ASSISTS
An assist is a pass that leads directly to a teammate scoring, if and
only if the player scoring the goal responds by demonstrating
immediate reaction towards the basket. Only one assist can be
credited on any score. Even if the "second-to-last" pass set up the
play, it is not an assist.
An assist is credited when a pass is made to a teammate who
shoots and scores-provided the shooter's immediate intention,
upon receiving the ball, was to shoot and that intention was maintained
until the shot was taken. It does not prohibit an assist where
the shooter takes time to balance or makes a small play to score,
provided the scorer always intended to shoot.
A pass to a player in good scoring position who considers other
options before deciding to shoot and score is not an assist. The
score is the result of the action by the shooter alone, not the
passer.
The distance of the shot, the type of shot, and the ease with which
the shooter makes the shot are not factors when considering if a
pass is an assist. Similarly, the number of dribbles taken by the
player who scores is also not a factor, unless his efforts are such
that you determine that he did the work to make the basket,
rather than the pass.
A pass to a player at half court who dribbles directly to the basket
for a successful lay-up is an assist. However if that player has
to divert to dribble around a defensive player, no assist is given.
The statistician should bear in mind that the more the scoring player
has to do in order to score, the less likely it is that the pass is an
assist.
An assist may be credited on a pass to the pivot shooter (low
post), provided there is an immediate reaction on the part of the
pivot shooter in attempting to score.
Consistent with the definition above, an assist is not awarded
simply when it is the last pass before a basket or because it was
simply a "good pass." The determining factor in awarding the
assist must be the amount of work the scorer does and the
immediacy of the shooter's intention to score.


EXAMPLES
1. After taking a defensive rebound, A5 makes a full court pass
to A4 who misses a lay-up but has enough time to easily
score from the rebound.
No assist. There has been a FGA and offensive rebound
between the pass and the score.
2. A5 passes to A4, who hesitates, looks to pass to A3, who is
cutting, and then takes and makes the shot.
No assist to be awarded because A4 did not show immediate
reaction.
3. A5 passes to A4 who takes one dribble to find balance, and
then takes the shot and scores.
Credit an assist to A5, provided A4 maintained an intention to
shoot.
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4. A4 makes a great full court pass to A5 who only has to handoff
the ball to A3 for an uncontested successful lay-up.
Even though the pass from A4 created the basket, it was not
the last pass before the score. Award the assist to A5.
5. A3 passes to A5, who pump fakes, spins, takes one dribble,
and dunks the ball.
In most cases, NO assist would be credited, as the player
receiving the ball did the work.
6. A3 passes to A5, who dribbles once, makes a head fake, and
scores.
Credit A3 with an assist because A5 had the intention to
shoot.