Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and the NBA's All-Time Steals Leaders

Although not as demeaning as being blocked, when an NBA player has the ball stolen from him it is just as demoralizing. When someone steals something from you in the streets or in your own house, it hurts. In the game of basketball, when you have control and the control is stolen you are left to play defense.

Steals may actually be more defeating than blocks because it seems half of blocked shots fly into the stands or actually back into the hands of the team it was blocked from. Steals are more solid defensively because control for the stealing team is more common.

Steals can turn around a game, in fact, steals have determined winners in the playoffs and Finals. "Havlicek stole the ball, it's over, it's all over!" Too bad steal statistics weren't kept until 1972 or I know Havlicek would be at or near the top of this list.

Remember when Bird stole the inbounds pass from Isiah and dished it to DJ?

In 1998 Michael Jordan stole it from Karl Malone and the took it down and hit the sickest game winner in a Finals closer ever.

These are the guys who finished their careers (some aren't done yet) with the most total steals for a career in NBA history.   

15. Magic Johnson 1,724 Steals

Magic Johnson played in only 906 career regular season games but his defensive efforts have obviously been overlooked. In comparison, Kobe Bryant has played over 1,100 career games. Johnson has been praised for his passing, scoring, size and clutch abilities but now realizing he is No. 15 in NBA steals all-time, is there any doubt who the greatest Laker is?

14. Isiah Thomas 1,861 Steals

In just 979 games played in the regular season, Isiah Thomas stole it 1,861 times. The littlest, and probably baddest, Bad Boy scrounged away at opponents relentlessly in his pursuit for glory. His efforts gained him much glory and a few titles to boot. When you were getting hit hard, up-high, by Salley, Rodman, Laimbeer and Mahorn; Isiah was taking you down low. The Pistons were the wrong team to mess with, and Isiah was their leader.

13. Derek Harper 1,957 Steals

Derek Harper might be the most unknown and least glorified player on this list but the veteran of 1,199 NBA games was a thief supreme. Harper is one of the smoothest passers of all-time who could score in bunches too. When it came to stealing the ball Harper was as quick witted and sly as anyone who ever played the game..

12. Allen Iverson 1,983 Steals

In only 914 career regular season games played, AI stole it 1,983 times. Mostly known for his unusual scoring prowess and ability to play injured, it is almost taken for granted how many balls he stole. Being it is that steals are truly more effective defensive efforts than blocks he should be considered one of the all-time great defenders, but he is not. Maybe it's because he never won a title, but the little man stands tall on the all-time steals list.

11. Mookie Blaylock 2,075 Steals

Mookie played in 889 games and stole 2,075 balls. Many people remember Mookie because of his cool name and many remember him as a great small point guard who could shoot. If you were really paying attention back in the day (or if you were alive yet), you would definitely recall Blaylock stealing it from the best player on your team and then leading the break, most likely ending up with a Wilkins posterization.

10. Karl Malone 2,085 Steals

The perfect power forward recorded 2,085 steals in his career. This amazing feat took place over 1,476 career games played, but as a power forward it is unprecedented. Duncan, Barkley, Nowitzki and many other PF's never did this. If only Karl had won a title he would be #1 PF on the all time greats list.  

9. Alvin Robertson 2,112 Steals

Truly the all-time great steals champion in NBA history, Robertson averaged 2.71 steals per game for his entire career. He is the only player to ever steal it 300 times in a season but he only played 779 career games. He had a knack no one else had. He was a quiet person. That's the only reason I can imagine (in pic: left) how we could forget the guy who averaged the most steals per game in NBA history.  

8. Hakeem Olajuwon 2,162 Steals

Potentially the greatest center of all time, Olajuwon was only 6'10" but blocked more shots than anyone of his generation, dished the ball with precision and ease, scored easily and in bunches, rebounded like a genius and stole the ball 2,162 times in 1,238 career regular season games.

7. Clyde Drexler 2,207 Steals

Dissed as maybe the best shooting guard ever because he was a quiet person who didn't hold the media's attention. Clyde did everything well including steal the ball 2,207 times in 1,086 games. He hit game winners, won a title, and is #7 all-time in steals!

6. Scottie Pippen 2,307 Steals

Ah...Scottie Pippen, a defensive player for the ages. Pippen is one of the few superstars of the game that truly earned his defensive reputation as greater than his offensive abilities. While Pippen did have his problems offensively, including somewhat low career FG%, he was never doubted as a great defender. Put him and Mike together and we all know the results. He played 1,178 career regular season games.

5. Maurice Cheeks 2,310 Steals

In 1,101 career games, Mo Cheeks stole the ball like a thief in the night. He was small, skinny, smart and fast. Behind Moses Malone and Dr. J was Cheeks, doing the dirty work. If he was 7 feet tall he would be a defensive terror but at even 6 feet, he carved a niche for himself as one of the greatest thieves of all time.

4. Gary Payton 2,445 Steals

The Glove earned his nickname because he was on you, tight. Payton had an attitude that conveyed swag and confidence. Payton wasn't afraid to try to stop anyone and at 6'3" he chose the steal as a defensive weapon of choice. He is a champion who did it mostly by defense, but in 2006 when he won it all with the Heat, he also hit some big shots. That was GP for you.

3. Jason Kidd 2,477 Steals

Kidd is still going up on this list at age 38. After 17 years he finally won a title and his defense made it possible. Against LA he was a stopper and in the Finals he was integral in winning it all. He has played 1,267 games.

2. Michael Jordan

Jordan led the league in steals a record three times. Though he was the most dominant scorer of all time with the highest career scoring average ever, he was also dominant defensively. The guard blocked more shots than any guard ever and also stole it 2,515 times in only 1,072 games. He was defensive player of the year in 1988 and the greatest basketball player of all time.

1. John Stockton 3,265 Steals

In 1,504 career games Stockton put the all-time steals record out of touch probably forever. He was the best pure point guard ever and probably only Magic and Isiah give him any competition as greatest PG ever. He shot amazingly, passed like a team player of the century and stole the ball so much that you could not relax around him or you would look down the court and see him lobbing it to Malone for the sick throwdown..