MIES (FIBA) - FIBA stars hand out assists in a variety of ways. There are no-look dimes, behind the back passes and full length of the court laser-beam strikes that make jaws drop.
Serbia's Nikola Jokic is among them. He caused a stir earlier in this NBA season when the Nugget beat Memphis, 125-115. The 3-time NBA MVP equaled his season-high of 16 assists, but what caused a social media frenzy was one particular eye-popping helper in the fourth quarter when he dribbled into the late and delivered a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Peyton Watson.
As jaw-dropping good as it was, a Nuggets beat writer for the Denver Post wrote on X that he's seen better.
NBA stars Oscar Robertson, John Stockton and Steve Nash captivated audiences with their incredible passing in international basketball and now there are many others doing the same.
Who do you think is the best passer in FIBA ball?
Nikola Jokic, Serbia
Jokic truly is the conductor of the Serbia orchestra, whether it's with his playmaking in the lane (as seen above) or with his passes from other areas of the court. He is a nightmare to defend because of his unselfishness and his vision. Jokic can score, he can rebound and boy can he pass!
Alperin Sengun, Türkiye
The basketball world was reminded at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 that Jokic is not the only player that can dominate games with his passing. Sengun can as well. With some of the most dazzling dimes ever handed out west of the Bosphorous, in Riga, Sengun's creative passing was a major factor in the team's run to the Final. The big man finished tied for third overall at the event with an average of 6.6 assists per game.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Canada
Last season's NBA MVP is best known for his shifty moves and scoring, yet Gilgeous-Alexander is a terrific passer. He's had a monumental impact on Canada's national team, leading it to a first-ever podium finish at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, in 2023, earning a spot on the All-Star Five. He spearheaded the team's run to the Quarter-Finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics - the country's first appearance at the Summer Games since Sydney 2000. In the NBA this season, Alexander is averaging 32.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
Luka Doncic, Slovenia
As gifted as a scorer there is in the game in the 21st century, Doncic does as much damage against the opposition with his passing. While he led FIBA EuroBasket 2025 in scoring at 34.7 points per game, he was second in assists at 7.1 assists per game. In his seven games, Doncic had one with 11 assists (against Belgium) and three with 9 assists (v Poland, France and Israel). His best average in a FIBA Tournament? At the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2021 in Kaunas, he averaged 11.1 assists per game.
Carlik Jones, South Sudan
Jones left no doubt he's one of the top passers in international basketball when leading South Sudan in their first FIBA Basketball WorldCup. Jones tied the all-time single World Cup game mark of 15 assists that had been held by Croatia's Toni Kukoc since a 1994 game against China. Jones had 11 assists in South Sudan's opening loss to Puerto Rico and 14 in the Bright Stars' last win over Philippines. Along with Kukoc, he became just the second player with 10 or more assists in three games of a single World Cup. Then at the Olympics in Paris, Jones had the third highest assists average of 7.7 per game.
Facundo Campazzo, Argentina
Remember when Facundo Campazzo and Argentina defied the odds and reached the Final of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup? With most of the golden generation retired, Campazzo pulled the strings on a magnificent run, averaging a magical 7.8 assists per contest. His 12 dimes against Serbia in the Quarter-Finals are the stuff of legend. The 34-year-old playmaker remains one of the top passers in FIBA ball.
Arturs Zagars, Latvia
The finest passer in the Baltics became one of the best know creators in the game with his stunny displays at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he led Latvia to fifth place. Zagars averaged 7.4 assists per game. In a 98-63 win over Lithuania, he etched his name in the history books with 17 assists to break the all-time single game World Cup record.
Yuki Kawamura, Japan
The 21st century lighting bolt stands 1.72m (5ft 8in) tall. At his first FIBA Asia Cup in 2022, Kawamura was a pass-only point guard who had plenty of no-look dimes. When he began looking to score more, Kawamura electrified Okinawa at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup as Japan came from behind to stun Finland.
Josh Giddey, Australia
Like Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey can score, rebound and set up teammates. The 23-year-old has 22 career triple doubles. His passing often comes to the fore. His 6.0 assists per game at both the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the 2024 Olympics, led the Boomers. With Chicago this season, he's averaging 20.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.5 assists per contest.
Tyrese Haliburton, USA
Haliburton's brilliance at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup didn't get the Americans to the podium, yet it showed he's a big-time player. After representing his country on their gold-medal run at the Olympics in Paris, he made a mockery of a poll in the American media that named him as the most overrated player in the NBA. Haliburton's answer was to spearhead Indiana's run to the 2025 NBA Finals. There are plenty of FIBA dimes in Haliburton's future.
Dennis Schroder, Germany
The MVP of both the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup MVP and EuroBasket 2025, Schroder takes your breath away. While leading Germany this summer to their first FIBA EuroBasket title since 1993, Schroder averaged 7.2 assists along with his 20.3 points per game. At the Paris Games in 2024, Schroder's assist numbers were even better at 7.5 per game as Germany made it to the Semi-Finals. He's averaging 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists for the Sacramento Kings this season.
Ali Mansour, Lebanon
What does handing out a spellbinding FIBA Asia Cup 2025 high 15 assists in a knockout game against Japan get you? A place among the elite passers in international hoops! The 1.85m (6'0") Mansour was a whirling, twirling dime deliverer and led Lebanon to a 97-73 win. Mansour averaged 6.4 assists, which was No. 2 overall at the event.
Thomas Satoransky, Czechia
Satoransky reset the World Cup Qualifiers record for assists in a single-game with 16 dimes against Estonia. That means he more than deserves his spot among the top passers in the FIBA game. But even without the record-breaking performance, Sato has been one of the best facilitators nonetheless.
Ludde Hakanson, Sweden
We can't end this list without mentioning Ludde Hankanson either. The Swedish sensation might have had his assist record broken (read above), but not without putting up a fight. Hakanson actually tied his previous record of 15 assists on November 28 against Satoransky and Czechia before having that record smashed in the next gameday. We'll just have to keep an eye on this in the next World Cup Qualifiers window.
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