List of NBA career playoff steals leaders explained

This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff steals recorded.

A progressive list of steals leaders showing how the record increased through the years.

Playoff steals leaders

This is a list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff steals recorded.[1]

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

^Active NBA player
Inducted into a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[2] - §1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[3] -->
RankPlayerPosition(s)Playoff team(s) played for (years)[4] Total stealsGames played[5] Steals per game
average[6]
1^SFCleveland Cavaliers (2006–2010, 2015–2018)
Miami Heat (2011–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023–2024)		483287
2SFChicago Bulls (1988–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)		3952081.90
3SGChicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998)3761792.10
4PGLos Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996)3581901.88
5PGUtah Jazz (1985–2003)3381821.86
6SGLos Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012)3102201.41
7PGPhoenix Suns (1997–2001)
New Jersey Nets (2002–2007)
Dallas Mavericks (2008–2012)
New York Knicks (2013)		3021581.91
8SF/PFBoston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992)2961641.80
9PGPhiladelphia 76ers (1979–1987, 1989)
New York Knicks (1990–1991)
New Jersey Nets (1993)		2951332.22
10SGSan Antonio Spurs (2003–2008, 2010–2018)292218
11^PGNew Orleans Hornets (2008–2009, 2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2017)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2020)
Phoenix Suns (2021–2023)		287149
12SGPortland Trail Blazers (1984–1994)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998)		2781451.92
13PF/SFHouston Rockets (1993–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2003)
San Antonio Spurs (2004–2008)		2762441.13
14^SG/PGOklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2013–2020)
Brooklyn Nets (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023)
Los Angeles Clippers (2024)		273166
SGMiami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017)		177
16PGLos Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2008–2011)
Utah Jazz (2007)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2012–2014)		2722591.05
17PFUtah Jazz (1986–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2004)		258193
18^SFSan Antonio Spurs (2012–2017)
Toronto Raptors (2019)
Los Angeles Clippers (2020–2021, 2023–2024)		248139
19PG/SGSeattle SuperSonics (1978–1980)
Phoenix Suns (1981–1983)
Boston Celtics (1984–1990)		2471801.37
20 CHouston Rockets (1985–1991, 1993–1999)
Toronto Raptors (2002)		2451451.69
21^PFGolden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023)240157
22SFPhiladelphia 76ers (1977–1987)2351411.67
23PGDetroit Pistons (1984–1992)2341112.11
24†PGBoston Celtics (2008–2012)
Dallas Mavericks (2015)
Chicago Bulls (2017)
New Orleans Pelicans (2018)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Los Angeles Clippers (2021)		2281341.70
25SGLos Angeles Lakers (1984–1993, 1997)
Indiana Pacers (1994–1995)		2261831.23
RankPlayerPosition(s)Playoff team(s) played for (years)[8] Total stealsGames played[9] Steals per game
average[10]

Progressive list for steals

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

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

^Active NBA player
Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
†Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration - §1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024[11] -->
+Team listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATLDENLALOKCWAS
BOSDETMEMORLWSB
CHIGSWMIAMiami HeatPORPortland Trail Blazers
CHOHOUNJNSASSan Antonio Spurs
CLEINDNOPUTAUtah Jazz
DALLACNYKTORToronto Raptors
Playoff Steals Leaders at the end of every season
SeasonYear-by-year leaderStlActive leaderStlCareer recordStlSingle-season recordStlSeason
Don Chaney

John Havlicek

align=center style="border-right: solid blue"24Don Chaney

John Havlicek

align=center style="border-right: solid blue"24Don Chaney

John Havlicek

align=center style="border-right: solid blue"24Don Chaney &<div style="background:#FFFF99">John Havlicek*align=center 24
1974–75 Rick Barryalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"50Rick Barry


align=center style="border-right: solid blue"50Rick Barry


align=center style="border-right: solid blue"50Rick Barryalign=center rowspan=9501974–75
1975–76 Gar Heardalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"39align=center style="border-right: solid blue"88align=center style="border-right: solid blue"881975–76
1976–77 Lionel Hollinsalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"47align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=3105align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=31051976–77
1977–78 Gus Williamsalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"451977–78
1978–79 Maurice Cheeksalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"371978–79
1979–80 Magic Johnsonalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"49Gus Williamsalign=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2132Gus Williamsalign=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=21321979–80
1980–81 Robert Reidalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"50

