Chris Paul, James Harden and Monta Ellis all ranked among the top 10 in the NBA in steals per game last season and there is no doubt about the value of all three players in NBA fantasy leagues. However, when it comes to breaking down the best of the best in that category, there are only four players that separated themselves from the rest as the truly elite by averaging more than two steals per game last season. Here is a look at the four best sources for steals you’ll want to eye in redraft leagues.
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs
The 24-year-old Leonard is only now entering the prime of his career on an absolutely loaded Spurs team but he is already the best of the best when it comes to being a source for steals in NBA fantasy leagues. Leonard averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game last season but most importantly, he averaged a league-high 2.31 steals per contest. Leonard still hasn’t reached his peak potential and it’s a safe assumption that the Spurs are going to lean on him heavily next season.
Yes, they acquired a couple of horses in the frontcourt (LaMarcus Aldridge and David West) but they are thinner in the backcourt where Leonard may be asked to pick up some slack. He played a career-high 31.8 minutes per game last season and that number should be similar – if not higher. Heading into his fifth NBA season, there is no doubt he is the king for compiling steals in fantasy leagues.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Westbrook put on an absolute fantasy clinic with Kevin Durant out last season as he averaged 28.1 points, 8.6 assists and 7.3 rebounds and only Leonard had a higher steals per game average than the 2.09 mark that the Thunder point guard registered. Durant’s return could hinder Westbrook’s offensive production this season but it shouldn’t fall off too much. If Durant is going to cut into his numbers, it’s probably in terms of points and not as much on the defensive end. Westbrook’s steal totals should stay the same while his assist averages have the potential to climb even higher with Oklahoma City looking for redemption after what happened to the team last season.
Tony Allen, Memphis Grizzlies
The veteran small forward Allen has always been regarded as a defensive specialist and he delivered last season with a career-high 2.05 steals per game to rank third in the NBA. Allen averaged only 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season, so he isn’t nearly as complete of a fantasy player as some of the other names on this list but he is a consistent source for steals.
Allen is an interesting member on this list because the Golden State Warriors exposed his offensive game in the second-round of the playoffs last season and the Grizzlies were forced to bench him. He only played 21.5 minutes per game in that series and we’ll have to see whether other teams try this strategy or not. At any rate, he’s the type of player that could be acquired later on in fantasy drafts in order to provide a production boost in the steals category.
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Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
There really isn’t anything that the NBA MVP didn’t do last season when he averaged 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 three-point shots and 2.04 steals per game last season. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Curry’s production is the fact that he averaged just 32.7 minutes per game last year since he sat out so many fourth quarters after the Warriors had already put games out of reach. Curry is in the prime of his career right now and the fact that he can contribute at such a high level across the board in fantasy categories only reinforces the fact that he should be a top-five pick in NBA fantasy leagues this season.
