By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net
Last night against the Brooklyn Nets, Rajon Rondo put up just two points, but he also handed out 25 assists to lead his team. The 31-year old became the oldest player in NBA history with 25 assists in a game and just the seventh player to achieve this feat. He also did it in just 30 minutes, which are also the fewest for a player with 25 assists in the history of the NBA.
Eurohoops presents the other six NBA players in the history of the game with 25+ assists and also adds Rajon Rondo’s accomplishment to this list.
Scott Skiles: 30 assists
- Stat Line: 22 points, 30 assists
- Team: Orlando Magic
- Career-Stats: 11.1 points, 6.5 assists
On December 30th, 1990, Scott Skiles became the first and only player in NBA history to hand out 30 assists in just one NBA game. Against the Denver Nuggets, the Orlando Magic with Skiles leading the way got the easy 116-155 victory. He finished with a huge double-double: 22 points and 30 assists.
The 26-year old at the time, played 44 minutes (the most of any team) made 7/13 field goals and managed to shock the world with his 30 assists. As a player, he played for five different NBA teams until he traveled overseas to play in Greece for one year, for PAOK Thessaloniki in his last year playing professionally. In the same club, he started his coaching career.
John Stockton: 28, 27, 26 assists
- Career Stats: 13.1 points, 10.5 assists
- Team: Utah Jazz
John Stockton is known as one of the best point guards in NBA history, maybe the best pure floor general ever. The ten times All-Star is also the only player to have had three games with 25+ assists, which is something remarkable. Moreover, his career-averages also show how he was a double-double type of player night in and night out.
- Stat Line: 20 points, 28 assists, 8 steals
On January 15, 1991, just a couple of weeks after Scott Skiles had handed out 30 assists, John Stockton managed to put up 20 points, 28 assists, and 8 steals, one incredible stat-line. He willed the Jazz to a 102-124 victory against the San Antonio Spurs.
- Stat Line: 18 points, 27 assists
At Madison Square Garden, in New York, Stockton had one of the best all-time performances in the world’s most famous arena. He went out and scored 18 points, while also handing out 27 assists against the Knicks. Unfortunately, his magic did not come with a win, as his team lost 107-115.
- Stat Line: 17 points, 26 assists
Finally, at home, in Utah, in a loss against the Portland Trail Blazers on April 14, 1988, he filled in the box-score once more, as he finished with 17 points and 26 assists.