| Rank | Name | Years Played | Steals | Championships |
| 1. | Hakeem Olajuwon | 1984-85 - 1999-00 | 3652 | 2 |
| 2. | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 1969-70 - 1988-89 | 3189 * | 6 |
| 3. | Mark Eaton | 1982-83 - 1992-93 | 3064 | 0 |
| 4. | Patrick Ewing | 1985-86 - 1999-00 | 2758 | 0 |
| 5. | Tree Rollins | 1977-78 - 1994-95 | 2542 | 0 |
| 6. | David Robinson | 1989-90 - 1999-00 | 2506 | 1 |
| 7. | Dikembe Mutombo | 1991-92 - 1999-00 | 2443 | 0 |
| 8. | Robert Parish | 1976-77 - 1996-97 | 2361 | 4 |
| 9. | Manute Bol | 1985-86 - 1994-95 | 2086 | 0 |
| 10. | George Johnson | 1972-73 - 1985-86 | 2082 * | 1 |
| 11. | Larry Nance | 1981-82 - 1993-94 | 2027 | |
| 12. | Elvin Hayes | 1968-69 - 1983-84 | 1771 * | |
| 13. | Artis Gilmore | 1976-77 - 1987-88 | 1747 | |
| 14. | Moses Malone | 1976-77 - 1994-95 | 1733 | |
| 15. | Kevin McHale | 1980-81 - 1992-93 | 1690 | |
| 16. | Alonzo Mourning | 1992-93 - 1999-00 | 1666 | |
| 17. | Herb Williams | 1981-82 - 1998-99 | 1605 | |
| 18. | Benoit Benjamin | 1985-86 - 1999-00 | 1605 | |
| 19. | Wayne Cooper | 1978-79 - 1991-92 | 1535 | |
| 20. | Shawn Bradley | 1993-94 - 1999-00 | 1520 | |
| 21. | Caldwell Jones | 1976-77 - 1989-90 | 1517 | |
| 22. | Alton Lister | 1981-82 - 1997-98 | 1473 | |
| 23. | John Williams | 1986-87 - 1998-99 | 1456 | |
| 24. | Shaquille O'Neal | 1992-93 - 1999-00 | 1436 | |
| 25. | Mark West | 1983-84 - 1999-00 | 1403 | |
| 26. | Terry Tyler | 1978-79 - 1988-89 | 1342 | |
| 27. | Julius Erving | 1976-77 - 1986-87 | 1293 | |
| 28. | James Donaldson | 1980-81 - 1994-95 | 1267 | |
| 29. | Vlade Divac | 1989-90 - 1999-00 | 1261 | |
| 30. | Elden Campbell | 1990-91 - 1999-00 | 1229 | |
| 31. | Harvey Catchings | 1974-75 - 1984-85 | 1227 | |
| 32. | Shawn Kemp | 1989-90 - 1999-00 | 1190 | |
| 33. | Elmore Smith | 1971-72 - 1978-79 | 1183 * | |
| 34. | Sam Lacey | 1970-71 - 1982-83 | 1160 * | |
| 35. | Bob McAdoo | 1972-73 - 1985-86 | 1147 * | |
| 36. | Charles Jones | 1983-84 - 1997-98 | 1134 | |
| 37. | Joe Barry Carroll | 1980-81 - 1990-91 | 1122 | |
| 38. | Dan Roundfield | 1976-77 - 1986-87 | 1117 | |
| 39. | Rik Smits | 1988-89 - 1999-00 | 1111 | |
| 40. | Bob Lanier | 1970-71 - 1983-84 | 1100 * | |
| Buck Williams | 1981-82 - 1997-98 | 1100 | ||
| 42. | Andrew Lang | 1988-89 - 1999-00 | 1099 | |
| 43. | Mychal Thompson | 1978-79 - 1990-91 | 1073 | |
| 44. | Thurl Bailey | 1983-84 - 1993-94 | 1058 | |
| 45. | Jack Sikma | 1977-78 - 1990-91 | 1048 | |
| 46. | Bill Walton | 1974-75 - 1986-87 | 1034 | |
| 47. | Darryl Dawkins | 1975-76 - 1988-89 | 1023 | |
| 48. | Rick Mahorn | 1980-81 - 1998-99 | 1007 | |
| 49. | Horace Grant | 1987-88 - 1999-00 | 1005 | |
| 50. | Mike Gminski | 1980-81 - 1993-94 | 989 | |
| * Played part of career before stat was kept in 1973-74 | ||||
| Closing in: | ||||
| Chris Dudley | 1988-89 - 1999-00 | 984 | ||
| Karl Malone | 1985-86 - 1999-00 | 973 | ||
| Antoine Carr | 1984-85 - 1999-00 | 925 | ||
| Sam Perkins | 1984-85 - 1999-00 | 915 | ||
| Derrick Coleman | 1990-91 - 1999-00 | 884 | ||