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The Milwaukee Bucks have built a strong reputation around their defensive prowess, with prominent figures like Giannis Antetokounmpo gaining acclaim as a Defensive Player of the Year. In the realm of steals, however, several remarkable Bucks players have cemented their legacies in the franchise’s history. Here’s a rundown of the five individuals who have achieved the highest averages of steals per game in a single season for the team.
Robertson began his career with the Spurs, playing there for the first five seasons. During his time in San Antonio, he ranked first in the league for steals per game on two occasions and earned a Defensive Player of the Year award. The Spurs traded him to the Bucks before the commencement of the 1989-90 season. In the 1990-91 season, he once again topped the NBA charts by averaging 3.0 steals per game. That year, he also contributed 13.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists, while being honored with an All-Star selection, making the All-Defensive First Team, and finishing third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
In the following season, 1991-92, Robertson maintained an impressive average of 2.6 steals per game, which marked the seventh consecutive year he achieved at least that figure, despite logging two fewer minutes on the floor compared to the previous season. This would be his last complete season with the Bucks, as he was traded to the Pistons during the 1992-93 season.
During his inaugural season with the Bucks, Robertson posted an average of 2.6 steals, alongside 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team, and he finished fifth in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. Over the course of 283 regular-season games with the Bucks, Robertson averaged 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 steals.
The Bucks selected Buckner with the seventh overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft. His 1981-82 season proved to be one of his most statistically impressive years, as he averaged 12.9 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.5 steals, marking the only time he averaged over 30 minutes of play per game in his career. His efforts earned him a place on the All-Defensive Second Team, but he was subsequently traded to the Celtics after that season.
As a first-round draft choice, Buckner played around 27 minutes per game during his rookie year. While he didn’t score extensively, averaging 8.6 points and shooting 43.4% from the field, he showcased his defensive skills with an average of 2.4 steals per game and demonstrated his playmaking ability with 4.7 assists. Buckner spent the first six years of his career with the Bucks, averaging no less than 1.9 steals in each season and being named to the All-Defensive Second Team four times. In 461 regular-season games with the franchise, his averages were 10.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.
