LeBron James is still proving people wrong in his 22nd NBA season. The Los Angeles Lakers star, known for doing it all on the court, keeps climbing the league’s all-time records. On Tuesday night, he hit another major milestone by moving up to sixth place on the NBA’s all-time steals list. He passed Hall of Famer Maurice Cheeks, reaching 2,311 career steals, just one more than Cheeks’ 2,310.
What makes this even more impressive is that James is still making a defensive impact at 40 years old. He still has the quickness and instincts to disrupt passes, which is rare for a player his age. This season, he’s averaging 23.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 37.9% from three-point range. Even though he’s averaging 0.8 steals per game this season, lower than his career average of 1.5, his defense still matters, especially since he carries such a heavy offensive load.
Now that James has reached this milestone, he is now approaching the top five of the all-time steals list. Next up is defensive great Gary Payton, who finished with 2,445 steals. James needs 134 more to pass him, which could take a while at his current rate. But given his ability to stay at the top of his game for so long, cracking the top five is definitely possible before he retires.
Where Does LeBron James Rank Among The NBA’s All-Time Steals Leaders?
The all-time steals leaderboard is packed with legendary defenders. John Stockton holds the record with 3,265 steals in 1,504 games. Jason Kidd (2,684), Chris Paul (2,671), Michael Jordan (2,514), and Gary Payton (2,445) round out the top five. With 2,311 steals, James has already passed greats like Maurice Cheeks (2,310), Scottie Pippen (2,307), Clyde Drexler (2,207), and Hakeem Olajuwon (2,162).
Unlike Stockton, Payton, or Pippen, who built their reputations on elite defense, James has been an all-around superstar, making his accomplishment unique. He’s dominated in scoring, passing, and rebounding while still being a solid defender. His career averages of 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.4 assists over 1,535 regular-season games show just how consistently great he’s been in every aspect of the game.
James reached this milestone in a tough game against the Philadelphia 76ers, where the Lakers lost. Despite the defeat, he put up an incredible performance with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, and 1 steal while shooting 62.5% from the field. Even when the team struggles, James keeps adding to his records, showing he’s still one of the most influential players in the league.
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