Larry Hughes is the SPG leader for the Wizards.
The Wizards have had a number of standout perimeter defenders over the course of their lengthy history. Let’s dig into their record books and highlight their top-five leaders in steals per game for a single season. Note that steals became an official stat in the 1973-74 season.
Larry Hughes – 2005, 2.9 SPG
Hughes played for the 76ers and Warriors before joining the Wizards in 2002. Prior to 2004-05, he had never averaged more than 1.9 steals per game for a season. Not only did he surpass that threshold, but he led the league by averaging 2.9 steals per game. That helped him be named All-Defensive First Team and finish sixth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Hughes also had his best scoring season, averaging 22.0 points. Over 189 career regular season games with the Wizards, he averaged 17.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals.
Phil Chenier – 1975, 2.3 SPG
When the Wizards franchise was known as the Baltimore Bullets, they selected Chenier with the fourth pick in the 1971 Supplemental Hardship Draft. Steals were not an official stat during his first two seasons in the league. In the 1973-74 season, when they were first tracked, Chenier averaged 2.0 steals. The following season, he averaged 2.3 steals to go along with 21.8 points per game. Over 546 career games with the Washington franchise. He averaged 17.9 points and 1.7 steals.
Gus Williams – 1985, 2.3 SPG
Williams only played two seasons for the Washington Bullets. Prior to joining the franchise, he had averaged at least 2.1 steals in six of his first eight seasons in the NBA. The 1984-85 season was his first with Washington and he averaged 2.3 steals over 38 minutes per game. Across 159 career regular season games with the franchise, he averaged 16.8 points, 6.8 assists and 1.8 steals.
Caron Butler – 2008, 2.2 SPG
During the 2006-07 season, Butler averaged 19.1 points and 2.1 steals on his way to making his first All-Star team. He increased both numbers the following season, averaging 20.3 points and 2.2 steals while being named an All-Star again. During his career, he played for nine different franchises. He spent the most time with the Wizards, averaging 19.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals over 310 games.
Tom Gugliotta – 1994, 2.2 SPG
The Bullets selected Gugliotta with the sixth pick in the 1992 Draft. He started all 81 games that he played in his rookie season, averaging 14.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals. He was busy on both ends of the floor again the next season, averaging 17.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals. That would end up being the only season of his career in which he averaged at least 2.0 steals. The following season, Gugliotta was traded to the Warriors in a deal that landed the Bullets Chris Webber. Across 165 career regular-season games with the Bullets, Gugliotta averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals.
