Isaiah Collier Delivers Historic 22-Assist Night as Jazz Begin to Turn the Corner
If you’re looking for a sign that the Utah Jazz rebuild is beginning to take shape, Isaiah Collier just delivered one in neon lights. With the roster stretched thin after the team’s trade for Jaren Jackson Jr., the second-year guard stepped into the spotlight and turned in a performance that felt more like a video game simulation than a real-life NBA contest.
Let’s start with the basics: Collier played all 48 minutes in the Jazz’s game against the Pacers. That’s a rarity in today’s NBA, especially in the regular season.
Before Tuesday night, he was averaging just under 24 minutes per game. That number ticked up thanks to the marathon outing, but the minutes alone don’t tell the story.
The stat line does.
Collier dished out 22 assists, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 20 or more assists in a game. That’s not just a personal milestone - that’s a league-wide headline.
The last player to hit the 22-assist mark? Nikola Jokic, back in March of last year.
That’s elite company, and Collier’s now etched his name alongside it.
But here’s where things get wild. Collier had just five assists at halftime.
That means he racked up 17 assists in the second half alone, setting a new NBA record for most assists in a half. He broke Goran Dragic’s previous mark of 15, and did so with a level of poise and vision that belies his age and experience.
And he wasn’t just passing - Collier added 17 points of his own, showing off his scoring touch in what was just his eighth start of the season. All told, he was responsible for 67 total points - a staggering number for any player, let alone a young guard still finding his footing in the league.
It’s the kind of performance that can redefine a player’s trajectory. For the Jazz, it’s a glimpse of what the future could look like - a young, dynamic point guard capable of orchestrating an offense with precision and flair. And for Collier, it’s a night that will be remembered not just for the numbers, but for the way he took control when his team needed it most.
Utah may still be in the early stages of its rebuild, but if Tuesday night is any indication, the foundation is starting to solidify - and Isaiah Collier might just be the cornerstone.