Dyson Daniels led the NBA with 3.0 steals per game in 2024-25 season.
The Atlanta Hawks currently have one of the best defenders in the league on their team in Dyson Daniels. In his first season with the franchise, he posted stellar production in terms of steals. Let’s look at the Hawks’ record book and highlight their top five leaders in steals per game for a single season.
Dyson Daniels (2025) – 2.7 steals per game
Daniels played the first two seasons of his career with the Pelicans. He only averaged 18 minutes per game during his rookie season and 22 minutes in his second season. Still, he showed his steals upside, including when he averaged 1.4 steals in his second season. He immediately became a starter last season after being traded to the Hawks and he logged 34 minutes per game. His new role helped him lead the NBA by averaging 3.0 steals per game. He won the Most Improved Player award, made All-Defensive First Team and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Mookie Blaylock (1997) – 2.7 steals per game
Blaylock spent the first three seasons of his career with the Nets. In two of those seasons, he averaged at least 2.3 steals per game. He was then traded to the Hawks prior to the 1992-93 season. In the 1996-97 season, Blaylock led the NBA by averaging 2.7 steals over 78 games. He also led the league in three-pointers made per game (2.8) and three-pointers attempted per game (7.7). With his steals production, he made All-Defensive Second Team and finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Mookie Blaylock (1994) – 2.6 steals per game
Blaylock averaged 36 minutes over 81 games during the 1993-94 season. He finished with averages of 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.7 assists, 2.6 steals and 1.4 three-pointers. That helped him earn the only All-Star selection of his career. He also made All-Defensive First Team, finished seventh in Defensive Player of the Year voting and 11th in MVP voting.
Mookie Blaylock (1996) – 2.6 steals per game
Availability wasn’t a problem with Blaylock. He appeared in 81 games again during the 1995-96 season, averaging 36 minutes per game. The result was him averaging 15.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.9 three-pointers. He made All-Defensive Second Team that season.
Mookie Blaylock (1998) – 2.6 steals per game
With Blaylock averaging 2.6 steals per game in 1997-98, he led the league in steals for the second time during his career. That season, he was named All-Defensive Second Team and finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Blaylock would go on to play one more season with the Hawks before finishing his career by playing for the Warriors for three seasons. Over 518 career regular season games with the Hawks, Blaylock averaged 14.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 2.6 steals and 2.0 three-pointers. Across 50 playoff games with the franchise, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.5 three-pointers.
