Name any defensive juggernaut in NBA history—whether it’s a legendary player or a dominant team—and certain stats always jump off the page: rebounds, blocks, forced turnovers, and of course… steals.
This epiphany hit me in the middle of the night. (Technically, after I let the dog out and was lying in bed trying to fall back asleep.) And after 35 years of playing, practicing, living, and loving the game, something finally clicked.
The steal has been misclassified all this time.
Wait—what?
Yup. I said it. The steal is misclassified as a defensive stat. Just hear me out.
Let’s look at how the NBA defines possession. According to the rule book, a team is considered in possession when a player is holding, dribbling, or passing the ball. Possession ends when the defensive team gains control, or when the shot hits the rim.
A team is in possession when a player is holding, dribbling or passing the ball. Team possession ends when the defensive team gains possession or the ball hits the rim of the offensive team.
Notice anything? There’s no actual definition of a “steal” in the rulebook. But more importantly, the moment a steal occurs, the ball is in your hands. You’re now in possession. You’re now… on offense.
So if having the ball means you’re on offense, why are we labeling the steal—a moment when you gain possession—as a defensive stat?
Let’s compare. A “deflection” is a pure hustle stat. It shows effort, defensive execution, and forces the offense to reset. Same with “blocks”—they disrupt the shot, but they don’t guarantee your team ends up with the ball, let alone a scoring opportunity.
But a steal? A steal flips the script instantly. The moment it happens, you have the ball. You’re attacking. You’re in position to score. That’s offense.
It’s the same logic we use when we separate “offensive rebounds” from “defensive rebounds.” One provides a chance to score, the other doesn’t. Steals, unlike other defensive stats, give you an immediate chance to put points on the board. They’re the lone wolf. The anomaly.
And beyond just the technical classification, imagine what rethinking steals as offensive stats could do to player motivation. Redefining it might light a fire in someone to lock in defensively—not just to get a stop, but to create offense.
Boof!
Mind. Blown.
Anyway, thanks for sticking with me. I’m curious what you think. Agree? Disagree? Ready to go off in the comments? Let’s hear it.
