Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has moved to ninth on the all-time assists list, passing Gary Payton.

Next in the list is Detroit Pistons legend Isiah Thomas which James could likely pass in the next several games. Passing his good friend Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder will be a tough assignment as the guard is still racking up the assists night in and night out.

Nevertheless, James' ascent adds another layer to his argument as one of the greatest to ever play the game, and possibly even the greatest. For some reason, his playmaking abilities have been underappreciated and overlooked by fans and critics. Most people notice his brute strength and sheer athleticism.

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People tend to forget that James is and has always been a pass-first player. This was what scouts highlighted in their reports back when James was a high school prodigy. This is what opposing NBA teams fear the most when facing his squad.

James leads the league in assists with 10.6 per game. This is his best in his career. Anthony Davis has been his favorite recipient. But the entire Lakers squad knows that all they have to do is to constantly move without the ball and be ready for the pass. Sooner or later, James will find them.