NBA All-Time Steals Leaders: Career Per Game Average in the Regular Season
List with the stats for the top 50 players with the best career steals per game average in the Regular Season in NBA history.
Notes: - These stats were updated on December 5, 2024
- Steals were not recorded until 1973-74.
- In this case, 'Seasons' and 'Games' only include seasons since 1973-74.
- This list includes players with an official minimum of 400 games or 625 steals.
* Players in bold played in the 2025 Regular Season
NBA All-Time Steals Leaders:
Career Per Game Average in the Regular Season - Top 50
Player |
Steals |
Total Steals |
Seasons | Games | |||||||
| 1. | Alvin Robertson | 2.71 | 2,112 | 10 | 779 | ||||||
| 2. | Micheal Ray Richardson | 2.63 | 1,463 | 8 | 556 | ||||||
| 3. | Michael Jordan | 2.35 | 2,514 | 15 | 1,072 | ||||||
| 4. | Mookie Blaylock | 2.33 | 2,075 | 13 | 889 | ||||||
| 5. | Fat Lever | 2.22 | 1,666 | 11 | 752 | ||||||
| 6. | Slick Watts | 2.20 | 961 | 6 | 437 | ||||||
| 7. | John Stockton | 2.17 | 3,265 | 19 | 1,504 | ||||||
| 8. | Allen Iverson | 2.17 | 1,983 | 14 | 914 | ||||||
| 9. | Maurice Cheeks | 2.10 | 2,310 | 15 | 1,101 | ||||||
| 10. | Chris Paul | 2.04 | 2,644 | 20 | 1,293 |
Player |
Steals |
Total Steals |
Seasons | Games | |||||||
| 11. | Clyde Drexler | 2.03 | 2,207 | 15 | 1,086 | ||||||
| 12. | Rick Barry | 1.99 | 1,104 | 7 | 554 | ||||||
| 13. | Gus Williams | 1.99 | 1,638 | 11 | 825 | ||||||
| 14. | Scottie Pippen | 1.96 | 2,307 | 17 | 1,178 | ||||||
| 15. | Johnny Moore | 1.96 | 1,017 | 9 | 520 | ||||||
| 16. | Ron Lee | 1.94 | 869 | 6 | 448 | ||||||
| 17. | Nate McMillan | 1.94 | 1,544 | 12 | 796 | ||||||
| 18. | Jason Kidd | 1.93 | 2,684 | 19 | 1,391 | ||||||
| 19. | Magic Johnson | 1.90 | 1,724 | 13 | 906 | ||||||
| 20. | Isiah Thomas | 1.90 | 1,861 | 13 | 979 |
Player |
Steals |
Total Steals |
Seasons | Games | |||||||
| 21. | Walt Frazier | 1.90 | 681 | 7 | 359 | ||||||
| 22. | Doug Christie | 1.88 | 1,555 | 15 | 827 | ||||||
| 23. | Quinn Buckner | 1.86 | 1,337 | 10 | 719 | ||||||
| 24. | Mike Gale | 1.85 | 840 | 6 | 453 | ||||||
| 25. | Baron Davis | 1.83 | 1,530 | 13 | 835 | ||||||
| 26. | Gary Payton | 1.83 | 2,445 | 17 | 1,335 | ||||||
| 27. | Ray Williams | 1.83 | 1,198 | 10 | 655 | ||||||
| 28. | Eddie Jordan | 1.82 | 766 | 7 | 420 | ||||||
| 29. | Doc Rivers | 1.81 | 1,563 | 13 | 864 | ||||||
| 30. | Norm Van Lier | 1.81 | 767 | 6 | 424 |
Player |
Steals |
Total Steals |
Seasons | Games | |||||||
| 31. | Julius Erving | 1.80 | 1,508 | 11 | 836 | ||||||
| 32. | Larry Steele | 1.79 | 846 | 7 | 472 | ||||||
| 33. | Don Buse | 1.79 | 1,160 | 9 | 648 | ||||||
| 34. | Ricky Rubio | 1.76 | 1,226 | 12 | 698 | ||||||
| 35. | George McGinnis | 1.75 | 923 | 7 | 528 | ||||||
| 36. | Hakeem Olajuwon | 1.75 | 2,162 | 18 | 1,238 | ||||||
| 37. | Metta World Peace | 1.74 | 1,721 | 17 | 991 | ||||||
| 38. | Micheal Williams | 1.74 | 717 | 10 | 413 | ||||||
| 39. | Larry Bird | 1.73 | 1,556 | 13 | 897 | ||||||
| 40. | Kawhi Leonard | 1.72 | 1,196 | 12 | 696 |
Player |
Steals |
Total Steals |
Seasons | Games | |||||||
| 41. | Randy Smith | 1.72 | 1,403 | 10 | 818 | ||||||
| 42. | Darwin Cook | 1.71 | 1,044 | 8 | 612 | ||||||
| 43. | Ron Harper | 1.70 | 1,716 | 15 | 1,009 | ||||||
| 44. | Eddie Jones | 1.70 | 1,620 | 14 | 954 | ||||||
| 45. | Paul George | 1.69 | 1,485 | 15 | 877 | ||||||
| 46. | Monta Ellis | 1.69 | 1,409 | 12 | 833 | ||||||
| 47. | Brevin Knight | 1.69 | 1,229 | 12 | 729 | ||||||
| 48. | Michael Adams | 1.66 | 1,081 | 11 | 653 | ||||||
| 49. | Hersey Hawkins | 1.65 | 1,622 | 13 | 983 | ||||||
| 50. | Tim Hardaway | 1.65 | 1,428 | 13 | 867 |