NBA History: 5 Players with the most 20+ assist games

Recording 20 or more assists in a single game is an extremely impressive feat and something that not many players have ever achieved in their careers. However, a select few in the NBA have had a knack for playmaking and have recorded extraordinary assist numbers in their careers. Some of these players have managed to hit the 20 assist mark more than once, an even more impressive feat.

Nearly all the names on this list will come as no shock to anyone since the passing ability of players such as John Stockton or Magic Johnson is known to be legendary. However, the numbers might be a surprise.

Here are the 5 players who have the most 20+ assist games in the history of the NBA:

#5 Isiah Thomas (11 games)

Isiah Thomas played his entire career with the Detroit Pistons and is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time. The 12x All-Star has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Thomas won 2 NBA championships with the Pistons, in 1989 and 1990, and won MVP in 1990. In his 13 years with Detroit, he became the franchise leader in points, assists, steals, and games played.

Thomas was a "small man", just over 6 feet tall, but refused to let his height limit his output on the court. He was an extremely smart passer, with an incredibly high basketball IQ. He led a bottom-ranked Pistons team to 2 championships, a feat largely attributed to his passing ability. In the 1984-85 season, Thomas averaged 13.9 assists a game, which was an NBA record until it was broken by John Stockton with 14.5.

Ranked fifth on this list, Thomas recorded 20 or more assists in a game 9 times. He also ranks 8th on the all-time assists list with 9,061 career assists.

#4 Steve Nash (9 games)

Steve Nash, another player who is known for his passing, played 18 seasons in the NBA, the majority of which he spent with the Phoenix Suns. Nash is an 8x All-Star and has been selected for an All-NBA team 7 times. Nash also won NBA MVP honors twice in his career, both times with the Suns. Nash was known for his passing and shooting ability, leading the league in assists multiple times.

Nash led the league in assists 5 times in his 18-year career, averaging double digits in assists for all 5 of these years. Nash, a prolific scorer, and passer, is ranked 2nd all-time in pass-assist double-doubles. Nash's passing was extraordinary - it became the focal point of the offense for most of the teams he played with. In the 2005-06 season, the three big men of the Suns were all injured, including Amar'e Stoudemire. Despite this, he led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, and, through his passing, was responsible for an astounding seven of his teammates recording career highs in season scoring.

Nash ranks third on the all-time assists list, with 10,335 career assists. Throughout his career, he recorded 20+ assists in a game 9 times.

#3 Rajon Rondo (11 games)

Rajon Rondo, the only active NBA player on this list, is an outstanding passer and playmaker. Currently with the Los Angeles Lakers, Rondo was drafted by the Suns and immediately traded to the Celtics in his rookie season. Since then, Rondo has been a 4x All-Star and led the league in assists 3 times. Rondo helped the Boston Celtics reach the finals twice, eventually winning a championship in 2008 as the team's starting point guard.

Rondo is still known for his elite passing and playmaking ability. In his prime, he was easily the best passing point guard in the league. Throughout his career, Rondo has averaged 8.5 assists per game, reaching a peak of 11.7 apg in the 2011-12 season with the Celtics and in the 2015-16 season with the Sacramento Kings. Despite still being an active player, Rondo ranks 18th on the all-time assists list with 6,975 career assists.

In his prime, Rondo was one of the most creative passers in the league, some of his passes baffling opponents. He could take over a game with his passing when needed, getting the ball to his teammates with crazy dimes, making way for easy baskets. Third on this list, Rondo recorded 20+ assists 11 times in his career, but given that he will be teaming up with Anthony Davis and LeBron James next season, this number might grow.

#2 Magic Johnson (32 games)

Another name you'd easily expect on this list, Magic Johnson dished out 20+ assists in 32 games in his career. Johnson had an unusual career but was an extraordinary player.

Easily one of the best point guards in the history of the NBA, and regarded by many as the best, Magic Johnson was incredible on the offensive end. He not only won a championship in his rookie year but won the Finals MVP award as a rookie. He went on to win four more championships with the Lakers, later retiring after announcing he had contracted HIV. In the next few years, Johnson came back to play and retired twice, his third retirement being the final one.

Johnson is a three-time NBA MVP, a 12x All-Star, and has been nominated for an All-NBA team 10 times. As far as his passing goes, he led the league in assists 4 times and has the highest career average in assists in NBA history with 11.2 assists per game. He also ranks 5th on the all-time assist totals list, with 10,141 career assists.

Magic Johnson recorded over 20 assists in a single game 32 times in his career and probably would've been #1 on this list if not for the abrupt end to his playing career. After his final retirement, he went on to become the president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers, a post he vacated recently.

#1 John Stockton (38 games)

It should come as no surprise to anyone that John Stockton tops this list. Stockton, a HOFer, is not only one of the best passers in NBA history, but one of the best players the NBA has ever seen. Stockton is a 10x All-Star and led the Utah Jazz to the franchise's only 2 finals appearances. Regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, Stockton holds the record for most career assists by a large margin - over 3000 assists more than the next name on the list.

Stockton played 19 seasons with the Utah Jazz, with teammate Karl Malone. Many of Stockton's passes probably ended up in the bucket with Malone's help, another legendary player. Along with the record for most career assists, Stockton also holds the record for the most assists averaged in a season, with 14.5 assists per game in 1990.

Stockton's passing prowess was extraordinary - he is one of the only 3 players to dish out 1000 assists in a season. The other two have only done this once, while Stockton has recorded 1000+ assists in a season 7 times.

Throughout his 19-year career, Stockton averaged 10.5 assists. During this span, he recorded more than 20 assists in a single game 38 times, another record that will likely never be broken.