List of NBA annual steals leaders explained

In basketball, a steal is a "defensive action" that causes the opponent to turn the ball over.^[1] The National Basketball Association's (NBA) steal title is awarded to the player with the highest steals per game average in a given season. The steal title was first recognized in the 1973–74 season when statistics on steals were first compiled.^[2] To qualify for the steal title, the player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual steals leader if his steal total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season.^[3]

Alvin Robertson holds the all-time records for total steals (301) and steals per game (3.67) in a season; achieved in the 1985–86 season. Among active players, Chris Paul had the highest season steal total (217) in the 2007–08 season and the highest season steal average (2.77) in the 2008–09 season.

Paul has won the most steal titles, with six. Micheal Ray Richardson, Robertson, Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson all follow with three. Magic Johnson, Mookie Blaylock, Baron Davis and John Stockton are the only other players to win more than one steal title, with two. Paul has won the most consecutive steal titles, with four. Four players have won both the steal title and the NBA championship in the same season: Rick Barry in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors, Johnson in 1982 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Jordan in 1993 with the Chicago Bulls and Draymond Green in 2017 with Golden State.^[4]

Key

^	Denotes player who is still active in the NBA
	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
‡	Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year
Player (X)		Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season

PG

Point guard

SG

Shooting guard

SF

Small forward

PF

Power forward

C

Center

Annual leaders

Season	Player	Position	Team	Games played	Total steals	Steals per game	References
		G/F	Portland Trail Blazers	81	217	2.67	^[5] ^[6]
		F	Golden State Warriors	80	228	2.85	^[7] ^[8]
		G	Seattle SuperSonics	82	261	3.18	^[9] ^[10]
		G	Indiana Pacers	81	281	3.47	^[11] ^[12]
		G	Phoenix Suns	82	225	2.74	^[13] ^[14]
		G	Detroit Pistons	80	197	2.46	^[15] ^[16]
		G/F	New York Knicks	82	265	3.23	^[17] ^[18]
		G/F	Los Angeles Lakers	37	127	3.43	^[19] ^[20]
	(2)	G/F	Los Angeles Lakers	78	208	2.67	^[21]
	(2)	G/F	Golden State Warriors New Jersey Nets	64	182	2.84	^[22]
		G	Utah Jazz	81	215	2.65	^[23] ^[24]
	(3)	G/F	New Jersey Nets	82	243	2.96	^[25]
‡		G	San Antonio Spurs	82	301	3.67	^[26] ^[27]
	(2)	G	San Antonio Spurs	81	260	3.21	^[28]
‡		G	Chicago Bulls	82	259	3.16	^[29] ^[30]
		G	Utah Jazz	82	263	3.21	^[31] ^[32]
	(2)	G	Chicago Bulls	82	227	2.77	^[33]
	(3)	G	Milwaukee Bucks	81	246	3.04	^[34]
	(2)	G	Utah Jazz	82	244	2.98	^[35]
	(3)	G	Chicago Bulls	78	221	2.83	^[36]
		G	Seattle SuperSonics	73	216	2.96	^[37] ^[38]
		F	Chicago Bulls	79	232	2.94	^[39] ^[40]
‡		G	Seattle SuperSonics	81	231	2.85	^[41] ^[42]
		G	Atlanta Hawks	78	212	2.72	^[43] ^[44]
	(2)	G	Atlanta Hawks	70	183	2.61	^[45]
		G	New Jersey Nets	50	134	2.68	^[46] ^[47]
		G/F	Charlotte Hornets	72	192	2.67	^[48] ^[49]
		G	Philadelphia 76ers	71	178	2.51	^[50] ^[51]
	(2)	G	Philadelphia 76ers	60	168	2.80	^[52]
	(3)	G	Philadelphia 76ers	82	225	2.74	^[53]
		G	New Orleans Hornets	67	158	2.36	^[54] ^[55]
		G	Washington Wizards	61	176	2.89	^[56] ^[57]
		F	Charlotte Bobcats	55	138	2.51	^[58] ^[59]
	(2)	G	Golden State Warriors	63	135	2.14	^[60]
	^	G	New Orleans Hornets	80	217	2.71	^[61] ^[62]
	^ (2)	G	New Orleans Hornets	78	216	2.77
	^†	G	Boston Celtics	81	189	2.33	^[63]
	^ (3)	G	New Orleans Hornets	80	188	2.35
	^ (4)	G	Los Angeles Clippers	60	152	2.53
	^ (5)	G	Los Angeles Clippers	70	169	2.41
	^ (6)	G	Los Angeles Clippers	62	154	2.48
‡	^	F	San Antonio Spurs	64	148	2.31	^[64]
	^	G	Golden State Warriors	79	169	2.14	^[65]
‡	^	F	Golden State Warriors	76	154	2.03	^[66]
	^†	G	Indiana Pacers	75	177	2.36	^[67]
	^	F	Oklahoma City Thunder	77	170	2.21	^[68]
	^	G/F	Philadelphia 76ers	57	119	2.09	^[69]
	^	F	Miami Heat	52	108	2.08	^[70]
	^	G	San Antonio Spurs	68	138	2.09	^[71]
	^	F	Toronto Raptors	67	128	1.91	^[72]
	^	G	Sacramento Kings	74	150	2.03	^[73]

Multiple-time leaders

Rank	Player	Team	Times leader	Years
1	Chris Paul	New Orleans Hornets (3) / Los Angeles Clippers (3)	6	,,,,,
2	Allen Iverson	Philadelphia 76ers	3	,,
	Michael Jordan	Chicago Bulls		,,
	Micheal Ray Richardson	New York Knicks (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) / New Jersey Nets (1)		,,
	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs (2) / Milwaukee Bucks (1)		,,
6	Mookie Blaylock	Atlanta Hawks	2	,
	Baron Davis	New Orleans Hornets (1) / Golden State Warriors (1)		,
	Magic Johnson	Los Angeles Lakers		,
	John Stockton	Utah Jazz		,

See also

• NBA records
• List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual 3-point scoring leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual assists leaders
• List of National Basketball Association annual blocks leaders

References

General

• Web site: Yearly Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game . basketball-reference.com . February 27, 2010 . May 9, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130509045458/http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/stl_per_g_yearly.html . live .

