List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders

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]

Chris Paul won six steal titles from 2008 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2014.

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.[2] 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
Player (X) Denotes the number of times the player had been the
steals leader up to and including that season
GGuardFForwardCCenter

Steal leaders
Magic Johnson led the league in steals for two consecutive seasons.
Michael Jordan was the steals leader in three separate seasons: 1988, 1990, and 1993.
John Stockton was the steals leader in 1989 and 1992.
Allen Iverson won three steals titles in his career.
Season Player Position[lower-alpha 1] Team Games
played		 Total steals Steals per game References
1973–74 Larry Steele G/F Portland Trail Blazers 81 217 2.68 [5][6]
1974–75 Rick Barry* F Golden State Warriors 80 228 2.85 [7][8]
1975–76 Slick Watts G Seattle SuperSonics 82 261 3.18 [9][10]
1976–77 Don Buse G Indiana Pacers 81 281 3.47 [11][12]
1977–78 Ron Lee G Phoenix Suns 82 225 2.74 [13][14]
1978–79 M. L. Carr[lower-alpha 2] G Detroit Pistons 80 197 2.46 [15][16]
1979–80 Micheal Ray Richardson G/F New York Knicks 82 265 3.23 [17][18]
1980–81 Magic Johnson*[lower-alpha 3] G/F Los Angeles Lakers 37 127 3.43 [19][20]
1981–82 Magic Johnson* (2)[lower-alpha 4] G/F Los Angeles Lakers 78 208 2.67 [20][21]
1982–83 Micheal Ray Richardson (2)[lower-alpha 5] G/F Golden State Warriors
New Jersey Nets		 64 182 2.84 [18][22]
1983–84 Rickey Green G Utah Jazz 81 215 2.65 [23][24]
1984–85 Micheal Ray Richardson (3) G/F New Jersey Nets 82 243 2.96 [18][25]
1985–86 Alvin Robertson G San Antonio Spurs 82 301 3.67 [26][27]
1986–87 Alvin Robertson (2) G San Antonio Spurs 81 260 3.21 [27][28]
1987–88 Michael Jordan* G Chicago Bulls 82 259 3.16 [29][30]
1988–89 John Stockton* G Utah Jazz 82 263 3.21 [31][32]
1989–90 Michael Jordan* (2) G Chicago Bulls 82 227 2.77 [30][33]
1990–91 Alvin Robertson (3) G Milwaukee Bucks 81 246 3.04 [27][34]
1991–92 John Stockton* (2) G Utah Jazz 82 244 2.98 [32][35]
1992–93 Michael Jordan* (3) G Chicago Bulls 78 221 2.83 [30][36]
1993–94 Nate McMillan G Seattle SuperSonics 73 216 2.96 [37][38]
1994–95 Scottie Pippen* F Chicago Bulls 79 232 2.94 [39][40]
1995–96 Gary Payton* G Seattle SuperSonics 81 231 2.85 [41][42]
1996–97 Mookie Blaylock G Atlanta Hawks 78 212 2.72 [43][44]
1997–98 Mookie Blaylock (2)[lower-alpha 6] G Atlanta Hawks 70 183 2.61 [44][45]
1998–99[lower-alpha 7] Kendall Gill G New Jersey Nets 50 134 2.68 [47][48]
1999–00 Eddie Jones G/F Charlotte Hornets 72 192 2.67 [49][50]
2000–01 Allen Iverson*[lower-alpha 8] G Philadelphia 76ers 71 178 2.51 [51][52]
2001–02 Allen Iverson* (2)[lower-alpha 9] G Philadelphia 76ers 60 168 2.80 [52][53]
2002–03 Allen Iverson* (3) G Philadelphia 76ers 82 225 2.74 [52][54]
2003–04 Baron Davis[lower-alpha 10] G New Orleans Hornets 67 158 2.36 [55][56]
2004–05 Larry Hughes[lower-alpha 11] G Washington Wizards 61 176 2.89 [57][58]
2005–06 Gerald Wallace[lower-alpha 12] F Charlotte Bobcats 55 138 2.51 [59][60]
2006–07 Baron Davis (2)[lower-alpha 13] G Golden State Warriors 63 135 2.14 [56][61]
2007–08 Chris Paul^ G New Orleans Hornets 80 217 2.71 [62][63]
2008–09 Chris Paul^ (2) G New Orleans Hornets 78 216 2.77 [63]
2009–10 Rajon Rondo^ G Boston Celtics 81 189 2.33 [64]
2010–11 Chris Paul^ (3) G New Orleans Hornets 80 188 2.35 [63]
2011–12[lower-alpha 14] Chris Paul^ (4) G Los Angeles Clippers 60 152 2.53 [63]
2012–13 Chris Paul^ (5)[lower-alpha 15] G Los Angeles Clippers 70 169 2.41 [63]
2013–14 Chris Paul^ (6)[lower-alpha 16] G Los Angeles Clippers 62 154 2.48 [63]
2014–15 Kawhi Leonard^ [lower-alpha 17] F San Antonio Spurs 64 148 2.31 [68]
2015–16 Stephen Curry^ G Golden State Warriors 79 169 2.14 [69]
2016–17 Draymond Green^ F Golden State Warriors 76 154 2.03 [70]
2017–18 Victor Oladipo^ G Indiana Pacers 75 177 2.36 [71]
2018–19 Paul George^ F Oklahoma City Thunder 77 170 2.21 [72]
2019–20

