The LA Lakers lost Game 3 of the 2020 NBA Finals to the Miami Heat 115-104. Even though the Lakers were unable to take a 3-0 lead, LeBron James accomplished a great achievement during the game.

James passed Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton on the all-time playoffs assist list. He currently sits in second place behind Lakers legend Magic Johnson.

John Stockton was an assist specialist during his NBA career

Stockton was the definition of a true point guard during his playing career. He played a pivotal role for the Utah Jazz for many years. Stockton was a player who had a high basketball IQ, and he knew how to find open teammates. Whenever Stockton had the ball in his hands, there was a good chance that he would make the right decision. During the 1987-88 season, Stockton led the league in assists for the first time in his career. That season was his fourth season in the NBA, and he averaged 13.8 assists per game.

He went on to lead the league in assists the next eight seasons, and during that time, he set an NBA record as he averaged 14.5 assists during the 1989-90 regular season. Throughout his career, Stockton established himself as a high profile point guard. He had 10 consecutive seasons where he averaged double digits in assists and finished his career averaging double digits in assists 11 times.

In the playoffs, Stockton played at a high-level as well. Stockton made the playoffs every season during his career from 1985 to 2003. He averaged double-digits in assists 11 times during his playoff career. Stockton played in 182 games in the playoffs and finished with 1,839 assists, which is currently third all-time. He put together an impressive career, and he will always be considered one of the best passers of all-time.

LeBron James passing John Stockton on the all-time playoffs list

James has accomplished a lot during his career. The future Hall of Famer has played at a high-level ever since he entered the league. James has a lot of playoff experience and has put up impressive numbers during his time in the postseason. One of those impressive stats is his total number of assists in the playoffs. Coming into Game 3, he was third on the all-time list for most assists during the playoffs. 

Early in the game, he passed John Stockton and is now sitting at No. 2 on the list behind Magic Johnson. James currently has 1,846 assists in the playoffs, and that number will continue to grow. The three-time NBA champion has taken his game to another level since joining the Lakers, and he has done everything on the court from scoring to passing and putting his team in a position to win games.

LeBron James continues to achieve greatness in year 17

At 35, James continues to impact the game in a big way. He doesn’t dominate in just one area of his game. James can beat you in so many ways on the court, and that’s something that makes him one of the best in the game. He’s already the leader on the all-time playoffs points list with 7,395 points. James will continue to add to that number as his career goes on.

Whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs, James knows what it takes to win and put himself in a position to succeed. He’s two wins from winning his fourth NBA title, and he wants to continue to secure his legacy in the NBA. When his career is over, he will have accomplished so much and will be at the top of many lists.