List of NBA 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

[edit]

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career regular season leaders in steals.

Statistics accurate as of the 2024–25 NBA season.
^  | 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 2026[2]
John Stockton has the most steals in NBA history. Stockton is also the all-time leader in assists. Chris Paul has the second-most steals in NBA history and the second-most assists in NBA history. Jason Kidd has the third-most steals and the third-most assists in NBA history. Rank  | Player  | Position(s)  | Team(s) played for (years)[c] | Total steals | Games played[d] | Steals per game
average[e]

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1  | John Stockton*  | PG | Utah Jazz (1984–2003)  | 3,265  | 1,504  | 2.17
2  | Chris Paul^  | PG  | New Orleans Hornets (2005–2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2011–2017)
Houston Rockets (2017–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2019–2020)
Phoenix Suns (2020–2023)
Golden State Warriors (2023–2024)
San Antonio Spurs (2024–present)  | 2,717  | 1,354  | 2.01
3  | 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
4  | Michael Jordan*  | SG | Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)
Washington Wizards (2001–2003)  | 2,514  | 1,072  | 2.35
5  | 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
6  | LeBron James^  | SF | Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2014–2018)
Miami Heat (2010–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2018–present)  | 2,345  | 1,562  | 1.50
7  | 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
8  | Scottie Pippen*  | SF  | Chicago Bulls (1987–1998, 2003–2004)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (1999–2003)  | 2,307  | 1,178  | 1.96
9  | Clyde Drexler*  | SG  | Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998)  | 2,207  | 1,086  | 2.03
10  | Hakeem Olajuwon*  | C | Houston Rockets (1984–2001)
Toronto Raptors (2001–2002)  | 2,162  | 1,238  | 1.75
11  | Alvin Robertson | SG  | San Antonio Spurs (1984–1989)
Milwaukee Bucks (1989–1993)
Detroit Pistons (1993)
Toronto Raptors (1995–1996)  | 2,112  | 779  | 2.71
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  | Russell Westbrook^  | PG  | Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–2019)
Houston Rockets (2019–2020)
Washington Wizards (2020–2021)
Los Angeles Lakers (2021–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–2024)
Denver Nuggets (2024–present)  | 1,955  | 1,237  | 1.58
17  | Kobe Bryant*  | SG  | Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2016)  | 1,944  | 1,346  | 1.44
18  | Isiah Thomas*  | PG  | Detroit Pistons (1981–1994)  | 1,861  | 979  | 1.90
19  | Kevin Garnett*  | PF  | Minnesota Timberwolves (1995–2007, 2015–2016)
Boston Celtics (2007–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2015)  | 1,859  | 1,462  | 1.27
20  | Andre Iguodala§ | SF/SG  | Philadelphia 76ers (2004–2012)
Denver Nuggets (2012–2013)
Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2021–2023)
Miami Heat (2020–2021)  | 1,765  | 1,231  | 1.43
21  | 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
22  | Paul Pierce*  | SF/SG  | Boston Celtics (1998–2013)
Brooklyn Nets (2013–2014)
Washington Wizards (2014–2015)
Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2017)  | 1,752  | 1,343  | 1.30
23  | Magic Johnson*  | PG/SG  | Los Angeles Lakers (1979–1991, 1996)  | 1,724  | 906  | 1.90
24  | 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
25  | 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
26  | James Harden^  | SG/PG  | Oklahoma City Thunder (2009–2012)
Houston Rockets (2012–2021)
Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present)  | 1,715  | 1,151  | 1.49
27  | Fat Lever | PG/SG  | Portland Trail Blazers (1982–1984)
Denver Nuggets (1984–1990)
Dallas Mavericks (1990–1994)  | 1,666  | 752  | 2.22
28  | Charles Barkley*  | PF  | Philadelphia 76ers (1984–1992)
Phoenix Suns (1992–1996)
Houston Rockets (1996–2000)  | 1,648  | 1,073  | 1.54
29  | Gus Williams | PG  | Golden State Warriors (1975–1977)
Seattle SuperSonics (1977–1984)
Washington Bullets (1984–1986)
Atlanta Hawks (1987)  | 1,638  | 825  | 1.99
30  | Trevor Ariza | SF  | New York Knicks (2004–2006)
Orlando Magic (2006–2007)
Los Angeles Lakers (2007–2009, 2021–2022)
Houston Rockets (2009–2010, 2014–2018)
New Orleans Hornets (2010–2012)
Washington Wizards (2012–2014, 2018–2019)
Phoenix Suns (2018)
Sacramento Kings (2019–2020)
Portland Trail Blazers (2020)
Miami Heat (2021)  | 1,628  | 1,118  | 1.46
31  | 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
32  | 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
34  | 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
35  | 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 (2021–2022)
Toronto Raptors (2022–2024)
Phoenix Suns (2024)  | 1,612  | 1,172  | 1.38
36  | 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
37  | Mike Conley^  | PG  | Memphis Grizzlies (2007–2019)
Utah Jazz (2019–2023)
Minnesota Timberwolves (2023–present)  | 1,603  | 1,172  | 1.40
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)  | 1,410  | 1.14
39  | 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
40  | 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
41  | Larry Bird*  | SF/PF  | Boston Celtics (1979–1992)  | 1,556  | 897  | 1.73
42  | 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
43  | Stephen Curry^  | PG  | Golden State Warriors (2009–present)  | 1,553  | 1,026  | 1.51
44  | Andre Miller | PG  | Cleveland Cavaliers (1999–2002)
Los Angeles Clippers (2002–2003)
Denver Nuggets (2003–2006, 2011–2014)
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
45  | Nate McMillan | PG/SG  | Seattle SuperSonics (1986–1998)  | 1,544  | 796  | 1.94
46  | Paul George^  | SF  | Indiana Pacers (2010–2017)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2017–2019)
Los Angeles Clippers (2019–2024)
Philadelphia 76ers (2024–present)  | 1,539  | 908  | 1.69
47  | Jeff Hornacek | SG  | Phoenix Suns (1986–1992)
Philadelphia 76ers (1992–1994)
Utah Jazz (1994–2000)  | 1,536  | 1,077  | 1.43
48  | Vince Carter*  | SG/SF  | Toronto Raptors (1998–2004)
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)  | 1,530  | 1,540  | 0.99
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 (2011–2012)  | 835  | 1.83
Chris Mullin*  | SF/SG  | Golden State Warriors (1985–1997, 2000–2001)
Indiana Pacers (1997–2000)  | 986  | 1.55

