List of National Basketball Association career steals leaders
This article provides two lists:
- A list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season steals.[a]
- A progressive list of steals leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.[1]
Steals leaders[]
This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season leaders in steals.
- Statistics accurate as of December 26, 2021
^ | Active NBA player |
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[b] |
§ | 1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2022[2] |
Rank | Player | Position(s) | Team(s) played for (years)[c] | Total steals | Games played[d] | Steals per game average[e] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Stockton* | PG | Utah Jazz (1984–2003) | 3,265 | 1,504 | 2.17 |
2 | Jason Kidd* | PG | Dallas Mavericks (1994–1996, 2008–2012) Phoenix Suns (1996–2001) New Jersey Nets (2001–2008) New York Knicks (2012–2013) |
2,684 | 1,391 | 1.93 |
3 | Michael Jordan* | SG | Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998) Washington Wizards (2001–2003) |
2,514 | 1,072 | 2.35 |
4 | Gary Payton* | PG | Seattle SuperSonics (1990–2003) Milwaukee Bucks (2003) Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) Boston Celtics (2004–2005) Miami Heat (2005–2007) |
2,445 | 1,335 | 1.83 |
5 | Chris Paul^ | PG | New Orleans(/Oklahoma City) Hornets (2005–2011) Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017) Houston Rockets (2017–2019) Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020) Phoenix Suns (2020–present) |
2,394 | 1,122 | 2.13 |
6 | Maurice Cheeks* | PG | Philadelphia 76ers (1978–1989) San Antonio Spurs (1989–1990) New York Knicks (1990–1991) Atlanta Hawks (1991–1992) New Jersey Nets (1993) |
2,310 | 1,101 | 2.10 |
7 | Scottie Pippen* | SF | Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004) Houston Rockets (1999) Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003) |
2,307 | 1,178 | 1.96 |
8 | Clyde Drexler* | SG | Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995) Houston Rockets (1995–1998) |
2,207 | 1,086 | 2.03 |
9 | Hakeem Olajuwon* | C | Houston Rockets (1984–2001) Toronto Raptors (2001–2002) |
2,162 | 1,238 | 1.75 |
10 | Alvin Robertson | SG | San Antonio Spurs (1984–1989) Milwaukee Bucks (1989–1993) Detroit Pistons (1993) Toronto Raptors (1995–1996) |
2,112 | 779 | 2.71 |
11 | LeBron James^ | SF | Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018) Miami Heat (2010–2014) Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present) |
2,101 | 1,332 | 1.58 |
12 | Karl Malone* | PF | Utah Jazz (1985–2003) Los Angeles Lakers (2003–2004) |
2,085 | 1,476 | 1.41 |
13 | Mookie Blaylock | PG | New Jersey Nets (1989–1992) Atlanta Hawks (1992–1999) Golden State Warriors (1999–2002) |
2,075 | 889 | 2.33 |
14 | Allen Iverson* | SG/PG | Philadelphia 76ers (1996–2006, 2009–2010) Denver Nuggets (2006–2008) Detroit Pistons (2008–2009) Memphis Grizzlies (2009) |
1,983 | 914 | 2.17 |
15 | Derek Harper | PG | Dallas Mavericks (1983–1994, 1996–1997) New York Knicks (1994–1996) Orlando Magic (1997–1998) Los Angeles Lakers (1999) |
1,957 | 1,199 | 1.63 |
16 | Kobe Bryant* | SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016) | 1,944 | 1,346 | 1.44 |
17 | Isiah Thomas* | PG | Detroit Pistons (1981–1994) | 1,861 | 979 | 1.90 |
