Magic Johnson sits atop and throughout the list for most assist in an NBA final.
There have been 15 occurrences of a player recording at least 15 assists in an NBA Finals game. Magic Johnson has 10 of those games. Let’s highlight the top five assist performances in NBA Finals history.
1. Magic Johnson, 21 Assists (1984 Finals, Game 3)
Johnson led the league during the 1983-84 regular season by averaging 13.1 assists per game. That helped him finish third in MVP voting. It also marked the second straight season in which he led the league in assists per game. The Lakers advanced to the Finals and Johnson stepped up in Game 3 against the Celtics to record 21 assists. The Lakers won that game but eventually lost the series in seven games.
2. Magic Johnson, 20 Assists (1991 Finals, Game 5)
During the 1990-91 season, Johnson averaged 12.5 assists and 19.4 points on his way to finishing second in MVP voting. He appeared in 79 games, marking the third straight season in which he played at least 77 games. The Lakers faced the Bulls in the playoffs and Johnson dished out 20 assists in Game 5. He finished with a triple-double, adding in 16 points and 11 rebounds. Despite his performance, the Lakers lost the game and the series.
3. Magic Johnson, 20 Assists (1987 Finals, Game 2)
Johnson won his first regular season MVP award in 1986-87. He led the league again by averaging 12.2 assists per game, and he also averaged a career high 23.9 points. The Lakers took on the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Johnson dished out 20 assists in a Lakers win in Game 2, helping them take a 2-0 lead in the series. The Lakers won the series in six games and Johnson was named Finals MVP.
4. Walt Fraizer, 19 Assists (1970 Finals, Game 7)
The 1969-70 season was Frazier’s third in the NBA. He averaged 8.2 assists, which would end up being the highest mark of his career. He also finished fourth in MVP voting that season, which was the highest finish of his career for the award. The Knicks faced the Lakers in the Finals and the series went to seven games. In Game 7, Frazier provided 19 assists and 36 points to lead the Knicks to a victory. That was the first of two championships for Frazier during his career.
5. Magic Johnson, 19 Assists (1987 Finals, Game 6 and 1988 Finals, Game 6)
Johnson finished with 19 assists in a Finals game twice during his career. In Game 6 of the 1987 Finals, he had 19 assists as the Lakers clinched the title. In Game 6 of the 1988 Finals, Johnson posted 19 assists versus the Pistons. It was a timely performance as the Lakers were down 3-2 in the series before winning Game 6. The Lakers went on to win Game 7, giving them back-to-back titles. That also marked the fifth and final championship of Johnson’s career.
