Michael Jordan is the Chicago Bulls all-time leader in steals.
The Chicago Bulls’ franchise record books are replete with NBA greats, led by Michael Jordan.
Here’s a closer look at the Bulls’ top five career steal leaders, a list headed up by Jordan and another Hall of Famer.
Michael Jordan is enshrined in NBA lore for his unparalleled career, with his prolific scoring and unforgettable athleticism etched most in the minds of his countless fans. However, Jordan was also a defensive force, as evidenced by his nine NBA All-Defensive First Team nods and NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988. Jordan also led the league in steals three times. Jordan’s best average was the year he won DPOY, where he averaged 3.2 steals a game. Jordan wouldn’t fall below 1.7 steals per contest at any point during his Chicago tenure before finishing off the last two seasons of his legendary playing stint with the Washington Wizards.
Scottie Pippen spent a substantial portion of his career as a complementary option alongside Jordan, although Pippen is a Hall of Famer in his own right and secured 10 total NBA All-Defensive nods (eight First-Team, two Second-Team). Pippen earned the distinction with stellar work on that end of the floor that included between 1.2 and a career-high 2.9 steals per contest in the 11 seasons comprising his first Bulls stint.
Kirk Hinrich spent a substantial portion of his long NBA career in Chicago, arriving as the seventh overall pick in 2003 and quickly establishing himself during his rookie season. Hinrich recorded 1.3 steals per game to open his pro tenure, and he hit what would be his career high of 1.6 swipes per contest the very following season. Hinrich never fell below 1.1 steals per game in that initial Bulls stint and averaged 1.1 steals per contest in two of the three full seasons that encompassed his second go-around.
Norm Van Lier is the one member of the 1970s Bulls on this list and crafted a reputation as one of the better defensive players of his era. Van Lier recorded 2.0 steals per game in three consecutive seasons beginning with the 1973-74 campaign and never tallied under 1.6 per contest in any of his Bulls seasons.
Luol Deng’s decade-long stay in Chicago began with a draft-night trade from the Phoenix Suns in 2004. Deng served as a solid across-the-board contributor and nabbed one NBA All-Defensive Second Team nod while averaging at least 1.0 steals per contest on six different occasions during his Bulls tenure.
