page_title: List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders
section_title: Steal leaders
hierarchical_section_title: List of National Basketball Association annual steals leaders / Steal leaders
caption_attribution_description: English: Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson
context_page_description: 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.
caption: Magic Johnson led the league in steals for two consecutive seasons.
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