Stealing the ball is a special skill in basketball. A proficient steal can help a player shift the ball possession from the opponent to the teammate. In NBA 2022/2023, there are several players who excel in stealing the ball. Here are some of the players with the highest steal counts.
OG Anunoby (128)
OG Anunoby is a British player who currently plays for the Toronto Raptors as a small forward. The 25-year-old player recorded a significant number of steals during the NBA 2022/2023 regular season.
Anunoby collected a total of 128 steals in 67 games with the Raptors. He also performed well in scoring, with an average of 16.8 points per game this season.
De'Anthony Melton (126)
De'Anthony Melton recently joined the Philadelphia 76ers from the Memphis Grizzlies on June 24, 2022. The 24-year-old player usually plays as a point guard or shooting guard and has been serving as a backup player in the Sixers team.
Despite being a backup player, Melton contributed significantly to the team's steal counts, recording 126 steals during the NBA 2022/2023 regular season.
Anthony Edwards (125)
Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves' young star, was selected in the first round of the NBA Draft 2020. He has been a key player for the team's success in reaching the NBA Playoffs 2023.
Edwards regularly contributes double-digit scores in each game and is also skilled in stealing the ball. The 21-year-old NBA player recorded a total of 125 steals during the NBA 2022/2023 regular season.
Fred VanVleet (123)
Fred VanVleet is another Toronto Raptors player on this list. The 29-year-old player is one of the pillars of the Raptors, although the team failed to reach the NBA Playoffs 2023 after being defeated by the Chicago Bulls in the play-in.
Despite the loss, VanVleet's performance in the NBA 2022/2023 season was impressive. He recorded a lot of points and successfully collected 123 steals, playing both as a shooting guard and point guard.
Jimmy Butler (117)
Finally, the Miami Heat's main star, Jimmy Butler, is a veteran player at 33 years old. Nevertheless, Butler remains the backbone of the Heat team and led them to reach the NBA Playoffs 2023.
Butler scored an average of 22.9 points per game during the NBA 2022/2023 season and was also skilled in stealing the ball. He collected 117 steals in 64 games with the Heat.
Three out of the five players above managed to lead their team to the NBA Playoffs 2023, namely Anthony Edwards, De'Anthony Melton, and Jimmy Butler. Their expertise in stealing the ball will be crucial for their respective teams in the playoffs.
