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In NBA Finals history, there have been 15 instances where a player has recorded 15 or more assists in a single game, with Magic Johnson accounting for 10 of these performances. Let us take a closer look at the top five assist displays throughout the Finals.
During the regular season of 1983-84, Johnson topped the league with an impressive average of 13.1 assists per game, which earned him a third-place finish in the MVP voting. This marked his second consecutive season leading the league in assists per game. The Los Angeles Lakers reached the Finals, where Johnson shone in Game 3 against the Boston Celtics, recording 21 assists. Although the Lakers secured that game, they ultimately succumbed to the Celtics in a seven-game series.
In the 1990-91 season, Johnson averaged 12.5 assists coupled with 19.4 points per game, finishing as the runner-up in the MVP voting. He participated in 79 games, marking the third year in a row where he played in at least 77 contests. Facing the Chicago Bulls in the playoffs, Johnson recorded 20 assists in Game 5 while also achieving a triple-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Unfortunately, despite his stellar performance, the Lakers lost both the match and the series.
Johnson captured his first MVP award for the regular season in 1986-87, leading the league again with an average of 12.2 assists per game while also reaching a career-best 23.9 points per game. In the Finals against the Celtics, Johnson recorded 20 assists in Game 2, helping the Lakers seize a 2-0 lead in the series. The Lakers eventually triumphed in the series in six games, and Johnson was named Finals MVP.
Frazier’s third season in the NBA, 1969-70, saw him average 8.2 assists per game, the highest of his career. He also secured a fourth-place finish in MVP voting, which was his best result in that category. As the Knicks faced the Lakers in the Finals, the series extended to seven games. In the decisive Game 7, Frazier delivered a spectacular performance, notching 19 assists alongside 36 points to lead the Knicks to victory, marking the first of two championships in his career.
Throughout his career, Johnson registered 19 assists in a Finals game on two occasions. In Game 6 of the 1987 Finals, he achieved this feat as the Lakers clinched the championship title. The following year, he matched this performance again in Game 6 of the 1988 Finals against the Pistons. This performance was crucial as the Lakers were trailing 3-2 in the series but managed to win Game 6. They went on to capture Game 7, earning back-to-back championships and marking the fifth and final title of Johnson’s illustrious career.
