LeBron James dished out 14 assists while scoring 23 points during the Los Angeles Lakers 130-127 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday. He has now totaled at least 14 dimes in an NBA game 38 times for his career according to Basketball Reference.
While helping his Lakers to a league-best 13-2 record, LeBron is leading the NBA in assists with 11.3 per contest. That mark is over two dimes more than his previous career high of 9.1 assists during his final season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. So as King James continues to get his John Stockton on, we looked back at the eight greatest assist games of his NBA career.
No. 8 – Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns on March 2, 2019
(16 assists)
LeBron James dished out 15 assists in 11 different games. He also dished out 16 assists on the NBA stage four times. One of those 16-dime nights came during LeBron’s first season with the Los Angeles Lakers. While also scoring 27 points and grabbing nine rebounds, James distributed more assists than Devin Booker and the Suns’ starting lineup combined (13). But Phoenix would win the game by nine as Los Angeles dropped to 30-33 on the season despite a stellar effort from LeBron.
No. 7 – Sacramento Kings at Miami Heat on February 26, 2013
(16 assists)
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh led the Miami Heat to a 141-129 victory of Isaiah Thomas, DeMarcus Cousins and the Sacramento Kings in February of 2013. During the victory, LeBron paced Miami with 40 points to go along with 16 dimes and eight rebounds. The majority of those helpers were directed to Wade who finished with 39 points on the night.
No. 6 – Los Angeles Lakers at Atlanta Hawks on February 12, 2019
(16 assists)
LeBron James added 28 points and 11 rebounds to round a triple-double that featured 16 assists last season for the Los Angeles Lakers in a matchup with Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. LeBron’s ball movement helped Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma each score 19 points on the night. But L.A. would lose the game 117-113 and drop to 28-29 on the year before eventually losing James to injury later in the season.
No. 5 – Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks on November 1, 2019
(16 assists)
One of the most statistically productive all-around games of LeBron James’ career came earlier this season against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. Despite 31 points, 15 assists and 13 rebounds from Luka, LeBron’s Los Angeles Lakers would secure the 119-110 victory behind 39 points, 16 assists and 12 rebounds from James. While pouring in a game-high point total, LeBron also used his passing ability to help fellow superstar Anthony Davis score 31 points of his own in the win.
No. 4 – Atlanta Hawks at Cleveland Cavaliers on December 12, 2017
(17 assists)
After raising their 2016 NBA championship banner to begin the year, LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers met the Atlanta Haws in December of 2017 for a matchup in the 216. LeBron dished out 17 assists in the contest while also scoring a team-high 25 points. He’d help teammates Kevin Love and Jeff Green each score 17 points during the contest which was decided with a 123-114 victory for the Cavaliers.
No. 3 – Cleveland Cavaliers at Washington Wizards on February 6, 2017
(17 assists)
Back before LeBron James left for the Miami Heat, Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison helped make the Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers games a heated rivalry. With a healthy John Wall and Bradley Beal, the February 2017 matchup with Washington was a reminder of those earlier meetings. Despite 41 points from Beal and 22 points with 12 assists from Wall, LeBron and his Cavaliers would earn the 140-135 victory. LeBron finished with 32 points and 17 assists while creating space and shot opportunities for Kevin Love to score 39.
No. 2 – Toronto Raptors at Cleveland Cavaliers on March 21, 2018
(17 assists)
During one of the last regular-season games of LeBron James tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers he dished out 17 assists and scored 35 points while leading his team to a 132-129 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Kyle Lowry scored 24 for the Raptors while LeBron’s ball movement helped five other Cavaliers reach double-figures including Kevin Love who finished with 23. DeMar DeRozan also scored 21 points in one of his last appearances for Toronto.
No. 1 – Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks on February 9, 2018
(19 assists)
Three of LeBron James’ top-eight assist games have come against the Atlanta Hawks for some reason. He’d distribute 19 dimes against the Hawks in February of 2018 as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in what currently stands as a career-high. During a 123-107 victory in Atlanta, LeBron would also score 22 points and grab 12 rebounds to round out a triple-double performance.
