5 Youngest NBA players to record 10 or more assists in a game

The NBA has recorded assists since it began in 1946. Throughout the years, the league has seen players who are virtuosos with the ball in their hands. Their adept ball handling and manipulation of the defense have allowed them to set up their teammates to score baskets.

Assists were originally just the domain of point guards. NBA legends like Bob Cousy, Magic Johnson and John Stockton are the heralds of the playmakers that the league is seeing today. In recent years, “positionless” basketball has allowed players of every type and designation to be playmakers. The reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and former two-time MVP Tim Duncan are such examples.

With the explosion of the NBA’s popularity, players who are coming in have also become younger. Despite their tender age, there have been players through the years who have managed to pile up their assists total.

In particular, there have been games where they have dished out double-digit assists even when they have barely begun their pro basketball careers in the NBA.

Here’s the list of the youngest NBA players who tallied at least 10 assists in a single game.

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#5 Frank Ntilikina (Age: 19 years, 153 days. 11 assists)

Frank Ntilikina of France tries to get past Devin Booker of the United States in the Tokyo Olympics basketball finals

The New York Knicks drafted Frank Ntilikina as the 8th overall pick in the 2017 draft. Tony Parker’s countryman was the second-youngest player in the NBA that year. To develop his huge potential, the Knicks started him slowly off the bench.

Ntilikina’s rookie season was his most productive in the NBA in terms of assists. In that year he averaged 5.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 78 games, which would be a career-best. As the primary backup to Tim Hardaway Jr., the Frenchman averaged 21.9 minutes per game.

The New York Knicks were an even 17-17 entering the game against the San Antonio Spurs on December 28, 2017. New York missed the playoffs yet again that year while the Spurs were on their way to a playoff spot with a 24-11 slate.

The game was fairly close from start to finish. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that LaMarcus Aldridge, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker ultimately topped the young New York Knicks team. In close to 32 minutes of play, Frank Ntilikina showed Parker what he could do when he ended up with 9 points, 11 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and a single turnover. Sadly for the Knicks, they lost that game to a score of 119-107.

Frank Ntilikina has not played to his full potential yet and is now with the Dallas Mavericks, where he only played two games early into the 2021-22 NBA season.

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#4 LaMelo Ball (Age: 19 years, 140 days. 11 assists)

LaMelo Ball is making the Charlotte Hornets must-see TV in the NBA

LaMelo Ball was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets 3rd overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. He was the third-youngest player in the entire league during the 2020-21 season. He finished his rookie campaign with 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 51 games. The numbers were good enough to bag the Rookie of the Year award that season.

The match against the Atlanta Hawks on January 9, 2021, was heavily-anticipated as the Hawks had another electric point guard in the sweet-shooting Trae Young. LaMelo Ball’s Charlotte Hornets edged the Atlanta Hawks to even their season record to 5-5.

Ball was spectacular coming off the bench and ended up with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, becoming the youngest NBA player to record a triple double. He was lights out from the field, connecting on 7-11 field goals, including 3-5 from deep.

The Charlotte Hornets eventually traded Devonte’ Graham to the New Orleans Pelicans and made LaMelo Ball the team’s starting point guard. He led the Hornets to a franchise-best 3-0 start earlier this season before succumbing to the Boston Celtics in overtime.

LaMelo Ball’s presence in Charlotte makes Hornets basketball a must-see on TV. He is pegged to be one of the brightest stars in the NBA in the near future.

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#3 Devin Booker (Age: 19 years old, 103 days. 10 assists)

Devin Booker has proven to be a gifted scorer and playmaker for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA

Devin Booker was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 13th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. He was a member of the All-Rookie team that was headed by Karl-Anthony Towns. Booker played 76 games that season and piled up 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

On February 10, 2016, the lottery-bound Phoenix Suns played host to the juggernaut Golden State Warriors who were on their way to an NBA record 73-9 season. The Warriors were bringing the Death Lineup along with the rest of the mighty roster.

Although a rookie, Devin Booker started in 51 of those games that season. He started at shooting guard in this game, opposite the hitman, Klay Thompson. Booker played a very well-rounded game, which helped the Suns stay with the Warriors as close as possible. The two-time All-Star finished that game with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to the Warriors.

Devin Booker has since then become one of the best players in the league. He led the Suns, together with Chris Paul, to the NBA Finals where they lost to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

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#2 Josh Giddey (Age: 19 years, 17 days. 10 assists)

Josh Giddey's heady play has been a reason for celebration for the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA

The darling of the Oklahoma City Thunder was drafted this season as the 6th overall pick. Much of the attention in this year’s draft was focused on Cade Cunningham and Jalen Green. Josh Giddey, playing for a small market and rebuilding team, has flown somewhat under the radar. A few games into the season, though, and he has already turned heads in the most positive way.

The Los Angeles Lakers came into the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder as the overwhelming favorites despite missing LeBron James to an injury. Frank Vogel’s Lakers still have Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony and a slew of big-name players.

At some point, the Lakers built a seemingly insurmountable 26-point lead. Josh Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Darius Bazley led the Thunder to a furious comeback that tied the franchise record for biggest ever.

The Thunder rookie was immune to a pressure-cooker of a game and tallied 18 points, 3 rebounds and 10 assists. OKC finally barged into the win column with a 123-115 upset of the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers.

Sam Presti and the front office should be delighted with what they have in their hands right now. Josh Giddey is not only a savant in reading the game, but has shown the mental and physical toughness to go along with his talents.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s future just got brighter with the sudden emergence of Giddey.

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#1 LeBron James (Age: 18 years old, 355 days. 10 assists)

LeBron James kept his promise of giving Cleveland an NBA championship by leading the Cavs past the historically great Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals. [Photo: USA Today]

Before LeBron James became The King, he was deemed the Savior of the Cleveland Cavaliers coming out of high school and into the NBA. The Wine and Gold team drafted James as the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2003. James, the Rookie of the Year that season, played and started in 79 games for the Cavs that year.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were still struggling almost midway into the season. They faced a Chicago Bulls team that wasn't quite sure what direction to take. The young LeBron James played the most number of minutes and finished with a team-high of 32 points and 10 assists. He added 6 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals to showcase his then-growing talents. The Cavs beat the Bulls 95-87 on that day on December 20,2003.

LeBron James did not get selected to the All-Star game in his rookie campaign but has since been a staple of this yearly event. James’ prodigious talent was lauded in his first few years, but it did not end too well in his first stint with the Cavs.

The King returned to his hometown after a few years with the Miami Heat. He fulfilled his promise to bring the NBA championship to the city of Cleveland by leading the Cavs past the mighty 73-9 Golden State Warriors.

Now in his 19th season, LeBron James is already the grizzled veteran who is chasing immortal records. He’ll finish his career as one of the best, if not the best ever, to lace up a pair of basketball shoes.

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