Single‑game steals records showcase peak on‑ball pressure, help positioning, and tempo timing.

Unlike blocks, steals demand anticipation of passing lanes and dribble windows—clean hands without fouling.

Records often align with predictable offenses, exposed ball‑handlers, and pace dynamics—plus officiating and era context.

Modern defense emphasizes forcing bad options over gambling, so monster steal nights are rarer.

Still, elite guards/wings create turnovers with angles and footwork: strong‑side stunts that bait passes, or traps using the baseline and sideline as “third defenders.”

The record snapshots individual value but reminds us to use fuller metrics—possession value, on‑ball efficiency drops—to grade defense.