Greatest Los Angeles Lakers Assisters of All Time

Magic Johnson was a unique talent, especially for his time. Standing at 6-foot-9 with unparalleled athleticism, Johnson had the ability to play every position on the court, but his natural position was point guard. He led the league in assists in four separate seasons, with his peak being in 1984 when he averaged an impressive 13.1 assists per game. Johnson holds the record for the highest assists per game in NBA history, with an average of 11.19 APG. Watching highlight reels of his incredible on-court skills is essential for any basketball fan.

1. Magic Johnson – 10,141 Assists

2. Kobe Bryant – 6,306 Assists

Bryant was best known for his remarkable scoring ability, clutch performances and defensive prowess but his passing ability should not be brushed aside. Bryant never had an elite season in terms of assists totals but he consistently averaged around 5.0 assists per game over his 20-year career which allowed him to pile up a strong final number of helpers.

3. Jerry West – 6,238 Assists

Mr. Clutch could take over the game in a number of ways and his passing was a strong suit. West was more of a pure scorer earlier in his career when he was routinely averaging upwards of 30 points per game and just over 5.0 assists per game. From 1969 to 1973, West became more of a facilitator and averaged 8.5 assists per game in that span. He even won the assist title in 1972.

4. Norm Nixon – 3,846 Assists

The Magic-Kobe-West trifecta stands as a tier of its own on the Lakers’ assists leaderboard but Nixon was the next-best thing in that regard. Stormin’ Norman averaged 7.9 assists per game during his six-year stint with the Lake Show and was a key part of two championship teams. He once dropped 19 assists in a game against the Knicks in 1978, his personal best while with the Lakers.

5. Michael Cooper 3,666 Assists

Cooper rounds out the Lakers’ Top 5 assists leaders list as he racked up well over 3,000 assists during his time in Inglewood. He played all 12 of his NBA seasons in Purple and Gold and was a valuable contributor off the bench during his tenure. Cooper topped out with 5.9 assists per game in the 1984 season, the first of three seasons in which he averaged at least 5.0 assists per game.