James Harden holds the Houston Rockets franchise record for assists with 4,796.
The Houston Rockets have featured incredible talent throughout their near six-decade history, including several current and future Hall of Famers. Chief among them is James Harden — a surefire lock for the Hall — whose name dominates the franchise record books, including the No. 1 spot for total assists.
1. James Harden – 4,796 Assists
Harden blossomed after the Rockets acquired him before the start of the 2012-13 season from the Oklahoma City Thunder. The former Sixth Man of the Year transformed into an MVP in 2018. He captivated the world with his explosive scoring performances, but playmaking skills are just as dynamic. He won his three consecutive league scoring titles (2017-20) during his eight-plus seasons in Houston, while also leading the league in assists once as a Rocket (2012-13).
2. Calvin Murphy – 4,402 Assists
Murphy played his entire 13-year career for the Rockets organization, including one season in San Diego before the team moved to Houston in 1971. He was a steady offensive threat, capable of putting the ball in the basket, but could make a defense pay with the pass as well. He averaged 17.9 points and 4.4 dimes for his career and made one All-Star team in 1979.
3. Allen Leavell – 3,339 Assists
Taking over in Murphy's stead, Leavell took the baton the rest of the way in the 1980s at the point guard position. He dished out 4.8 assists a night & earned the third spot on this list.
4. Hakeem Olajuwon – 2,992 AssistsÂ
Nicknamed “The Dream,†Olajuwon left defenders in a trance with his vast array of low-post moves. While an elite scorer, he was also one of the most versatile players in league history, winning back-to-back championships in the 1990s along the way. The 1994 NBA MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year leads the Rockets in multiple statistical categories and even landed a top five spot on their all-time assists list.
5. Mike Newlin – 2,581 Assists
Newlin rounds out the top five on the Rockets' all-time assist list. Slotted next to Calvin Murphy at shooting guard, the two shared the scoring and passing load out of Houston's backcourt. Newlin played eight of his 11 seasons in Houston before finishing out his career with the New Jersey Nets and New York Knicks.
