Gary Payton (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
The 1996-97 Seattle SuperSonics hold the NBA record for most steals in a game with 27 steals in a 122-78 win over the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 15, 1997. Eleven of the 12 Sonics that played in the game recorded at least one steal, nine players had at least two steals and five at three or more.
Bench players Craig Ehlo (seven minutes) and Greg Graham (12 minutes) led the way with four steals apiece in a combined 19 minutes on the court. Gary Payton – who became the first point guard to win NBA Defensive Player of the Year in the previous season – led three Sonics with three steals in the game, along with Sam Perkins and Eric Snow.
The Sonics broke the record previously held by the Golden State Warriors (25 steals in 1975 and 1989). Seattle and Golden State are the only teams to record at least 25 steals in a game since steals began being compiled in the 1973-74 season.
- 27 Steals: SuperSonics (Jan. 15, 1997) | Win vs. Raptors (122-78)
- 25 Steals: Warriors (March 25, 1975) | Win vs. Lakers (139-122)
- 25 Steals: Warriors (Feb. 15, 1989) | Win vs. Spurs (133-96)
- 24 Steals: Six teams tied – Warriors (1975), Suns (1977), 76ers (1978), Trail Blazers (1984), Hornets (1989) and Bucks (1992)
Rick Barry had eight of Golden State’s NBA playoff-record 22 steals (Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
Less than a month after setting the regular season record with 25 steals in 1975 (March 25, 1975 vs. Lakers), the Warriors set the playoff record with 22 steals in a 123-96 win over the Sonics in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
That record stands entering the 2024-25 season, with only three other teams ever reaching 20 steals in a playoff game.
- 22 Steals: Warriors (April 14, 1975) | Win vs. Sonics (123-96) | Game 1, West Semis
- 20 Steals: Warriors (May 2, 1976) | Win vs. Suns (128-103) | Game 1, West Finals
- 20 Steals: 76ers (May 13, 1999) | Win vs. Magic (97-85) | Game 3, First Round
- 20 Steals: Bucks (April 25, 2015) | Win vs. Bulls (92-90) | Game 4, First Round
