Chris Paul won six steal titles from 2008 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2014.
Inbasketball, asteal is a "defensive action" that causes the opponent toturn the ball over.[1] TheNational 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 the1973–74 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 the2013–14 season.[3]
Alvin Robertson holds the all-time records for total steals (301) and steals per game (3.67) in a season; achieved in the1985–86 season. Among active players,Dyson Daniels had the highest season steal total (229) and the highest season steal average (3.01) in the2024–25 season.
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.Dyson Daniels is the reigning steals leader in the NBA and the first player to average over 3 steals per game since 1991.
^In the 1978–79 season,Eddie Jordan andNorm 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]
^The 1998–99 season was shortened to 50 games due to the league'slockout.[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]
^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]
^The 2011–12 season was shortened to 66 games due to the league'slockout.[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]
^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 andThaddeus 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 withTony Allen (2.0).