18 | Kevin Garnett* | PF/C | Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016) Boston Celtics (2007–2013) Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015) |
1,859 | 1,462 | 1.27 |
19 | Shawn Marion | SF/PF | Phoenix Suns (1999–2008) Miami Heat (2008–2009) Toronto Raptors (2009) Dallas Mavericks (2009–2014) Cleveland Cavaliers (2014–2015) |
1,759 | 1,163 | 1.53 |
20 | Paul Pierce* | SF/SG | Boston Celtics (1999–2013) Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014) Washington Wizards (2014–2015) Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017) |
1,752 | 1,343 | 1.30 |
21 | Andre Iguodala^ | SF/SG | Philadelphia 76ers (2004–2012) Denver Nuggets (2012–2013) Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2021–present) Miami Heat (2020–2021) |
1,746 | 1,208 | 1.45 |
22 | Magic Johnson* | PG/SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996) | 1,724 | 906 | 1.90 |
23 | Metta World Peace | SF | Chicago Bulls (1999–2002) Indiana Pacers (2002–2006) Sacramento Kings (2006–2008) Houston Rockets (2008–2009) Los Angeles Lakers (2009–2013, 2015–2017) New York Knicks (2013–2014) |
1,721 | 991 | 1.74 |
24 | Ron Harper | SG/PG | Cleveland Cavaliers (1986–1989) Los Angeles Clippers (1989–1994) Chicago Bulls (1994–1999) Los Angeles Lakers (1999–2001) |
1,716 | 1,009 | 1.70 |
25 | Fat Lever | PG/SG | Portland Trail Blazers (1982–1984) Denver Nuggets (1984–1990) Dallas Mavericks (1990–1994) |
1,666 | 752 | 2.22 |
26 | Russell Westbrook^ | PG | Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019) Houston Rockets (2019–2020) Washington Wizards (2020–2021) Los Angeles Lakers (2021–present) |
1,664 | 977 | 1.7 |
27 | Charles Barkley* | PF | Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992) Phoenix Suns (1992–1996) Houston Rockets (1996–2000) |
1,648 | 1,073 | 1.54 |
28 | Gus Williams | PG | Golden State Warriors (1975–1977) Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1984) Washington Bullets (1984–1986) Atlanta Hawks (1987) |
1,638 | 825 | 1.99 |
29 | Hersey Hawkins | SG | Philadelphia 76ers (1988–1993) Charlotte Hornets (1993–1995, 2000–2001) Seattle SuperSonics (1995–1999) Chicago Bulls (1999–2000) |
1,622 | 983 | 1.65 |
30 | Eddie Jones | SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1994–1999) Charlotte Hornets (1999–2000) Miami Heat (2000–2005, 2007) Memphis Grizzlies (2005–2007) Dallas Mavericks (2007–2008) |
1,620 | 954 | 1.70 |
Dwyane Wade† | SG | Miami Heat (2003–2016, 2018–2019) Chicago Bulls (2016–2017) Cleveland Cavaliers (2017–2018) |
1,054 | 1.54 | ||
32 | Rod Strickland | PG | New York Knicks (1988–1990) San Antonio Spurs (1990–1992) Portland Trail Blazers (1992–1996, 2001) Washington Bullets/Wizards (1996–2001) Miami Heat (2001–2002) Minnesota Timberwolves (2002–2003) Orlando Magic (2003–2004) Toronto Raptors (2004) Houston Rockets (2005) |
1,616 | 1,094 | 1.48 |
Trevor Ariza^ | SF | New York Knicks (2004–2006) Orlando Magic (2006–2007) Los Angeles Lakers (2007–2009, 2021–present) Houston Rockets (2009–2010, 2014–2018) New Orleans Hornets (2010–2012) Washington Wizards (2012–2014, 2018–2019) Phoenix Suns (2018) Sacramento Kings (2019) Portland Trail Blazers (2019–2020) Miami Heat (2021) |
1,096 | 1.47 | ||
34 | Mark Jackson | PG | New York Knicks (1987–1992, 2001–2002) Los Angeles Clippers (1992–1994) Indiana Pacers (1994–1996, 1997–2000) Denver Nuggets (1996–1997) Toronto Raptors (2000–2001) Utah Jazz (2002–2003) Houston Rockets (2004) |
