Now the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, Jason Kidd takes up two of the top five spots in Mavericks’ single season assists per game leaders.
The Mavericks have been home to some magicians with the basketball, with the likes of Steve Nash, Jason Kidd and Luka Dončić suiting up for them. Read on to see the best assists per game seasons in Mavericks history.
Luka Dončić – 2024, 9.8 Assists per Game
Dončić played some of the best all-around basketball of his career in his final full season with the Mavericks. The Matador not only won the scoring title, but he also served up a career-best 9.8 assists per game. His fingerprints were all over the Mavericks’ successful possessions that season, and he helped lead the team to an NBA Finals appearance. His 9.8 APG was second only to Tyrese Haliburton (10.9).
Jason Kidd – 1996, 9.7 Assists per Game
A young Jason Kidd was making his mark in the league in his second career season back in 1996. Kidd garnered an All-Star nod thanks to averaging 16.6 points and 9.7 assists per game in that season, showing marked improvement from what was an already strong rookie campaign. Only John Stockton (11.2 APG) averaged more assists per game than Kidd that season.
Jason Kidd – 2010, 9.1 Assists per Game
Kidd returned for his second tour with the Mavericks in 2008 after successful stints in both New Jersey and Phoenix. He made his 10th All-Star team in 2010 by nearly averaging a double-double with 10.3 points per game and 9.1 assists per game. The 36-year-old would finish the season fifth in assists per game. Kidd didn’t slow down much the following season as a key part of the Mavericks’ remarkable run to an NBA Championship.
Luka Dončić – 2020, 8.8 Assists per Game
Dončić’s second season was a smashing success as he made the All-Star team and the All-NBA First Team while also finishing fourth in MVP voting. He boosted his scoring from 21.2 points per game to 28.8 and also pumped the assists from 6.0 to 8.8. That impressive output put him sixth in scoring and third in APG in 2020.
Steve Nash – 2004, 8.8 Assists per Game
2004 was the final year of Nash’s run with the Mavericks and he ended it in style by averaging what was the best APG figure of his career to that point. Nash jumped up his average from 7.3 to 8.8 assists per game and shot a solid 47% from the floor. That was good for third in the NBA behind only Jason Kidd and Stephon Marbury. Nash’s career reached new heights the following years in Phoenix when he won back-to-back MVPS and won three straight assists titles.