Specific

Notes and References

1. Web site: Basketball glossary . FIBA.com . April 20, 2010. May 16, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100516175956/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/baskBasi/glos.asp. dead.
2. Web site: Regular Season Records: Steals . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . April 20, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20070420123304/http://www.nba.com/history/records/regular_steals.html. April 20, 2007. dead.
3. Web site: Rate Statistic Requirements . basketball-reference.com . February 6, 2020. May 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130514040849/http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/rate_stat_req.html. live.
4. Web site: NBA Honors: Steals Leaders, Year by Year . Land of Basketball . October 15, 2020. January 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210101170818/https://www.landofbasketball.com/awards/nba_steals_leader_year.htm. live.
5. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1973–74 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091742/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19731974.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
6. s/steella01. Larry Steele. February 27, 2010.
7. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1974–75 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091835/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19741975.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
8. b/barryri01. Rick Barry. February 27, 2010.
9. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1975–76 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091758/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19751976.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
10. w/wattssl01. Slick Watts. February 27, 2010.
11. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1976–77 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022100726/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19761977.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
12. b/busedo01. Don Buse. February 27, 2010.
13. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1977–78 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091843/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19771978.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
14. l/leero01. Ron Lee. February 27, 2010.
15. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1978–79 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120148/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19781979.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
16. c/carrml01. M.L. Carr. February 27, 2010.
17. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1979–80 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095201/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19791980.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
18. r/richami01. Micheal Ray Richardson. February 27, 2010.
19. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1980–81 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091854/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19801981.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
20. j/johnsma02. Magic Johnson. February 27, 2010.
21. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1981–82 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083430/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19811982.html. March 5, 2016. dead.
22. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1982–83 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083430/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19811982.html. March 5, 2016. dead.
23. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1983–84 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022100721/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19831984.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
24. g/greenri01. Rickey Green. February 27, 2010.
25. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1984–85 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091913/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19841985.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
26. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1985–86 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095213/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19851986.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
27. r/roberal01. Alvin Robertson. February 27, 2010.
28. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1986–87 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091745/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19861987.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
29. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1987–88 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095130/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19871988.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
30. j/jordami01. Michael Jordan. February 27, 2010.
31. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1988–89 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091752/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19881989.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
32. s/stockjo01. John Stockton. February 27, 2010.
33. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1989–90 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091934/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19891990.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
34. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1990–91 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095214/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19901991.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
35. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1991–92 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091909/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19911992.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
36. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1992–93 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120151/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19921993.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
37. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1993–94 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091858/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19931994.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
38. m/mcmilna01. Nate McMillan. February 27, 2010.
39. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1994–95 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120154/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19941995.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
40. p/pippesc01. Scottie Pippen. February 27, 2010.
41. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1995–96 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120157/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19951996.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
42. p/paytoga01. Gary Payton. February 27, 2010.
43. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1996–97 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095117/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19961997.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
44. b/blaylmo01. Mookie Blaylock. February 27, 2010.
45. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1997–98 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091801/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19971998.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
46. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1998–99 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091932/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19981999.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
47. g/gillke01. Kendall Gill. February 27, 2010.
48. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 1999–2000 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091832/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/19992000.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
49. j/jonesed02. Eddie Jones. February 27, 2010.
50. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2000–01 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091924/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20002001.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
51. i/iversal01. Allen Iverson. February 27, 2010.
52. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2001–02 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022095153/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20012002.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
53. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2002–03 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091759/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20022003.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
54. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2003–04 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103941/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20032004.html. March 4, 2016. dead.
55. d/davisba01. Baron Davis. February 27, 2010.
56. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2004–05 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120200/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20042005.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
57. h/hughela01. Larry Hughes. February 27, 2010.
58. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2005–06 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120204/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20052006.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
59. w/wallage01. Gerald Wallace. February 27, 2010.
60. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2006–07 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407120208/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20062007.html. April 7, 2016. dead.
61. Web site: League Leaders: Steals – 2007–08 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc . February 27, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091825/http://www.nba.com/history/steals/20072008.html. October 22, 2015. dead.
62. p/paulch01. Chris Paul. February 27, 2010.
63. r/rondora01. Rajon Rondo. April 20, 2010.
64. l/leonaka01. Kawhi Leonard. April 11, 2019.
65. c/curryst01. Stephen Curry. April 11, 2019.
66. g/greendr01. Draymond Green. April 11, 2019.
67. o/oladivi01. Victor Oladipo. April 11, 2019.
68. g/georgpa01. Paul George. April 11, 2019.
69. s/simmobe01. Ben Simmons. April 11, 2019.
70. b/butleji01. Jimmy Butler. April 11, 2019.
71. m/murrade01. Dejounte Murray. 15 May 2022.
72. a/anunoog01. OG Anunoby. 15 May 2023.
73. f/foxde01. De'Aaron Fox. 15 April 2024.