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. The National Basketball Association's 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. To qualify for the steal title, the player must appear in at least 58 games. 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.
Alvin Robertson holds the all-time records for total steals and steals per game in a season; achieved in the 1985–86 season. Among active players, Chris Paul had the highest season steal total in the 2007–08 season and the highest season steal average 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, Magic Johnson in 1982 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Michael Jordan in 1993 with the Chicago Bulls and Draymond Green in 2017 with the Golden State Warriors.

Key

Steal leaders

SeasonPlayerPositionTeamGames
played		Total stealsSteals per gameReferences
G/FPortland Trail Blazers812172.68
*FGolden State Warriors802282.85
GSeattle SuperSonics822613.18
GIndiana Pacers812813.47
GPhoenix Suns822252.74
GDetroit Pistons801972.46
G/FNew York Knicks822653.23
*G/FLos Angeles Lakers371273.43
* G/FLos Angeles Lakers782082.67
G/FGolden State Warriors
New Jersey Nets		641822.84
GUtah Jazz812152.65
G/FNew Jersey Nets822432.96
GSan Antonio Spurs823013.67
GSan Antonio Spurs812603.21
*GChicago Bulls822593.16
*GUtah Jazz822633.21
* GChicago Bulls822272.77
GMilwaukee Bucks812463.04
* GUtah Jazz822442.98
* GChicago Bulls782212.83
GSeattle SuperSonics732162.96
*FChicago Bulls792322.94
*GSeattle SuperSonics812312.85
GAtlanta Hawks782122.72
GAtlanta Hawks701832.61
GNew Jersey Nets501342.68
G/FCharlotte Hornets721922.67
*GPhiladelphia 76ers711782.51
* GPhiladelphia 76ers601682.80
* GPhiladelphia 76ers822252.74
GNew Orleans Hornets671582.36
GWashington Wizards611762.89
FCharlotte Bobcats551382.51
GGolden State Warriors631352.14
^GNew Orleans Hornets802172.71
^ GNew Orleans Hornets782162.77
^GBoston Celtics811892.33
^ GNew Orleans Hornets801882.35
^ GLos Angeles Clippers601522.53
^ GLos Angeles Clippers701692.41
^ GLos Angeles Clippers621542.48
^ FSan Antonio Spurs641482.31
^GGolden State Warriors791692.14
^FGolden State Warriors761542.03
^GIndiana Pacers751772.36
^FOklahoma City Thunder771702.21

Multiple-time leaders