Ron Harper averaged 2.5 steals for the Cavaliers in the 1986-87 season.  

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had several talented players earn the nickname “court thief” for their exceptional ability to steal the ball. Among them are Ron Harper and LeBron James, who hold spots in the top five. Note that steals did not become an official NBA stat until the 1973-74 season.

Ron Harper – 1987, 2.5 SPG

The Cavs made Harper the eighth overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft after four years of college at Miami University in Ohio. The Dayton, Ohio native spent his first three seasons in Cleveland before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers during the 1989-90 campaign. Harper went on to post one of his best statistical seasons in his debut, averaging a career-high 22.9 points and 2.5 steals with 4.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.0 blocks per game across 82 starts, helping him finish second in Rookie of the Year voting. The 6-foot-6, two-way guard compiled five double-doubles and had 12 outings with five or more steals, including a personal best ten swipes, and the 209 total thefts he amassed are still the most in franchise history. Through 228 total contests as a Cavalier, ‘Harp’ recorded 19.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.1 apg, 2.3 spg and 1.0 bpg.

Brevin Knight – 1998, 2.5 SPG

Just like Harper, Knight was a first-round pick (16th overall) by the Cavs who turned in an impressive performance during his rookie season in 1997-98. The 5-foot-10 floor general put up 9.0 points, 3.2 boards, 8.2 assists and a career-high 2.5 steals per game across 80 appearances (76 starts), earning him an 11th-place finish in the Defensive Player of the Year race. Knight tallied 12 double-doubles and had 13 outings with five or more swipes, also setting a career-best mark with 20 helpers in just his 12th game as a pro. After his time in Cleveland, Knight played for the Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers, Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns throughout his 12 seasons in the NBA.

Foots Walker – 1979, 2.4 SPG

At age 27 in 1978-79, Walker appeared in 55 contests en route to a career-high 10.1 points and 2.4 steals along with 3.6 rebounds and 5.8 dimes a night. The Southampton, New York native spent six of his ten years in the NBA with the Cavs, from 1974 to 1980, where he recorded averages of 7.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.0 apg and 1.7 spg across 427 games. Following his time in Cleveland, Walker was traded to and played the final four years of his professional tenure with the New Jersey Nets, officially retiring in 1984.

Ron Harper – 1989, 2.3 SPG

With his entry here, Harper owns the title of being the only name on this list with multiple seasons in the top five. During his third and final full season in The Land in 1988-89, the ‘Ohio Flyer’ averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.9 blocks per game across all 82 contests. It was Harper’s third consecutive campaign in which he swiped at least 2.1 spg, and he tallied six double-doubles and one triple-double while leading the Cavs to a 57-25 record. ‘Hollywood’ also spent time with the Clippers, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers over the course of his 15-year career. He’s a five-time NBA champion, winning three rings in the Windy City and two in LA with the Lakers, doing so in a remarkable five of six seasons between 1995-96 and 2000-01.

LeBron James – 2005, 2.2 SPG

During his sophomore campaign in 2004-05, a 20-year-old James went next level, posting 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and a career-best 2.2 steals per game across 80 games. He led the league in minutes played (42.4), finished sixth in the MVP race, and was named Second Team All-NBA and an All-Star, marking the beginning of a 21-year stretch in which ‘King James’ earned All-NBA and All-Star honors. That consecutive streak remains intact today, as the now 40-year-old prepares to suit up for his 23rd professional season in 2025-26. Throughout his legendary tenure, the four-time league MVP has spent two separate stints with his home-state Cavaliers, four seasons with the Miami Heat, and he’s been with the LA Lakers since the 2018-19 season.