Josh Perkins is now the all-time assist leader in Gonzaga Basketball history. How has his career stacked up with the program greats?
While Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke have been receiving the national accolades on the 2018-19 Gonzaga Basketball team, point guard Josh Perkins has been the conductor. He and the Bulldogs mowed down another opponent on Thursday in the Pepperdine Waves by 28 points to move up to 26-2 (13-0). The win clinches yet another WCC regular season title for the program.
Hachimura led all scorers with 23 points, followed by Zach Norvell with 21. Perkins scored 10 points but dished out nine assists in the victory. The 8th one of the night was a historic one, as the senior passed Matt Santangelo for the all-time assist record at 668. Now at 670, Perkins has the chance to extend the record that took nearly two decades to break.
Between Santangelo and Perkins, there have been a bunch of great point guards in Bulldog history. Players such as Blake Stepp, Derek Raivio, Jeremy Pargo, Kevin Pangos and Dan Dickau have been critical in Gonzaga’s consecutive streak to the NCAA Tournament. And of course, the legendary John Stockton from years prior.
It’s a great achievement for the four-year starter for Gonzaga will more games left to play. But Perkins hasn’t always been celebrated. In fact, he’s been on the receiving end of criticism every time the Bulldogs either lose a game, or is a part of any kind of discussion about how good this team really is – a rinse and repeat argument that’s been attempted to be made since 2015.
But the reality is, Perkins has always been a key clog for Mark Few’s program. And even though he may not put up the 20+ point games other explosive scoring guards around the country, the flashy ball handler originally from Denver, Colorado has been responsible for just as many points a night.
It’s been great career to this point for Perkins. For those of you still skeptical of the impact of the senior playmaker has had with Gonzaga Basketball, check out how things have gone after his redshirt season.