What is assist in basketball?

In basketball, an assist is credited to a player when they pass the ball to a teammate in a way that directly leads to a score. Assist statistics are commonly tracked in basketball to measure a player's ability to create scoring opportunities for their teammates.

Assists are an important facet of the game as they showcase a player's vision, decision-making, and unselfishness on the court. Players who excel at getting assists often serve as key playmakers for their teams and are instrumental in creating offensive success.

The player receiving the assist must score immediately after receiving the pass for it to be counted as an assist. Additionally, secondary assists, or "hockey assists," can also be credited when a player makes a pass that leads to an assist.

Assists can come in a variety of forms, such as a simple pass leading to a layup, an alley-oop, a kick-out to a shooter for a three-pointer, or a bounce pass to a cutting teammate. Some players are known for their exceptional passing skills, such as Magic Johnson, John Stockton, and Steve Nash.

Overall, assists play a crucial role in basketball by facilitating scoring opportunities and promoting teamwork on the court.