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 2023 NBA playoffs.
LeBron James has the most steals in NBA playoff history.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[2]
Rank Player Position(s) Playoff team(s) played for (years)[3] Total steals Games played[4] Steals per game
average[5]
1 LeBron James^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2006–2010, 2015–2018)
Miami Heat (2011–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023) 		471 282 1.67
2 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1988–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003) 		395 208 1.90
3 Michael Jordan* SG Chicago Bulls (1985–1993, 1995–1998) 376 179 2.10
4 Magic Johnson* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996) 358 190 1.88
5 John Stockton* PG Utah Jazz (1985–2003) 338 182 1.86
6 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012) 310 220 1.41
7 Jason Kidd* PG Phoenix Suns (1997–2001)
New Jersey Nets (2002–2007)
Dallas Mavericks (2008–2012)
New York Knicks (2013) 		302 158 1.91
8 Larry Bird* SF/PF Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992) 296 164 1.80
9 Maurice Cheeks* PG Philadelphia 76ers (1979–1987, 1989)
New York Knicks (1990–1991)
New Jersey Nets (1993) 		295 133 2.22
10 Manu Ginóbili* SG San Antonio Spurs (2003–2008, 2010–2018) 292 218 1.34
11 Chris Paul^ PG New Orleans Hornets (2008–2009, 2011)
Los Angeles Clippers (2012–2017)
Houston Rockets (2018–2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2020)
Phoenix Suns (2021–2023) 		287 149 1.93
12 Clyde Drexler* SG Portland Trail Blazers (1984–1994)
Houston Rockets (1995–1998) 		278 145 1.92
13 Robert Horry PF/SF Houston Rockets (1993–1996)
Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2003)
San Antonio Spurs (2004–2008) 		276 244 1.13
14 Dwyane Wade* SG Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017) 		273 177 1.54
15 Derek Fisher PG Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2008–2011)
Utah Jazz (2007)
Oklahoma City Thunder (2012–2014) 		272 259 1.05
16 James Harden^ SG Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012)
Houston Rockets (2013–2020)
Brooklyn Nets (2021)
Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023) 		267 160 1.67
17 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1986–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2004) 		258 193 1.34
18 Dennis Johnson* PG/SG Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980)
Phoenix Suns (1981–1983)
Boston Celtics (1984–1990) 		247 180 1.37
19 Hakeem Olajuwon*[6] C Houston Rockets (1985–1991, 1993–1999)
Toronto Raptors (2002) 		245 145 1.69
20 Kawhi Leonard^ SF San Antonio Spurs (2012–2017)
Toronto Raptors (2019)
Los Angeles Clippers (2020–2021, 2023) 		244 137 1.78
21 Draymond Green^ PF/C Golden State Warriors (2013–2019, 2022–2023) 240 157 1.53
22 Julius Erving* SF Philadelphia 76ers (1977–1987) 235 141 1.67
23 Isiah Thomas* PG Detroit Pistons (1984–1992) 234 111 2.11
24 Rajon Rondo† PG Boston Celtics (2008–2012)
Dallas Mavericks (2015)
Chicago Bulls (2017)
New Orleans Pelicans (2018)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020)
Los Angeles Clippers (2021) 		228 134 1.70
25 Byron Scott SG Los Angeles Lakers (1984–1993, 1997)
Indiana Pacers (1994–1995) 		226 183 1.23
Rank Player Position(s) Playoff team(s) played for (years)[7] Total steals Games played[8] Steals per game
average[9]