Ben Simmons^

 G/F Philadelphia 76ers 57 119 2.09 [73]

Multiple-time leaders
RankingPlayerTeamTimes leaderYears
1Chris PaulNew Orleans Hornets (3) / Los Angeles Clippers (3)62008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
2Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers32001, 2002, 2003
Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1988, 1990, 1993
Micheal Ray Richardson New York Knicks (1) / Golden State Warriors / New Jersey Nets (1) / New Jersey Nets (1) 1980, 1983, 1985
Alvin Robertson San Antonio Spurs (2) / Milwaukee Bucks (1) 1986, 1987, 1991
6Mookie BlaylockAtlanta Hawks21997, 1998
Baron Davis New Orleans Hornets (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) 2004, 2007
Magic Johnson Los Angeles Lakers 1981, 1982
John Stockton Utah Jazz 1989, 1992

Notes
  1. The player's primary position is listed first.
  2. In the 1978–79 season, Eddie Jordan and Norm Nixon both had the highest steal total (201) but they were tied for second in steal average (2.45).[15]
  3. In the 1980–81 season, Magic Johnson had only played in 37 games and ranked seventeenth in steal total. Micheal Ray Richardson had the highest total (232).[19]
  4. In the 1981–82 season, Maurice Cheeks had the highest steal total (209) but was second in steal average (2.65).[21]
  5. In the 1982–83 season, Micheal Ray Richardson had only played in 64 games and ranked sixth in steal total. Rickey Green had the highest total (220).[22]
  6. In the 1997–98 season, Mookie Blaylock had only played in 70 games and ranked fourth in steal total. Brevin Knight had the highest total (196).[45]
  7. The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league's lockout.[46] The qualification of this season's steal title is to appear in at least 43 games (out of 50) or to have at least 76 steals.[3]
  8. In the 2000–01 season, Doug Christie had the highest steal total (183) but was third in steal average (2.26).[51]
  9. In the 2001–02 season, Jason Kidd had the highest steal total (175) but was third in steal average (2.13).[53]
  10. In the 2003–04 season, Shawn Marion had the highest steal total (167) but was second in steal average (2.11).[55]
  11. In the 2004–05 season, Allen Iverson had the highest steal total (180) but was second in steal average (2.40).[57]
  12. In the 2005–06 season, Gerald Wallace had only played in 55 games and ranked tenth in steal total. Chris Paul had the highest total (175).[59]
  13. In the 2006–07 season, Baron Davis had only played in 63 games and ranked sixth in steal total. Shawn Marion had the highest total (156).[61]
  14. The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league's lockout.[65] The qualification of this season's steal title is to appear in at least 56 games (out of 66) or to have at least 100 steals.[3]
  15. In the 2012–13 season, Mike Conley, Jr. had the highest steal total (174) but was third in steal average (2.2).[66]
  16. In the 2013–14 season, Ricky Rubio and Thaddeus Young both had higher steal totals (190 and 167 respectively) but they were second and third in steal average (2.3 and 2.1), respectively.[67]
  17. In the 2014–15 season, Stephen Curry had the highest steal total (163) but was third in steal average tied with Tony Allen (2.0).

References
General
  • "Yearly Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
Specific
  1. "Basketball glossary". FIBA.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
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  3. "Rate Statistic Requirements". basketball-reference.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  4. "NBA Honors: Steals Leaders, Year by Year". Land of Basketball. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
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  6. "Larry Steele Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  7. "League Leaders: Steals – 1974–75". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  8. "Rick Barry Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  9. "League Leaders: Steals – 1975–76". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  10. "Slick Watts Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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  12. "Don Buse Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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  14. "Ron Lee Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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  39. "League Leaders: Steals – 1994–95". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  40. "Scottie Pippen Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  41. "League Leaders: Steals – 1995–96". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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  43. "League Leaders: Steals – 1996–97". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  44. "Mookie Blaylock Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  45. "League Leaders: Steals – 1997–98". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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  48. "Kendall Gill Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  49. "League Leaders: Steals – 1999–2000". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
  50. "Eddie Jones Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2010.
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