Russell Westbrook leads the APG list for the Wizards, only playing for one season.
The Washington Wizards have been home to several talented table-setters throughout their 64 seasons in the NBA, from Rod Strickland to John Wall and Russell Westbrook. Today we’re highlighting which hoopers have had the best assists per game seasons in franchise history.
Russell Westbrook – 2021, 11.7 APG
Westbrook’s lone campaign in the nation’s capital in 2020-21 landed him the top spot on their list. At age 32, ‘Russ’ dished out a career-best and league-leading 11.7 assists per game, adding 22.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals across 65 outings. He averaged a triple-double for the fourth time in his 17-year career and tallied 59 double-doubles and 38 triple-doubles that year, including his career highs in dimes (24) and boards (21). Westbrook is a nine-time All-NBA and All-Star, a two-time scoring champ, three-time assist champ, the 2016-17 MVP, and was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in 2021-22. ‘Brodie’ has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Houston Rockets, posting averages of 21.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 8.0 apg and 1.6 spg in 1,237 total games.
John Wall – 2017, 10.7 APG
Wall spent nine of his 11 seasons as a pro in Washington after they chose him with the first overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. In 2016-17, he set career-highs in a number of statistical categories, which included points (23.1), assists (10.7), steals (2.0) and field goal percentage (45.1) while appearing in 78 games. Wall was awarded with his first and only selection to the All-NBA Third Team and made his fourth consecutive All-Star team. Additionally, it was the third straight season where he handed out at least 10.0 apg and suited up for 77 or more contests.
Rod Strickland – 1998, 10.5 APG
Strickland played four and a half productive years with the Bullets and Wizards, appearing in 304 contests for the franchise between 1996 and 2001. His 10.5 assists per game led the league in 1997-98, adding 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 76 outings. Strickland earned the only All-NBA honor of his 17-year career for his efforts, recording career-bests in dimes, boards and minutes (39.7) while finishing 18th in the MVP race. ‘Lightning Rod’ also suited up for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors and Rockets during his time in the NBA, from 1988 to 2005.
John Wall – 2016, 10.2 APG
In 2015-16, a 25-year-old Wall went off for 19.9 points, 10.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals, racking up 49 double-doubles and four triple-doubles in 77 starts. He earned All-Star honors for the third consecutive season and extended a personal streak with at least 16.3 ppg and 7.6 apg in each of his first six campaigns as a pro. Over the course of his nine years as a Wizard, Wall appeared in 573 games and averaged 19.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 9.2 apg and 1.7 spg between 2010 and 2019.
John Wall – 2015, 10.0 APG
‘Optimus Dime’ rounds out today’s list with the 10.0 assists a night he dished out during the 2014-15 campaign. He chipped in 17.6 points, 4.6 boards and 1.7 steals in 79 games, garnering a second straight All-Star selection and his lone All-Defensive (Second Team) award. Injuries unfortunately played their part in slowing down the explosive Wall, as he sat out all of 2019-20 and 2021-22. The five-time All-Star spent a year in Houston and one with the Clippers, where he last played in 2022-23. Wall compiled career averages of 18.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 8.9 apg and 1.6 spg across 647 appearances.
