List of NBA annual steals leaders
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.[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 | |||||
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[a] | |||||
‡ | 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




Multiple-time leaders
Rank | Player | Team | Times leader | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets (3) / Los Angeles Clippers (3) | 6 | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
2 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 1988, 1990, 1993 | ||
Micheal Ray Richardson | New York Knicks (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) / New Jersey Nets (1) | 1980, 1983, 1985 | ||
Alvin Robertson | San Antonio Spurs (2) / Milwaukee Bucks (1) | 1986, 1987, 1991 | ||
6 | Mookie Blaylock | Atlanta Hawks | 2 | 1997, 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
- A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
- 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]
- 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]
- In the 1981–82 season, Maurice Cheeks had the highest steal total (209) but was second in steal average (2.65).[21]
- 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]
- 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]
- In the 2000–01 season, Doug Christie had the highest steal total (183) but was third in steal average (2.26).[51]
- In the 2001–02 season, Jason Kidd had the highest steal total (175) but was third in steal average (2.13).[53]
- In the 2003–04 season, Shawn Marion had the highest steal total (167) but was second in steal average (2.11).[55]
- In the 2004–05 season, Allen Iverson had the highest steal total (180) but was second in steal average (2.40).[57]
- 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]
- 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]
- In the 2012–13 season, Mike Conley Jr. had the highest steal total (174) but was third in steal average (2.2).[66]
- 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]
- 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).
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
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.