Top 5 all-time Phoenix Suns assist leaders

Steve Nash is widely considered one of the greatest passers in NBA history.

The Suns are one of the NBA’s most enduring franchises. Founded in 1968, Phoenix has reached the NBA Finals three times, most recently in 2021, and won three Western Conference titles. Steve Nash holds the team record for assists. Here’s who joins him.

1.

Steve Nash

— 6,997

Widely considered one of the greatest passers of all time, Steve Nash peaked as a playmaker in Phoenix, where he won back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006. He averaged 11 assists and 3.4 turnovers over those two seasons, leading the league in assists both years. Nash ranks sixth in NBA history with 10,335 assists and is one of just eight players with more than 10,000. He also won five assist titles and orchestrated the high-paced Suns offense of the 2000s that helped transform modern NBA spacing and tempo. Renowned for his efficiency and creativity, Nash is the only player in NBA history to combine multiple 50-40-90 seasons with an average of at least 10 assists per game. Despite his size, his IQ and creativity consistently created open looks for teammates, often with flair reminiscent of Magic Johnson. Nash entered the Hall of Fame as one of the greatest passers in NBA history.

2.

Kevin Johnson

— 6,518

The Suns have a long history of legendary point guards, but it’s impossible to discuss the franchise without mentioning Kevin Johnson. Johnson played 12 seasons in Phoenix, averaging 9.5 assists per game and peaking at 12.2 in 1988-89. That season, he joined Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas as the only players in NBA history to average at least 12 assists and 20 points. Johnson is one of just nine players with multiple 20-point, 10-assist seasons, doing so three times, all with the Suns. He also holds the franchise record with 25 assists in a game, tying for the fifth-highest total in NBA history. Alongside Charles Barkley, Johnson led Phoenix to the 1992-93 NBA Finals, averaging 7.9 assists over 23 playoff games before falling to Michael Jordan and the Bulls. Johnson was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor, with his No. 7 jersey retired.

3.

Alvan Adams

– 4,012

Alvan Adams is the only center on this list and, at 6-foot-9, the tallest. Drafted by the Suns in 1975, Adams spent his entire 13-year career in Phoenix, winning Rookie of the Year, making the All-Star team and helping lead the franchise to its first NBA Finals appearance as a rookie. He retired holding franchise records for games played (988), minutes (27,203), rebounds (6,937) and steals (1,289), but his court vision may have been his most renowned skill. One of the premier passing bigs of his era, Adams averaged 4.1 assists per game for his career, peaking at 5.6 as a rookie. He helped popularize playmaking from the high post, serving as an offensive hub from the middle of the floor—a style later perfected by modern bigs like Nikola Jokić. In his most iconic performance, Adams recorded a triple-double with 47 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists on Feb. 22, 1977. The Suns retired his No. 33 jersey in 1988 and named him to the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor.

4.

Devin Booker

– 3,908

Devin Booker is undeniably the most iconic Phoenix Sun of the modern era. Drafted 13th overall in 2015, Booker has spent all 11 of his seasons in Phoenix and racked up plenty of franchise accolades along the way. He’s best known for getting buckets, as evidenced by his status as the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, but he’s always been a strong playmaker as well. Despite his shoot-first mentality, Booker averages 5.3 assists per game for his career, peaking at 7.1 in 2024-25, which tied Damian Lillard for 10th in the league that season. Booker made NBA history on April 25, 2023, becoming the first player to record at least 45 points and 10 assists in a series-clinching playoff win, finishing Game 5 of the Western Conference First Round against the Clippers with 47 points and 10 assists. He also led the Suns to their most recent NBA Finals appearance in 2020-21, where they fell to the Bucks in six games.

5.

Walter Davis

– 3,340

Another player known primarily for getting buckets, Walter Davis proved during his 11 years with the Suns that he could pass the rock as well as score it. Drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 1977, Davis won Rookie of the Year while averaging 24.2 points per game on 52.6% shooting. He averaged 3.4 assists that season, just below his career mark of 3.8, but his consistency earns him the fifth spot on this list, edging out iconic playmakers like Jason Kidd, who spent fewer seasons in Phoenix. Davis peaked at 5.5 assists per game in 1983-84, raising that average to 6.4 over 17 playoff games that season. His silky-smooth jumper and elite speed in the open court earned him the nickname “The Greyhound.” Davis retired as the Suns’ all-time leading scorer, but he was clearly no slouch as a playmaker either.