Assists

An assist is a credited statistic in many team sports that recognizes a contribution that directly leads to a teammate scoring a goal or point. The exact criteria for awarding an assist vary across sports and leagues, but common elements include the passer or facilitator initiating the scoring move and the recipient finishing it. Assists are used to measure teamwork, vision, and decision-making, and they help compare players’ playmaking abilities.

Basketball: An assist is awarded to the player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that directly results in a field goal. The passer’s action must precede the score, and the scorer’s points are credited to that play. Soccer: An assist credits the player who makes the final pass or setup before a teammate’s goal; some competitions distinguish between last-pass assists and other types, and own goals or deflections can influence the crediting of an assist. Ice hockey: Up to two players can be credited with assists on a goal—the last and the second-to-last players to touch the puck before the scorer’s goal. The rules specify that the assists must be legally recorded and directly contribute to the goal.

Variations and analytics: Some leagues record secondary assists or employ advanced metrics to analyze sequences of passes leading to scoring opportunities. The practice and interpretation of assists can differ by era and competition, so comparisons should consider the specific rule set in use. While high assist totals often indicate playmaking ability, they do not always reflect overall scoring efficiency or defensive impact.