In basketball, a steal is a "defensive action" that causes the opponent to turn the ball over. [1] The National Basketball Association's (NBA) steal title is awarded to the player with the highest steals per game average in a given season. The steal title was first recognized in the 1973–74 season when statistics on steals were first compiled. [2] To qualify for the steal title, the player must appear in at least 58 games (out of 82). However, a player who appears in fewer than 58 games may qualify as annual steals leader if his steal total would have given him the greatest average, had he appeared in 58 games. This has been the requirement since the 2013–14 season. [3]
Alvin Robertson holds the all-time records for total steals (301) and steals per game (3.67) in a season; achieved in the 1985–86 season. Among active players, Chris Paul had the highest season steal total (217) in the 2007–08 season and the highest season steal average (2.77) in the 2008–09 season.
Paul has won the most steal titles, with six. Micheal Ray Richardson, Robertson, Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson all follow with three. Magic Johnson, Mookie Blaylock, Baron Davis and John Stockton are the only other players to win more than one steal title, with two. Paul has won the most consecutive steal titles, with four. [2] Four players have won both the steal title and the NBA championship in the same season: Rick Barry in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors, Johnson in 1982 with the Los Angeles Lakers, Jordan in 1993 with the Chicago Bulls and Draymond Green in 2017 with Golden State. [4]
^ | Denotes player who is still active in the NBA | |||||
* | Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame | |||||
† | Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration [lower-alpha 1] | |||||
‡ | Denotes player who won the Defensive Player of the Year award that year | |||||
Player (X) | Denotes the number of times the player had been the steals leader up to and including that season |
PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center |
Rank | Player | Team | Times leader | Years |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets (3) / Los Angeles Clippers (3) | 6 | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
2 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls | 1988, 1990, 1993 | ||
Micheal Ray Richardson | New York Knicks (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) / New Jersey Nets (1) | 1980, 1983, 1985 | ||
Alvin Robertson | San Antonio Spurs (2) / Milwaukee Bucks (1) | 1986, 1987, 1991 | ||
6 | Mookie Blaylock | Atlanta Hawks | 2 | 1997, 1998 |
Baron Davis | New Orleans Hornets (1) / Golden State Warriors (1) | 2004, 2007 | ||
Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers | 1981, 1982 | ||
John Stockton | Utah Jazz | 1989, 1992 |
The 1970 NBA expansion draft was the fifth expansion draft of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on May 11, 1970, so that the newly founded Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers could acquire players for the 1970–71 season. Buffalo, Cleveland, and Portland were awarded the expansion teams on February 6, 1970. Houston was also awarded a franchise, but the group backing the team was unable to come up with the US$750,000 down payment on the US$3.7 million entrance fee that was required before the 1970 NBA draft. The Braves later underwent two relocations, moving to San Diego in 1978 and changing their name from the Braves to the Clippers, and then relocating to Los Angeles in 1984. They are currently known as the Los Angeles Clippers.
Robert Anthony Vaden is an American former professional basketball player. Previously he played for the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League. Vaden played college basketball with the Indiana Hoosiers and the UAB Blazers for two years each. After four years in college, he was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats with the 54th pick in the 2009 NBA draft. After the draft, his draft rights were immediately traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, the Thunder did not sign him to a contract. As a result, he went on to play in Italy, Slovakia, and in the NBA Development League with the Tulsa 66ers, the D-League team affiliated with the Thunder.
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