1,608 | 1,296 | 1.24 |
35 | Jason Terry§ | SG/PG | Atlanta Hawks (1999–2004) Dallas Mavericks (2004–2012) Boston Celtics (2012–2013) Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014) Houston Rockets (2014–2016) Milwaukee Bucks (2016–2018) |
1,603 | 1,410 | 1.14 |
36 | Terry Porter | PG | Portland Trail Blazers (1985–1995) Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–1998) Miami Heat (1999) San Antonio Spurs (1999–2002) |
1,583 | 1,274 | 1.24 |
37 | Doc Rivers | PG | Atlanta Hawks (1983–1991) Los Angeles Clippers (1991–1992) New York Knicks (1992–1994) San Antonio Spurs (1994–1996) |
1,563 | 864 | 1.81 |
38 | Larry Bird* | SF/PF | Boston Celtics (1979–1992) | 1,556 | 897 | 1.73 |
39 | Doug Christie | SG | Los Angeles Lakers (1993–1994) New York Knicks (1994–1996) Toronto Raptors (1996–2000) Sacramento Kings (2000–2005) Orlando Magic (2005) Dallas Mavericks (2005) Los Angeles Clippers (2007) |
1,555 | 827 | 1.88 |
40 | Andre Miller | PG | Cleveland Cavaliers (1999–2002) Los Angeles Clippers (2002–2003) Denver Nuggets (2003–2006, 2011–2013) Philadelphia 76ers (2006–2009) Portland Trail Blazers (2009–2011) Washington Wizards (2014–2015) Sacramento Kings (2015) Minnesota Timberwolves (2015–2016) San Antonio Spurs (2016) |
1,546 | 1,304 | 1.19 |
41 | Nate McMillan | PG/SG | Seattle SuperSonics (1986–1998) | 1,544 | 796 | 1.94 |
42 | Jeff Hornacek | SG | Phoenix Suns (1986–1992) Philadelphia 76ers (1992–1994) Utah Jazz (1994–2000) |
1,536 | 1,077 | 1.43 |
43 | Chris Mullin* | SF/SG | Golden State Warriors (1985–1997, 2000–2001) Indiana Pacers (1997–2000) |
1,530 | 986 | 1.55 |
Baron Davis | PG | Charlotte Hornets (1999–2002) New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005) Golden State Warriors (2005–2008) Los Angeles Clippers (2008–2011) Cleveland Cavaliers (2011) New York Knicks (2012) |
835 | 1.83 | ||
Vince Carter† | SG/SF | Toronto Raptors (1999–2004) New Jersey Nets (2004–2009) Orlando Magic (2009–2010) Phoenix Suns (2010–2011) Dallas Mavericks (2011–2014) Memphis Grizzlies (2014–2017) Sacramento Kings (2017–2018) Atlanta Hawks (2018–2020) |
1,540 | 0.99 | ||
46 | Kendall Gill | SG/SF | Charlotte Hornets (1990–1993, 1995–1996) Seattle SuperSonics (1993–1995) New Jersey Nets (1996–2001) Miami Heat (2001–2002) Minnesota Timberwolves (2002–2003) Chicago Bulls (2003–2004) Milwaukee Bucks (2004–2005) |
1,519 | 966 | 1.57 |
47 | Julius Erving* | SF | Philadelphia 76ers (1976–1987) | 1,508 | 836 | 1.80 |
48 | Reggie Miller* | SG | Indiana Pacers (1987–2005) | 1,505 | 1,389 | 1.08 |
49 | Thaddeus Young^ | PF | Philadelphia 76ers (2007–2014) Minnesota Timberwolves (2014–2015) Brooklyn Nets (2015–2016) Indiana Pacers (2016–2019) Chicago Bulls (2019–2021) San Antonio Spurs (2021–present) |
1,501 | 1,055 | 1.42 |
50 | Rajon Rondo^ | PG | Boston Celtics (2006–2015) Dallas Mavericks (2014–2016) Sacramento Kings (2016–2017) Chicago Bulls (2016–2018) New Orleans Pelicans (2018–2019) Los Angeles Lakers (2018–2020, 2021–present) Atlanta Hawks (2020–2021) Los Angeles Clippers (2021) |
1,500 | 936 | 1.6 |
Progressive list of steals leaders[]
This is a progressive list of steals leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1]
- Statistics accurate as of December 26, 2021.