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 2023 NBA playoffs.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
† Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration[2]
Team Abbreviations Team listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
ATL Atlanta Hawks DEN Denver Nuggets LAL Los Angeles Lakers OKC Oklahoma City Thunder WAS Washington Wizards
BOS Boston Celtics DET Detroit Pistons MEM Memphis Grizzlies ORL Orlando Magic WSB Washington Bullets
CHI Chicago Bulls GSW Golden State Warriors MIA Miami Heat POR Portland Trail Blazers
CHO Charlotte Hornets HOU Houston Rockets NJN New Jersey Nets SAS San Antonio Spurs
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers IND Indiana Pacers NOP New Orleans Pelicans UTA Utah Jazz
DAL Dallas Mavericks LAC Los Angeles Clippers NYK New York Knicks TOR Toronto Raptors
Playoff Steals Leaders at the end of every season
Season Year-by-year leader Stl Active leader Stl Career record Stl Single-season record Stl Season
1973–74 Don Chaney000BOS 24 Don Chaney000BOS 24 Don Chaney000BOS 24 Don Chaney000BOS & 24 1973–74
1974–75 Rick Barry*000GSW 50 Rick Barry*
000GSW 1974–78
000HOU 1978–79		 50 Rick Barry*
000GSW 1974–78
000HOU 1978–79		 50 Rick Barry*000GSW 50 1974–75
1975–76 Gar Heard000PHX 39 88 88 1975–76
1976–77 Lionel Hollins000POR 47 105 105 1976–77
1977–78 Gus Williams000SEA 45 1977–78
1978–79 Maurice Cheeks*000PHI 37 1978–79
1979–80 Magic Johnson*000LAL 49 Gus Williams000SEA 132 Gus Williams000SEA 132 1979–80
1980–81 Robert Reid000HOU 50 Gus Williams000SEA Gus Williams000SEA Robert Reid000HOU 1980–81
1981–82 Maurice Cheeks*000PHI 48 Maurice Cheeks*000PHI 170 Maurice Cheeks*000PHI 170 1981–82
1982–83 Magic Johnson*000LAL 34 196 196 1982–83
1983–84 Larry Bird*000BOS 54 209 209 Larry Bird*000BOS 54 1983–84
1984–85 Byron Scott000LAL 41 240 240 1984–85
1985–86 Danny Ainge000BOS 41 253 253 1985–86
1986–87 Isiah Thomas*000DET 39 Magic Johnson*000LAL 263 Magic Johnson*000LAL 263 1986–87
1987–88 66 297 297 Isiah Thomas*000DET 66 1987–88
1988–89 Michael Jordan*000CHI 42 324 324 1988–89
1989–90 Clyde Drexler*000POR 53 335 335 1989–90
1990–91 Scottie Pippen*000CHI 42 358 358 1990–91
1991–92 Michael Jordan*000CHI 44 Isiah Thomas*000DET 234 1991–92
1992–93 Scottie Pippen*000CHI 41 Michael Jordan*000CHI 258 1992–93
1993–94 Derek Harper000NYK 42 Scottie Pippen*000CHI 210 1993–94
1994–95 Penny Hardaway000ORL 40 Michael Jordan*000CHI 281 1994–95
1995–96 Scottie Pippen*000CHI 47 Magic Johnson*000LAL 358 1995–96
1996–97 Hakeem Olajuwon*000HOU
John Stockton*000UTA		 33 Michael Jordan*000CHI 344 1996–97
1997–98 Scottie Pippen*000CHI 45 376 Michael Jordan*000CHI 376 1997–98
1998–99 Charlie Ward000NYK 35 Scottie Pippen*
000HOU 1998–99
000POR 1999–03
000CHI 2003–04		 351 1998–99
1999–00 Kobe Bryant*000LAL
Scottie Pippen*000POR		 32 383 Scottie Pippen*
000POR 1999–03
000CHI 2003–04		 383 1999–00
2000–01 Allen Iverson*000PHI 52 391 391 2000–01
2001–02 Jason Kidd*000NJN 34 395 395 2001–02
2002–03 Ben Wallace*000DET 42 2002–03
2003–04 44 2003–04
2004–05 43 Robert Horry000SAS 255 2004–05
2005–06 Dwyane Wade*000MIA 51 260 2005–06
2006–07 LeBron James^000CLE 34 271 2006–07
2007–08 Rajon Rondo†000BOS 45 276 2007–08
2008–09 Kobe Bryant*000LAL 38 Kobe Bryant*000LAL 247 2008–09
2009–10 Rajon Rondo†000BOS 46 278 2009–10
2010–11 Jason Kidd*000DAL 40 294 2010–11
2011–12 Rajon Rondo†000BOS 45 310 2011–12
2012–13 LeBron James^000MIA 41 2012–13
2013–14 Paul George^000IND
Russell Westbrook^000OKC		 41 2013–14
2014–15 Stephen Curry^000GSW 39 2014–15
2015–16 LeBron James^000CLE 49 LeBron James^
000CLE 2015–18
000LAL 2018–23		 354 2015–16
2016–17 35 389 2016–17
2017–18 Draymond Green^000GSW 41 419 LeBron James^
000CLE 2017–18
000LAL 2018–23		 419 2017–18
2018–19 Kawhi Leonard^000TOR 40 2018–19
2019–20 Jimmy Butler^000MIA 41 445 445 2019–20
2020–21 Jrue Holiday^000MIL 38 454 454 2020–21
2021–22 Jimmy Butler^000MIA 35 2021–22
2022–23 40 471 471 2022–23
Season Year-by-year leader Stl Active player leader Stl Career record Stl Single-season record Stl Season

See also

References

  1. ^ a National Basketball Association did not record steal statistics until a 1973–74 season.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams oar than those admitted into an NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season. a years listed are only ones in which a player played in a playoff game.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Average is rounded to a nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before steals were officially recorded.
  6. ^ Previously written as Akeem Olajuwon prior to an official spelling change on March 9, 1991.
  7. ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams oar than those admitted into an NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season. a years listed are only ones in which a player played in a playoff game.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Average is rounded to a nearest hundredth and its calculation does not include games played in seasons before steals were officially recorded.

External links

National Basketball Association statistical leaders
Categories