List of NBA single-season steals per game leaders

This list exhibits the National Basketball Association's top single-season steals averages based on at least 70 games played or 125 steals.^[1] The NBA did not record steals until the 1973–74 season.^[2]

Statistics accurate as of February 14, 2025.

List

^	Active NBA player
*	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
‡	Denotes season currently ongoing in 2024–25

Rank	Season	Player	Team	Games	Steals	SPG
1	1985–86	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs	82	301	3.67
2	1976–77	Don Buse	Indiana Pacers	81	281	3.47
3	1980–81	Magic Johnson*	Los Angeles Lakers	37	127	3.43
4	1979–80	Micheal Ray Richardson	New York Knicks	82	265	3.23
5	1986–87	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs	81	260	3.21
6	1988–89	John Stockton*	Utah Jazz	82	263	3.21
7	1975–76	Slick Watts	Seattle SuperSonics	82	261	3.18
8	1987–88	Michael Jordan*	Chicago Bulls	82	259	3.16
9	1990–91	Alvin Robertson	Milwaukee Bucks	81	246	3.04
10	1988–89	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs	65	197	3.03
11	2024–25‡	Dyson Daniels^	Atlanta Hawks	50	149	2.98
12	1991–92	John Stockton*	Utah Jazz	82	244	2.98
13	1984–85	Micheal Ray Richardson	New Jersey Nets	82	243	2.96
13	1987–88	Alvin Robertson	San Antonio Spurs	82	243	2.96
15	1993–94	Nate McMillan	Seattle SuperSonics	73	216	2.96
16	1987–88	John Stockton*	Utah Jazz	82	242	2.95
17	1991–92	Micheal Williams	Indiana Pacers	79	233	2.95
18	1980–81	Micheal Ray Richardson	New York Knicks	79	232	2.94
18	1994–95	Scottie Pippen*	Chicago Bulls	79	232	2.94
20	1993–94	Scottie Pippen*	Chicago Bulls	72	211	2.93
21	1988–89	Michael Jordan*	Chicago Bulls	81	234	2.89
22	2004–05	Larry Hughes	Washington Wizards	61	176	2.89
23	1986–87	Michael Jordan*	Chicago Bulls	82	236	2.88
24	1990–91	John Stockton*	Utah Jazz	82	234	2.85
25	1995–96	Gary Payton*	Seattle SuperSonics	81	231	2.85

^ "NBA & ABA Single Season Leaders and Records for Steals Per Game". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
^ "Rate Statistic Requirements". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved February 12, 2025.