What is an assist in basketball? An assist consists of action that occurs when an offensive player in possession of the basketball passes it to a teammate who then scores points via a field goal near the basket or near the perimeter.

In other words, an offensive player would be credited with an assist if that same player executed the last pass which immediately resulted in a made field goal by another offensive player who received that pass.

An offensive player could also be credited with an assist even if the secondary offensive player that receives the ball dribbles it prior to shooting the ball. The key principle to keep in mind is that the secondary offensive player has to immediately try to score regardless if dribble action occurs or not.

Furthermore, an offensive player could be credited with an assist even when that same player is executing an inbound pass to a secondary offensive player.

As long as that secondary player tries to score, the offensive player executing the inbound pass could get an assist, assuming the field goal attempt by the secondary player results in a made basket.

However, an assist does not occur if an offensive player in current possession of the ball passes it to another offensive player but that secondary offensive player does not immediately try to score.

It should be noted as well that an assist is one of the primary categories in relation to basketball statistics that is typically documented by a statistician during a basketball game.

Moreover, each player’s number of assists as well as the total number of assists for the entire team can usually be viewed within a box score following the completion of a game.

Additionally, in terms of statistics, the assist is commonly abbreviated with three letters, indicated as AST.

What is a basic example of a player being credited with an assist

This is a basic example of a player being credited with an assist that could occur during a basketball game.

To start, let’s say that there are two particular offensive players, denoted as player A and player B, respectively.

Let’s also say that player A has possession of the basketball near the top. At the same time, let’s say that player B utilizes a basketball cut to get open near the right side wing behind the three-point line via a down screen from another teammate.

Afterwards, player B receives the ball from player A and immediately takes a three-point jump shot towards the basket. Following that, if player B makes the three-point shot, then player A would be credited with an assist.

What is a basic example of a player who would not be credited with an assist

This is a basic example of a player who would not be credited with an assist during a basketball game.

To begin, let’s say that there are two particular offensive players, denoted as player A and player B, respectively.

Furthermore, let’s say that player A has possession of the ball near the top. Next, let’s say that player B lifts up from the low post area to set a basic on-ball screen for player A.

Afterwards, player A uses that on-ball screen and dribbles toward the right side of the court. Also, after setting the on-ball screen, player B pops out to a perimeter area near the top and receives the ball from player A.

However, upon receiving the ball, player B is being slightly guarded by a certain defender but player B still has an opportunity to immediately take the jump shot.

Nevertheless, player B decides to use a pump fake but the defender does not move. Afterwards, player B decides to use a simple jab step, which briefly causes the defender to change their defensive stance and back away momentarily.

From there, due to the amount of temporary separation between player B and the on-ball defender, player B feels more comfortable taking the jump shot, which also results in player B scoring points as the ball goes through the basket ring.

Unfortunately, player A would not be credited with an assist in this case because player B never tried to score immediately upon receiving the ball.

Related: No Assist, pass does not lead directly to made field goal – pass and jump shot – NBA Video Rulebook

Which basketball positions could achieve the most assists

In terms of standard basketball positions, the point guard will usually be one of the top two or three players on the team as it relates to achieving assists.

Additionally, in many instances, the point guard will simply lead the team in total assists throughout the season.

This occurs because that particular player will more than likely have possession of the ball, especially to initiate and execute the team’s basketball offense strategy or set plays when compared to the other player positions.

However, it is also possible for other positions to get multiple assists as well. For example, the shooting guard or small forward could have possession of the ball for a moderate or even above average amount of time, which, in turn, could potentially result in several assists for those perimeter players, similar to the point guard position.

Furthermore, post players such as the power forward or center could also get credited with a variety of assists as well.

That would possibly occur if post players receives the ball near the high post area and then pass it or hand it off to teammates who could then quickly score points near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.

Moreover, in some instances, a power forward or center could receive the ball near the low post block but then, a primary on-ball defender as well as a secondary off-ball defender could attempt to execute a defensive tactic known as a double team.

This will occasionally or regularly happen if that power forward or center has elite or dominant low post skills and the opposing team wants to get the ball out of their hands as soon as possible.

So, when that double team action occurs, the post player could execute a kick pass to a teammate and if that same teammate is able to make mid-range or three-point jump shots because of a sufficient perimeter shooting ability, it could lead to an assist for the post player.

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