NBA Players with the Most Steals Recorded in Their 3rd Season

Explore the NBA players who delivered the best stats ever in a 3rd NBA season, ranked by regular season total steals. See how the all-time greats compare in this top-50 historical list.

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3-Pointers Made Per Game

Total

Which NBA player had the most total steals in the Regular Season in his 3rd year?

Playing for the 1976 Seattle Supersonics, Slick Watts recorded a total of 261 steals in 82 games — the highest total ever by an NBA player in his 3rd season.

Total Steals, 3rd Season

261 stl
Slick Watts
(1976 Seattle Supersonics)

Note: = NBA champion in this season.

Total Steals in a Player's 3rd Season - Top 50

Regular Season

		Steals			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Ast	Blk	3pm
1	Slick Watts (1976 Supersonics)	261	3.2	82	1,065	365	661	16	-
2	Alvin Robertson (1987 Spurs)	260	3.2	81	1,435	424	421	35	13
3	Michael Jordan (1987 Bulls)	236	2.9	82	3,041	430	377	125	12
4	Micheal Ray Richardson (1981 Knicks)	232	2.9	79	1,293	545	627	35	23
5	Dyson Daniels (2025 Hawks)	229	3.0	76	1,073	449	333	55	80
6	Eddie Jordan (1980 Nets)	223	2.7	82	1,087	270	557	27	12
7	Chris Paul (2008 Hornets)	217	2.7	80	1,684	321	925	4	92
	Larry Steele (1974 Trail Blazers)	217	2.7	81	785	310	323	32	-
9	Scottie Pippen (1990 Bulls)	211	2.6	82	1,351	547	444	101	28
10	Magic Johnson (1982 Lakers)	208	2.7	78	1,447	751	743	34	6

		Steals			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Ast	Blk	3pm
11	Isiah Thomas (1984 Pistons)	204	2.5	82	1,748	327	914	33	22
12	Randy Smith (1974 Braves)	203	2.5	82	1,267	315	383	4	-
13	Fat Lever (1985 Nuggets)	202	2.5	82	1,051	411	613	30	6
14	M.L. Carr (1979 Pistons)	197	2.5	80	1,497	589	262	46	-
	Clyde Drexler (1986 Trail Blazers)	197	2.6	75	1,389	421	600	46	12
	Eric Murdock (1994 Bucks)	197	2.4	82	1,257	261	546	12	69
17	Darwin Cook (1983 Nets)	194	2.4	82	1,080	240	448	48	8
	Johnny Moore (1983 Spurs)	194	2.5	77	941	277	753	32	5
19	Maurice Cheeks (1981 76ers)	193	2.4	81	763	245	560	39	3
20	Ricky Rubio (2014 Timberwolves)	191	2.3	82	781	342	704	11	44

		Steals			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Ast	Blk	3pm
21	Eddie Jones (1997 Lakers)	189	2.4	80	1,374	326	270	49	152
22	Ron Harper (1989 Cavaliers)	185	2.3	82	1,526	409	434	74	29
	Gus Williams (1978 Supersonics)	185	2.3	79	1,431	256	294	41	-
24	Hersey Hawkins (1991 76ers)	178	2.2	80	1,767	310	299	39	108
25	Gary Payton (1993 Supersonics)	177	2.2	82	1,110	281	399	21	7
	John Stockton (1987 Jazz)	177	2.2	82	648	151	670	14	7
27	Baron Davis (2002 Hornets)	172	2.1	82	1,484	349	698	47	170
28	Mookie Blaylock (1992 Nets)	170	2.4	72	996	269	492	40	12
	Ricky Sobers (1978 Pacers)	170	2.2	79	1,436	327	584	23	-
30	Michael Adams (1988 Nuggets)	168	2.0	82	1,137	223	503	16	139

		Steals			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Ast	Blk	3pm
31	Ray Williams (1980 Knicks)	167	2.0	82	1,714	412	512	24	7
32	Muggsy Bogues (1990 Hornets)	166	2.0	81	763	207	867	3	5
	Penny Hardaway (1996 Magic)	166	2.0	82	1,780	354	582	41	89
34	Tim Hardaway (1992 Warriors)	164	2.0	81	1,893	310	807	13	127
	Wilbur Holland (1978 Bulls)	164	2.0	82	1,361	294	313	14	-
36	Lester Conner (1985 Warriors)	161	2.0	79	640	246	369	13	4
37	Kenny Anderson (1994 Nets)	158	1.9	82	1,538	322	784	15	40
	David Robinson (1992 Spurs)	158	2.3	68	1,578	829	181	305	1
39	Lionel Hollins (1978 Trail Blazers)	157	1.9	81	1,285	277	380	29	-
40	Quinn Buckner (1979 Bucks)	156	1.9	81	581	210	468	17	-
	Don Buse (1979 Suns)	156	1.9	82	640	217	356	18	-
	Nate McMillan (1989 Supersonics)	156	2.1	75	532	388	696	42	15
	Elliot Perry (1995 Suns)	156	1.9	82	795	151	394	4	25

		Steals			Other stats
Rk	Player (Team)	Total	Per Game	Gms	Pts	Reb	Ast	Blk	3pm
44	Phil Chenier (1974 Bullets)	155	2.0	76	1,668	388	239	67	-
	Russell Westbrook (2011 Thunder)	155	1.9	82	1,793	379	670	30	34
46	Larry Kenon (1979 Spurs)	154	1.9	81	1,791	790	335	19	-
47	Derek Harper (1986 Mavericks)	153	1.9	79	963	226	416	23	12
48	Mike Gale (1979 Spurs)	152	1.9	82	659	186	374	40	-
	Andre Iguodala (2007 76ers)	152	2.0	76	1,386	434	432	33	48
	John Lucas (1979 Warriors)	152	1.9	82	1,324	247	762	9	-
	Kevin Porter (1975 Bullets)	152	1.9	81	943	152	650	11	-