Decades later, Skiles still holds assist mark
In the world of sports, athletes often dedicate their entire lives to reaching the pinnacle of their profession, but for many, life at the top can be short-lived. Sometimes all a player gets to experience at the highest level is one minute on the court, one trip to the plate, one shot on goal or one checkered flag, but more often than not, that fleeting moment in the spotlight is a story all its own. This is One and Done, a FOX Sports series profiling athletes, their paths to success and the stories behind some of sports' most ephemeral brushes with glory.
Scott Skiles has the Orlando Magic off to a surprising 18-13 start in his first season as the head coach of his former team.
Under Skiles, the Magic have already exceeded the expectations set during 20-, 23- and 25-win seasons the last three years, respectively, but while Orlando may be playing well enough to get itself into the playoffs, it's unlikely anyone on his or any other team will ever beat the personal mark Skiles set 25 years ago this week.
On Dec. 30, 1990, Skiles set an NBA single-game record with 30 assists in Orlando's 155-116 win over the Denver Nuggets, topping the 29 assists dished out by New Jersey Nets guard Kevin Porter against the Houston Rockets in February 1978.
In front of a sellout crowd of 15,077 at the since-demolished Orlando Arena, Skiles logged more than twice as many dimes as the entire Nuggets lineup (Denver had 14 as a team), and his effort came as a surprise to everyone in the building -- including himself.
