Don Buse’s 281 total steals throughout the 1976-77 campaign are the second-most recorded in a single NBA season.

The Pacers have a long history, with 50 years as an NBA franchise that was preceded by nine seasons as part of the ABA. Numerous players have been tasked with intercepting passing lanes and forcing turnovers over those years, and that’s led to five unique players making the cut here. Here’s a closer look at the Pacers’ top five single season steals per game leaders.

Don Buse – 1977, 3.5 SPG

Buse had already made a name for himself in the ABA when he and the Pacers entered the NBA fold in 1976. His first season in the NBA was a personal success, as he led the league with 3.5 steals and 8.5 assists per game. Buse also made the All-Star team and First-Team All-Defense. His 281 total steals throughout the campaign are also the second-most ever recorded in a single NBA season.

Micheal Williams – 1992, 2.9 SPG

Williams only spent two of his 10 NBA seasons in Indiana, but they were arguably the most successful of his career. The 91-92 campaign in particular was stellar, when he tallied a career-high 2.9 steals per game, finishing just 0.1 behind the season leader, John Stockton. He also averaged 15.0 points and 8.2 assists per game, which were personal bests at the time, on his way to earning Second-Team All-Defensive honors.

Dudley Bradley – 1980, 2.6 SPG

Bradley earned the moniker “Secretary of Defense” while playing in college and immediately proved why in his rookie season. He finished third in the league by averaging 2.6 steals, which would go down as a career-high mark. That reputation carried over into his second season, where he made Second-Team All-Defense. He’d round out his first NBA season by averaging 8.4 points, 3.1 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Victor Oladipo – 2018, 2.4 SPG

2018 was Oladipo’s first in Indiana, and arguably his finest NBA season before a series of injuries cut each of his subsequent seasons short. His 2.4 swipes per game led the league and also aided in earning him First-Team All-Defense honors. He also scored a career high, 23.1 points per game, in addition to averaging 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Oladipo’s performance during the 2017-18 season earned him the first of two career All-Star nods, the Most Improved Player of the Year award, and Third-Team All-NBA honors.

Metta World Peace – 2003, 2.3 SPG

The man formally known as Ron Artest earned his reputation as one of the league’s premier defenders during the 2002-03 campaign. His 2.3 steals per game were the second most in the league and aided his second-place finish in the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year balloting. He also made Second-Team All-Defense. His efforts paved the way for his first and only All-Star nod a year later, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year award. He rounded out the 02-03 season by averaging 15.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.