# List of NBA 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 (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. 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.
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. 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.

## Key

| ^ | ^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA |
| * | * | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
| † | † | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration |
| ‡ | ‡ | Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year | Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year | Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year | Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year | Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year |
| Player (X) | Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season | Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season | 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

| Season | Player | Position | Team | Games played | Total steals | Steals per game |
| 1973–74 | Larry Steele | G/F | Portland Trail Blazers | 81 | 217 | 2.67 |
| 1974–75 | Rick Barry* | F | Golden State Warriors | 80 | 228 | 2.85 |
| 1975–76 | Slick Watts | G | Seattle SuperSonics | 82 | 261 | 3.18 |
| 1976–77 | Don Buse | G | Indiana Pacers | 81 | 281 | 3.47 |
| 1977–78 | Ron Lee | G | Phoenix Suns | 82 | 225 | 2.74 |
| 1978–79 | M. L. Carr | G | Detroit Pistons | 80 | 197 | 2.46 |
| 1979–80 | Micheal Ray Richardson | G/F | New York Knicks | 82 | 265 | 3.23 |
| 1980–81 | Magic Johnson* | G/F | Los Angeles Lakers | 37 | 127 | 3.43 |
| 1981–82 | Magic Johnson* (2) | G/F | Los Angeles Lakers | 78 | 208 | 2.67 |
| 1982–83 | Micheal Ray Richardson (2) | G/F | Golden State Warriors New Jersey Nets | 64 | 182 | 2.84 |
| 1983–84 | Rickey Green | G | Utah Jazz | 81 | 215 | 2.65 |
| 1984–85 | Micheal Ray Richardson (3) | G/F | New Jersey Nets | 82 | 243 | 2.96 |
| 1985–86 ‡ | Alvin Robertson | G | San Antonio Spurs | 82 | 301 | 3.67 |
| 1986–87 | Alvin Robertson (2) | G | San Antonio Spurs | 81 | 260 | 3.21 |
| 1987–88 ‡ | Michael Jordan* | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 259 | 3.16 |
| 1988–89 | John Stockton* | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 263 | 3.21 |
| 1989–90 | Michael Jordan* (2) | G | Chicago Bulls | 82 | 227 | 2.77 |
| 1990–91 | Alvin Robertson (3) | G | Milwaukee Bucks | 81 | 246 | 3.04 |
| 1991–92 | John Stockton* (2) | G | Utah Jazz | 82 | 244 | 2.98 |
| 1992–93 | Michael Jordan* (3) | G | Chicago Bulls | 78 | 221 | 2.83 |
| 1993–94 | Nate McMillan | G | Seattle SuperSonics | 73 | 216 | 2.96 |
| 1994–95 | Scottie Pippen* | F | Chicago Bulls | 79 | 232 | 2.94 |
| 1995–96 ‡ | Gary Payton* | G | Seattle SuperSonics | 81 | 231 | 2.85 |
| 1996–97 | Mookie Blaylock | G | Atlanta Hawks | 78 | 212 | 2.72 |
| 1997–98 | Mookie Blaylock (2) | G | Atlanta Hawks | 70 | 183 | 2.61 |
| 1998–99 | Kendall Gill | G | New Jersey Nets | 50 | 134 | 2.68 |
| 1999–00 | Eddie Jones | G/F | Charlotte Hornets | 72 | 192 | 2.67 |
| 2000–01 | Allen Iverson* | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 71 | 178 | 2.51 |
| 2001–02 | Allen Iverson* (2) | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 60 | 168 | 2.80 |
| 2002–03 | Allen Iverson* (3) | G | Philadelphia 76ers | 82 | 225 | 2.74 |
| 2003–04 | Baron Davis | G | New Orleans Hornets | 67 | 158 | 2.36 |
| 2004–05 | Larry Hughes | G | Washington Wizards | 61 | 176 | 2.89 |
| 2005–06 | Gerald Wallace | F | Charlotte Bobcats | 55 | 138 | 2.51 |
| 2006–07 | Baron Davis (2) | G | Golden State Warriors | 63 | 135 | 2.14 |
| 2007–08 | Chris Paul^ | G | New Orleans Hornets | 80 | 217 | 2.71 |
| 2008–09 | Chris Paul^ (2) | G | New Orleans Hornets | 78 | 216 | 2.77 |
| 2009–10 | Rajon Rondo | G | Boston Celtics | 81 | 189 | 2.33 |
| 2010–11 | Chris Paul^ (3) | G | New Orleans Hornets | 80 | 188 | 2.35 |
| 2011–12 | Chris Paul^ (4) | G | Los Angeles Clippers | 60 | 152 | 2.53 |
| 2012–13 | Chris Paul^ (5) | G | Los Angeles Clippers | 70 | 169 | 2.41 |
| 2013–14 | Chris Paul^ (6) | G | Los Angeles Clippers | 62 | 154 | 2.48 |
| 2014–15 ‡ | Kawhi Leonard^ | F | San Antonio Spurs | 64 | 148 | 2.31 |
| 2015–16 | Stephen Curry^ | G | Golden State Warriors | 79 | 169 | 2.14 |
| 2016–17 ‡ | Draymond Green^ | F | Golden State Warriors | 76 | 154 | 2.03 |
| 2017–18 | Victor Oladipo$^†$ | G | Indiana Pacers | 75 | 177 | 2.36 |
| 2018–19 | Paul George^ | F | Oklahoma City Thunder | 77 | 170 | 2.21 |
| 2019–20 | Ben Simmons^ | G/F | Philadelphia 76ers | 57 | 119 | 2.09 |
| 2020–21 | Jimmy Butler^ | F | Miami Heat | 52 | 108 | 2.08 |
| 2021–22 | Dejounte Murray^ | G | San Antonio Spurs | 68 | 138 | 2.09 |
| 2022–23 | OG Anunoby^ | F | Toronto Raptors | 67 | 128 | 1.91 |
| 2023–24 | De'Aaron Fox^ | G | Sacramento Kings | 74 | 150 | 2.03 |

## 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 |
| 2 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 3 | 1988, 1990, 1993 |
| 2 | Micheal Ray Richardson | New York Knicks (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) / New Jersey Nets (1) | 3 | 1980, 1983, 1985 |
| 2 | Alvin Robertson | San Antonio Spurs (2) / Milwaukee Bucks (1) | 3 | 1986, 1987, 1991 |
| 6 | Mookie Blaylock | Atlanta Hawks | 2 | 1997, 1998 |
| 6 | Baron Davis | New Orleans Hornets (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) | 2 | 2004, 2007 |
| 6 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 2 | 1981, 1982 |
| 6 | John Stockton | Utah Jazz | 2 | 1989, 1992 |