Do you know who holds the most steals in an NBA game record? John Stockton has the most career steals with 3,265. Followed by Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Micheal Jordan, Gary Payton, Maurice Cheeks, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Steals are risky if not played properly, the players leave the defender and the team looks helpless.
There is no training involved in the art of stealing therefore it’s a natural talent inbound to defend balls. In most cases, ball handlers with good IQ can know the movement of the game and track it down until the last position. The talent of tracking the path of the ball even before the playmaker hands the ball to them.
Micheal Jordan led the league in steals a record three times having the most dominant scores of all time with the highest career scores ever. We will see some all-time leaders with the most steals in NBA history. These players deserve maximum respect and honor for their great deeds in the history of the NBA. You asked for the most steals in an NBA game, and here is what we recommend.
Here are the top 10 players with the most steals in an NBA game:
1. John Stockton – 3,265 steals
What are the most steals in an NBA game and why you should care? John Stockton has the most steals in NBA History with a total of 3265 steals more than 500 steals clear of Jason Kidd. This player led the league in steals twice during his career in 1989 with an average of 3.2 steals per game. John has won 5-time All NBA second defensive team member, also called the first-round pick by the Jazz in 1984. This player collected All-Star Game selections and was named the first team All NBA twice in 1993-1994, and 1994-1995. At the youthful age of 19, he assisted the NBA’s all-time leader with 15,806 assists with a shooting of 51.5% in his entire career.
John is considered the NBA’s steal leader for a fairly large amount of steals. No one in the history of the NBA has ever broken his record. In 2003, he announced his retirement. This player has never won any NBA Championship but he managed to win two Olympic medals in 1992 and 1996. Stockton was a ten-time All-Star NBA player and led the league in assists for a record nine consecutive seasons. Also, John holds the single-season record for assists with 1,164 points.
2. Jason Kidd – 2,684 steals
Jason Kidd has the most steals in NBA history with about 2,684 steals. Kidd won his only championship ring with the Mavericks in 2011. This player was chosen as the second pick in the NBA Draft by Dallas Mavericks in 1994. Jason was traded for two years to Phoenix Suns winning 5-times All- NBA first-team members. Also, he won NBA All-Defensive, first team member.
During his time playing for Golden Bears in Collge, HE broke the record by having 110 steals winning the record of NCCA Freshman’s most steal record. Kidd is currently rated the second NBA player with all-time steals, his greatness is shown in 2008 during the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame title.
This talented player won 10 times All-star and Men’s Olympics basketball Redeem Team where he failed to win the gold medal in 2004. Jason is well known as one of the greatest point guards in the National Basketball Association with two MVP awards. Making him a legendary player since he is among the 13 players who have won the MVP league awards.
3. Chris Paul – 2,544 steals
Chris Paul is one of the greatest point guards of all time having won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Paul has two Olympic gold medals with 5 times assist record, also called NBA All-Star Game Most valuable player award. He has an active player right now with a history of 2544 steals playing 8 games with 40 plus points. Paul plays as a point guard with Phoenix Suns in the NBA league. From August 2013 to August 2021 Chris served as the president of the NBA league. This enormously gifted player led the NBA in assists five times and steals a form six times. What is the most interesting fact? Chris played one more season in Houston before being sold to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
4. Micheal Jordan – 2,514 steals
Micheal Jordan is one of the players in NBA sports with the most steals in NBA history with 2514 steals. In 1988, Micheal won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year widely considered the greatest all-around player in the history of NBA Sports. This legendary player led the league in 1988, 1990, and 1993 with an average of 3.2 steals per game in the 1987 and 1988 seasons. Jordan was named 9 times to the NBA All-Defensive first team making an impact on both ends of the floor. MJ is ranked 3rd on our list with 376 steals in the postseason also ranking 3rd on our list.
Micheal is named the 50 greatest players of all time in 1996 NBA reports. He was also elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Another award Micheal won was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the 2016 season.