## Progressive list of steals leaders

[edit]

This is a progressive list of steals leaders showing how the record increased through the years.[1]

Statistics accurate as of the 2024–25 NBA season.
^  | Active NBA player

|

*  | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†  | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[3]
§  | Eligible for Hall of Fame in 2026 [4]
Team abbreviations  Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.  ATL | Atlanta Hawks | GSW | Golden State Warriors | MIL | Milwaukee Bucks | OKC | Oklahoma City Thunder | SDC | San Diego Clippers

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BOS | Boston Celtics | IND | Indiana Pacers | MIN | Minnesota Timberwolves | PHI | Philadelphia 76ers | SEA | Seattle SuperSonics
CHO | 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
Steals leaders at the end of every season  Season  | Year-by-year leader  | Steals  | Active player leader  | Steals  | Career record  | Steals  | Single-season record  | Steals  | Season

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1973–74 | Larry Steele000POR | 217 | Larry Steele000POR | 217 | Larry Steele000POR | 217 | Larry Steele000POR | 217 | 1973–74
1974–75 | Rick Barry*000GSW | 228 | 400 | 400 | Rick Barry*000GSW | 228 | 1974–75
1975–76 | Slick Watts000SEA | 261 | Rick Barry*000GSW | 599 | Rick Barry*000GSW | 599 | Slick Watts000SEA | 261 | 1975–76
1976–77 | Don Buse000IND | 281 | Slick Watts000SEA | 780 | Slick Watts000SEA | 780 | Don Buse000IND | 281 | 1976–77
1977–78 | Ron Lee000PHX | 225 | Rick Barry*000GSW | 929 | Rick Barry*000GSW | 929 | 1977–78
1978–79 | Norm Nixon000LAL
Eddie Jordan000NJN | 201 | 1,024 | 1,024 | 1978–79
1979–80 | Micheal Ray Richardson00NYK | 265 | Randy Smith
00CLE 1979–81
000NYK 1981–82
000SDC & ATL 1982–83 | 1,143 | Randy Smith
00CLE 1979–81
000NYK 1981–82
000SDC & 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 Green000UTA | 220 | 1,403 | 1,403 | 1982–83
1983–84 | 215 | Gus Williams
000SEA 1983–84
000WSB 1984–86 | 1,347 | 1983–84
1984–85 | Micheal Ray Richardson00NJN | 243 | 1,525 | Gus Williams000WSB | 1,525 | 1984–85
1985–86 | Alvin Robertson000SAS | 301 | 1,621 | 1,621 | Alvin Robertson000SAS | 301 | 1985–86
1986–87 | 260 | Maurice Cheeks*
00PHI 1986–89
000SAS 1989–90
000NYK 1990–91
000ATL 1991–92
000NJN 1992–93 | 1,670 | Maurice Cheeks*
00PHI 1986–89
000SAS 1989–90
000NYK 1990–91
000ATL 1991–92
000NJN 1992–93 | 1,670 | 1986–87
1987–88 | Michael Jordan*000CHI | 259 | 1,837 | 1,837 | 1987–88
1988–89 | John Stockton*000UTA | 263 | 1,942 | 1,942 | 1988–89
1989–90 | Michael Jordan*000CHI | 227 | 2,066 | 2,066 | 1989–90
1990–91 | Alvin Robertson000MIL | 246 | 2,194 | 2,194 | 1990–91
1991–92 | John Stockton*000UTA | 244 | 2,277 | 2,277 | 1991–92
1992–93 | Michael Jordan*000CHI | 221 | 2,310 | 2,310 | 1992–93
1993–94 | Nate McMillan000SEA | 216 | John Stockton*000UTA | 2,031 | 1993–94
1994–95 | Scottie Pippen*000CHI | 232 | 2,225 | 1994–95
1995–96 | Gary Payton*000SEA | 231 | 2,365 | John Stockton*000UTA | 2,365 | 1995–96
1996–97 | Mookie Blaylock000ATL | 212 | 2,531 | 2,531 | 1996–97
