NBA Single-Season Total Steals Record Progression
Every season that raised the bar, and the leader in every season between.
The NBA single-season total steals record is 301, set by Alvin Robertson in 1985-1986. It has stood for 41 years. The mark has been raised 4 times since 1973.
Record Holders
5 marks since 1973-1974| Year | Player | STL | Stood for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-1986 |
 Alvin Robertson
|
301 | still standing |
| 1976-1977 |
 Don Buse
|
281 | 9 years |
| 1975-1976 |
 Slick Watts
|
261 | 1 year |
| 1974-1975 |
 Rick Barry
|
228 | 1 year |
| 1973-1974 |
 Larry Steele
|
217 | 1 year |
The earliest marks here are records only in the sense that nobody had done better yet. Season length, schedule and the rules themselves have all changed, so a figure from the 1870s is not comparable with a modern one and is not offered as though it were.