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Top 5 all-time New York Knicks steals leaders

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Top 5 all-time New York Knicks steals leaders

Patrick Ewing is the New York Knicks’ franchise leader in steals.

As the legendary New York Knicks franchise approaches its 80th year in existence, here’s a closer look at the top five purveyors of steals in its long history:

1. Patrick Ewing, 1985-2000 (1,061 steals)

Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing distinguished himself in every area of the stat sheet throughout his memorable career, most of which was spent in New York. While his scoring, rebounding and shot blocking earned him the most accolades, Ewing also worked himself to the top of this list by averaging at least 1.0 steals per game in each of his first seven seasons, recording 1.1 in his ninth campaign, and 0.9 steals per contest in four other years.

2. Charles Oakley, 1988-98 (844 steals)

When it came to steals, Charles Oakley was a reliable contributor. He averaged between 1.0 and a career-high 1.6 steals per contest in eight of his 10 Knicks seasons. 

3. Micheal Ray Richardson, 1978-82 (810 steals)

Micheal Ray Richardson’s professional basketball career began as the fourth overall pick of the Knicks in 1978. Despite spending just four years in New York, Richardson’s elite defensive skills enabled him to finish his team tenure atop this list. Richardson averaged 1.4 steals per game as a rookie, and he surged to between 2.6 and a career-high 3.2 per contest over the following three seasons. 

4. Ray Williams, 1977-81 (750 steals)

The late Ray Williams arrived in the Big Apple a year before Richardson and formed a dynamic defensive backcourt duo with his teammate for three seasons. Williams stood out on the defensive end right from the onset of his career, averaging 1.3 steals per contest. He would be even more productive on that front over his remaining three seasons in New York, averaging between 1.6 and 2.3 steals per contest.

5. Charlie Ward, 1994-2004 (744 steals)

Charlie Ward holds the distinction of being the only Heisman Trophy winner to have played in the NBA, and Ward proved to be quite the defensive presence. Ward snagged 1.1 steals per game in his third season and a career-best 2.1 steals in the 1998-99 season. Ward also tallied between 1.1 and 1.3 swipes per contest in each of his remaining five Knicks seasons, solidifying his place in the franchise record books. 

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