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

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]
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 (2024–2025)	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 (2024–2025)	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

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
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
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 2024–25	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

• Basketball statistics
• NBA regular season records
• Basketball portal

Notes

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.