5. Gary Payton – 2,445 steals
Gary has the most Steals in NBA history with about 2,445 steals. In 1996, Gray won the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award with an average of 2.9 steals per game. this happened in this season of 1995-1996 season, he also became the only point guard to win the Defensive Player of the Year in that very year. Garry was on the first team for 9 years from 1994-2002 in a row. Alongside Shaquille and Payton, they won an NBA Championship ring in the 2006 games. In 2013, this player won the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
6. Maurice Cheeks – 2, 310 steals
Maurice Cheek played for 15 years in NBA sports as a point guard including 11 years with the Philadelphia 76ers. Cheeks wore a number 10 jersey regarded as a good player with excellent defensive skills. During his time in the second round of 1978, Cheeks became the 36th pick in NBA Sports. Cheeks were the NBA’s all-time leader in steals with an average of 4.1 steals per season. He currently ranks 6th with 2310 career steals with an NBA record for one playoff run. In the 1979 NBA playoffs rookie year, Cheeks was ranked as one of the best players in that season.
Maurice retired and announced his retirement in 1993 having won his solo NBA Championship with the Sixers. In 1983 his average steals per game was 2.3, being part of the NBA All-Defensive Player for 4 years. In 2002, Cheeks became the head coach of Portland Trails. Unfortunately, he did qualify for the first round as a head coach.
7. Scottie Pippen – 2,307 steals
In 1994 and 1995, Pippen was NBA’s Steal leader with 2307 steals. This player was a key contributor to Bull’s victory. During his era, Bull won three conservative NBA Championships from 1991 to 1993. His skillful talent in NBA sports history made him win 6-time NBA Championships with the Bulls. Also during the retirement of Micheal, he was the key player of the Bulls. Pippen ended up winning 7 times All-Star Championships with Bull with an average of 2.9 steals per game. Pippen was ranked 2nd in the all-time playoffs with 396 steals in 208 games played before postseason appearances. He is the only NBA player on this list to win the NBA title with an Olympic gold medal in the same year. He won the gold medal in 1992 and 1996.
8. Clyde Drexler – 2,207 steals
Drexler has won the most steals in NBA history about 2207 steals. In the 1983 NBA Draft, this player ranked 14th in NBA Finals. Clyde had incredible defensive skills with an average of 26.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in the 1989 and 1999 seasons. In 1995, Drexler got a ring after losing five games in a row. Also, Drexler was part of the 1992 Olympic Dream team that played in Barcelona thus becoming the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This player won this title twice as an individual member and team.
After naming him an All-Star NBA player for 10 decades, he finished second to Micheal Jordon’s MVP voting awards. This award happened in the 1988 and 1991 seasons thus respected by his team for his amazing contributions. His jersey number was 22 before he retired as a professional basketball player of all time.
9. LeBron James – 2,186 steals
LeBron James ranked number 9 on our list of most steals in NBA history with 2186 steals. This player managed to break the record in one game with 7 steals he also did so in his second season in less than a month. In 2022 on Friday, LeBron broke the record by getting four steals that night. Since he is an active NBA player, he has the ability and skills to change his records from the top 10 to the top 5 most steals in NBA history. He is said to be chasing the ghost of Micheal Jordan.
Even if LeBron spent more years off the court, his points have never dropped since he keeps on breaking records year after year. This small forward Los Angeles key player wears number 6 with career highlights and awards. LeBron has 4 NBA Championships and 4 NBA MVP Final awards won in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020. In 2006, he won FIB World Championship in Japan. James has scored the most points in the playoffs, the most career points leader now.
10. Hakeem Olajuwon – 2162 steals
Olajuwon was an extremely talented defensive player who had an average of 2.7 steals per game played. His career-high average shinned in 1988 and 1989 season-ending his career in the top 10 all-time blocks, scoring, and steals. He was drafted as the first overall pick-up player of the season in 1984 NBA draft games. As a player, he was top with 2-times NBA Championship awards. Also named the 2-times NBA Final MVP award, and all these awards were special achievements for his great contributions.
The Houston team is the team that shaped his career journey of Olajuwon. He showed his incredible talents on the court thus winning a couple of NBA Championships. Playing as a center defender wearing jersey number 34. Hakeem played for the Houston Rockets for the major part of his career journey winning so many awards.
FAQs
John Stockton with 3,265 STL
John Stockton has the most assists in NBA history, with 15,806 in his career. Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns has the most assists in the NBA, with 11,330.
Russell Westbrook has 198 triple-doubles in a regular career season.
Conclusion
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