^ | Active NBA player |
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
ATL | Atlanta Hawks | GSW | Golden State Warriors | MIL | Milwaukee Bucks | OKC | Oklahoma City Thunder | SDC | San Diego Clippers |
BOS | Boston Celtics | IND | Indiana Pacers | MIN | Minnesota Timberwolves | PHI | Philadelphia 76ers | SEA | Seattle SuperSonics |
CHH | Charlotte Hornets | LAC | Los Angeles Clippers | NJN | New Jersey Nets | PHX | Phoenix Suns | TOR | Toronto Raptors |
CHI | Chicago Bulls | LAL | Los Angeles Lakers | NOH | New Orleans Hornets | POR | Portland Trail Blazers | UTA | Utah Jazz |
CLE | Cleveland Cavaliers | MEM | Memphis Grizzlies | NOP | New Orleans Pelicans | SAC | Sacramento Kings | WAS | Washington Wizards |
DAL | Dallas Mavericks | MIA | Miami Heat | NYK | New York Knicks | SAS | San Antonio Spurs | WSB | Washington Bullets |
Season | Year-by-year leader | Steals | Active player leader | Steals | Career record | Steals | Single-season record | Steals | Season |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973–74 | Larry SteelePOR | 217 | Larry SteelePOR | 217 | Larry SteelePOR | 217 | Larry SteelePOR | 217 | 1973–74 |
1974–75 | Rick Barry*GSW | 228 | 400 | 400 | Rick Barry*GSW | 228 | 1974–75 | ||
1975–76 | Slick WattsSEA | 261 | Rick Barry*GSW | 599 | Rick Barry*GSW | 599 | Slick WattsSEA | 261 | 1975–76 |
1976–77 | Don BuseIND | 281 | Slick WattsSEA | 780 | Slick WattsSEA | 780 | Don BuseIND | 281 | 1976–77 |
1977–78 | Ron LeePHX | 225 | Rick Barry*GSW | 929 | Rick Barry*GSW | 929 | 1977–78 | ||
1978–79 | Norm NixonLAL Eddie JordanNJN |
201 | 1,024 | 1,024 | 1978–79 | ||||
1979–80 | Micheal Ray RichardsonNYK | 265 | Randy Smith CLE 1979–81 NYK 1981–82 SDC & ATL 1982–83 |
1,143 | Randy Smith CLE 1979–81 NYK 1981–82 SDC & ATL 1982–83 |
1,143 | 1979–80 | ||
1980–81 | 232 | 1,256 | 1,256 | 1980–81 | |||||
1981–82 | 213 | 1,347 | 1,347 | 1981–82 | |||||
1982–83 | Rickey GreenUTA | 220 | 1,403 | 1,403 | 1982–83 | ||||
1983–84 | 215 | Gus Williams SEA 1983–84 WSB 1984–86 |
1,347 | 1983–84 | |||||
1984–85 | Micheal Ray RichardsonNJN | 243 | 1,525 | Gus WilliamsWSB | 1,525 | 1984–85 | |||
1985–86 | Alvin RobertsonSAS | 301 | 1,621 | 1,621 | Alvin RobertsonSAS | 301 | 1985–86 | ||
1986–87 | 260 | Maurice Cheeks* PHI 1986–89 SAS 1989–90 NYK 1990–91 ATL 1991–92 NJN 1992–93 |
1,670 | Maurice Cheeks* PHI 1986–89 SAS 1989–90 NYK 1990–91 ATL 1991–92 NJN 1992–93 |
1,670 | 1986–87 | |||
1987–88 | Michael Jordan*CHI | 259 | 1,837 | 1,837 | 1987–88 | ||||
1988–89 | John Stockton*UTA | 263 | 1,942 | 1,942 | 1988–89 | ||||
1989–90 | Michael Jordan*CHI | 227 | 2,066 | 2,066 | 1989–90 | ||||
1990–91 | Alvin RobertsonMIL | 246 | 2,194 | 2,194 | 1990–91 | ||||
1991–92 | John Stockton*UTA | 244 | 2,277 | 2,277 | 1991–92 | ||||
1992–93 | Michael Jordan*CHI | 221 | 2,310 | 2,310 | 1992–93 | ||||
1993–94 | Nate McMillanSEA | 216 | John Stockton*UTA | 2,031 | 1993–94 | ||||