Julius Erving

Gus Williams

Julius Erving

Gus Williams

Rick Barry

  • &

Robert Reid

1980–81
1981–82 Maurice Cheeksalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"48Maurice Cheeksalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"170Maurice Cheeksalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"1701981–82
1982–83 Magic Johnsonalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"34align=center style="border-right: solid blue"196align=center style="border-right: solid blue"1961982–83
1983–84 Larry Birdalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"54align=center style="border-right: solid blue"209align=center style="border-right: solid blue"209Larry Birdalign=center rowspan=4541983–84
1984–85 Byron Scottalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"41align=center style="border-right: solid blue"240align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2401984–85
1985–86 Danny Aingealign=center style="border-right: solid blue"41align=center style="border-right: solid blue"253align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2531985–86
1986–87 Isiah Thomasalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"39Magic Johnsonalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"263Magic Johnsonalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"2631986–87
1987–88 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"66align=center style="border-right: solid blue"297align=center style="border-right: solid blue"297Isiah Thomasalign=center rowspan=37661987–88
1988–89 Michael Jordanalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"42align=center style="border-right: solid blue"324align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3241988–89
1989–90 Clyde Drexleralign=center style="border-right: solid blue"53align=center style="border-right: solid blue"335align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3351989–90
1990–91 Scottie Pippenalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"42align=center style="border-right: solid blue"358align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=73581990–91
1991–92 Michael Jordanalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"44Isiah Thomasalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"2341991–92
1992–93 Scottie Pippenalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"41Michael Jordanalign=center style="border-right: solid blue" 2581992–93
1993–94 Derek Harperalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"42Scottie Pippenalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"2101993–94
1994–95 Penny Hardawayalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"40Michael Jordanalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"2811994–95
1995–96 Scottie Pippenalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"47Magic Johnsonalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"3581995–96
1996–97 Hakeem Olajuwon align=center style="border-right: solid blue"33Michael Jordanalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"3441996–97
1997–98 Scottie Pippenalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"45align=center style="border-right: solid blue"376Michael Jordanalign=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=23761997–98
1998–99 Charlie Wardalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"35Scottie Pippen



align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3511998–99
1999–00 Kobe Bryant align=center style="border-right: solid blue"32align=center style="border-right: solid blue"383Scottie Pippen


align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3831999–00
2000–01 Allen Iversonalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"52align=center style="border-right: solid blue"391align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3912000–01
2001–02 Jason Kiddalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"34align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=3395align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=163952001–02
2002–03 Ben Wallacealign=center style="border-right: solid blue"422002–03
2003–04 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"442003–04
2004–05 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"43Robert Horryalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"2552004–05
2005–06 Dwyane Wadealign=center style="border-right: solid blue"51align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2602005–06
2006–07 LeBron James^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"34align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2712006–07
2007–08 Rajon Rondo†align=center style="border-right: solid blue"45align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2762007–08
2008–09 Kobe Bryantalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"38Kobe Bryantalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"2472008–09
2009–10 Rajon Rondo†align=center style="border-right: solid blue"46align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2782009–10
2010–11 Jason Kiddalign=center style="border-right: solid blue"40align=center style="border-right: solid blue"2942010–11
2011–12 Rajon Rondo†align=center style="border-right: solid blue"45align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=43102011–12
2012–13 LeBron James^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"412012–13
2013–14 Paul George^
Russell Westbrook^		align=center style="border-right: solid blue"412013–14
2014–15 Stephen Curry^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"392014–15
2015–16 LeBron James^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"49LeBron James^

align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3542015–16
2016–17 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"35align=center style="border-right: solid blue"3892016–17
2017–18 Draymond Green^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"41align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2419LeBron James^

align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=24192017–18
2018–19 Kawhi Leonard^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"402018–19
2019–20 Jimmy Butler^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"41align=center style="border-right: solid blue"445align=center style="border-right: solid blue"4452019–20
2020–21 Jrue Holiday^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"38align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=2454align=center style="border-right: solid blue" rowspan=24542020–21
2021–22 Jimmy Butler^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"352021–22
2022–23 align=center style="border-right: solid blue"40 471 471 2022–23
2023–24 Luka Dončić^align=center style="border-right: solid blue"41483 483 2023–24
SeasonYear-by-year leaderStlActive player leaderStlCareer recordStlSingle-season recordStlSeason

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. a National Basketball Association did not record steal statistics until a 1973–74 season.
  2. A player is not eligible for induction into a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
  3. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . 2019-04-12.
  4. [American Basketball Association]
  5. Games played in prior seasons where steals were not recorded are not included in total games played nor are ay used in calculating a per game average.
  6. Average is rounded to a nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before steals were officially recorded.
  7. Previously written as Akeem Olajuwon prior to an official spelling change on March 9, 1991.
  8. [American Basketball Association]
  9. Games played in prior seasons where steals were not recorded are not included in total games played nor are ay used in calculating a per game average.
  10. Average is rounded to a nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before steals were officially recorded.
  11. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . 2019-04-12.

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