1997–98 | Brevin Knight000CLE | 196 | 2,620 | 2,620 | 1997–98
1998–99 | Kendall Gill000NJN | 134 | 2,701 | 2,701 | 1998–99
1999–00 | Eddie Jones000CHO | 192 | 2,844 | 2,844 | 1999–00
2000–01 | Doug Christie000SAC | 183 | 2,976 | 2,976 | 2000–01
2001–02 | Jason Kidd*000NJN | 175 | 3,128 | 3,128 | 2001–02
2002–03 | Allen Iverson*000PHI | 225 | 3,265 | 3,265 | 2002–03
2003–04 | Shawn Marion000PHX | 167 | Scottie Pippen*000CHI | 2,307 | 2003–04
2004–05 | Allen Iverson*000PHI | 180 | Gary Payton*
000BOS 2004–05
000MIA 2005–07 | 2,331 | 2004–05
2005–06 | Chris Paul^000NOK | 175 | 2,402 | 2005–06
2006–07 | Shawn Marion000PHX | 156 | 2,445 | 2006–07
2007–08 | Chris Paul^000NOH | 217 | Jason Kidd*
000NJN 2007–08
000DAL 2008–12
000NYK 2012–13 | 2,038 | 2007–08
2008–09 | 216 | 2,198 | 2008–09
2009–10 | Rajon Rondo000BOS | 189 | 2,343 | 2009–10
2010–11 | Chris Paul^
000NOH 2010–11
000LAC 2011–12 | 188 | 2,477 | 2010–11
2011–12 | 152 | 2,559 | 2011–12
2012–13 | Mike Conley^000MEM | 174 | 2,684 | 2012–13
2013–14 | Ricky Rubio†000MIN | 191 | Kobe Bryant*000LAL | 1,835 | 2013–14
2014–15 | Stephen Curry^000GSW | 163 | 1,882 | 2014–15
2015–16 | 169 | 1,944 | 2015–16
2016–17 | John Wall§000WAS | 157 | Chris Paul^
000LAC 2016–17
000HOU 2017–19
000OKC 2019–20
000PHX 2020–23
000GSW 2023–24
000SAS 2024– | 1,912 | 2016–17
2017–18 | Victor Oladipo†000IND | 177 | 2,008 | 2017–18
2018–19 | Paul George^000OKC | 170 | 2,122 | 2018–19
2019–20 | James Harden^000HOU | 125 | 2,233 | 2019–20
2020–21 | T. J. McConnell^000IND | 128 | 2,332 | 2020–21
2021–22 | Dejounte Murray^000SAS | 138 | 2,453 | 2021–22
2022–23 | OG Anunoby^000TOR | 128 | 2,544 | 2022–23
2023–24 | De'Aaron Fox^000SAC
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander^000OKC | 150 | 2,614 | 2023–24
2024–25 | Dyson Daniels^000ATL | 229 | 2,717 | 2024–25
Season | Year-by-year leader | Steals | Active player leader | Steals | Career record | Steals | Single-season record | Steals | Season

## See also

[edit]

* Basketball statistics
* NBA regular season records
* Basketball portal

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The National Basketball Association did not record steal statistics until the 1973–74 season.
2. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for two calendar years.
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ 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.
5. ^ Average is rounded to the nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before steals were officially recorded.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "NBA Progressive Leaders and Records for Steals". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
2. ^ "2025 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
3. ^ A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for two calendar years.
4. ^ "2025 Hall of Fame Candidates". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved 2019-04-12.

## External links

[edit]

* Basketball-Reference.com enumeration of NBA career leaders in steals
* National Basketball Association official website enumeration of NBA career leaders in steals

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