1994–95 | Scottie Pippen*CHI | 232 | 2,225 | 1994–95 | |||||
1995–96 | Gary Payton*SEA | 231 | 2,365 | John Stockton*UTA | 2,365 | 1995–96 | |||
1996–97 | Mookie BlaylockATL | 212 | 2,531 | 2,531 | 1996–97 | ||||
1997–98 | Brevin KnightCLE | 196 | 2,620 | 2,620 | 1997–98 | ||||
1998–99 | Kendall GillNJN | 134 | 2,701 | 2,701 | 1998–99 | ||||
1999–00 | Eddie JonesCHH | 192 | 2,844 | 2,844 | 1999–00 | ||||
2000–01 | Doug ChristieSAC | 183 | 2,976 | 2,976 | 2000–01 | ||||
2001–02 | Jason Kidd*NJN | 175 | 3,128 | 3,128 | 2001–02 | ||||
2002–03 | Allen Iverson*PHI | 225 | 3,265 | 3,265 | 2002–03 | ||||
2003–04 | Shawn MarionPHX | 167 | Scottie Pippen*CHI | 2,307 | 2003–04 | ||||
2004–05 | Allen Iverson*PHI | 180 | Gary Payton* BOS 2004–05 MIA 2005–07 |
2,331 | 2004–05 | ||||
2005–06 | Chris Paul^NOK | 175 | 2,402 | 2005–06 | |||||
2006–07 | Shawn MarionPHX | 156 | 2,445 | 2006–07 | |||||
2007–08 | Chris Paul^NOH | 217 | Jason Kidd* NJN 2007–08 DAL 2008–12 NYK 2012–13 |
2,038 | 2007–08 | ||||
2008–09 | 216 | 2,198 | 2008–09 | ||||||
2009–10 | Rajon Rondo^BOS | 189 | 2,343 | 2009–10 | |||||
2010–11 | Chris Paul^NOH LAC 2011–12 |
188 | 2,477 | 2010–11 | |||||
2011–12 | 152 | 2,559 | 2011–12 | ||||||
2012–13 | Mike Conley^MEM | 174 | 2,684 | 2012–13 | |||||
2013–14 | Ricky Rubio^MIN | 191 | Kobe Bryant*LAL | 1,835 | 2013–14 | ||||
2014–15 | Stephen Curry^GSW | 163 | 1,882 | 2014–15 | |||||
2015–16 | 169 | 1,944 | 2015–16 | ||||||
2016–17 | John Wall^WAS | 157 | Chris Paul^ LAC 2016–17 HOU 2017–19 OKC 2019–20 PHX 2020–21 |
1,912 | 2016–17 | ||||
2017–18 | Victor Oladipo^IND | 177 | 2,008 | 2017–18 | |||||
2018–19 | Paul George^OKC | 170 | 2,122 | 2018–19 | |||||
2019–20 | James Harden^HOU | 125 | 2,233 | 2019–20 | |||||
2020–21 | T. J. McConnell^IND | 128 | 2,332 | 2020–21 | |||||
2021–22 | Marcus Smart^BOS | 65 | 2,394 | 2021–22 | |||||
Season | Year-by-year leader | Steals | Active player leader | Steals | Career record | Steals | Single-season record | Steals | Season |
See also[]
- Basketball statistics
- NBA regular season records
- Basketball portal
Notes[]
- ^ The National Basketball Association did not record steal statistics until the 1973–74 season.
- ^ 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.
- ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
- ^ Games played in prior seasons where steals were not recorded are not included in total games played nor are they used in calculating the per game average.
- ^ Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before steals were officially recorded.
References[]
- ^ a b "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Steals". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "2022 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
External links[]
Categories:
- National Basketball Association lists
- National Basketball Association statistical leaders