runs = 40 odd games @ 7 assists per game. It’s conceivable, just not likely.
Why is it weird? Lebron has the highest likelihood at the moment
Not weird at all that Lebron is the only one with even a conceivable chance. Anyone here saying Haliburton is an insane level of completely stupid.
I think most in a playoff game and total playoff assist is possible. Assuming someone like Luka can make a couple deep runs in the next 10 years or so, he might pass Magic. Singular playoff run and career averages are probably secure.
Assists per game will be difficult but given today’s pace, who knows?
Avg pace, via stat muse. Because I was curious.
1988 - 99.59 1989 - 100.64 1990 - 98.33 1991 - 97.82
2021 - 99.18 2022 - 98.24 2023 - 99.15 2024 - 98.51
No. Modern NBA would not allow a PG/facilitating forward to give up so many shots passing/facilitating. Scoring guards are more of the norm now.
Magic was in 8 finals in the 12 years he played. Imagine if he had a 16 - or 17-year career. Those records would be buried under 20 feet of concrete.
Remember, Magic was in his prime when he had to retire. He still had 5 years at least.
Greatest point guard ever. Let the chef fight it out with shooting guards on his & their Greatest skill, shooting.
Most likely not.
The wild thing is, if he wasn’t forced to retire due to HIV, he probably would have had another 5+ playoff runs with good assist numbers. I know most here consider Curry to be the best ‘point’ guard of all time now, but my old ass will always vote for Magic, he ran an offense and a fast break like no one else (which to me is what a ‘point (position)’ truly is)