Steals statistical question.

[KingSpeed]

I have a question about the way steals are recorded. If Will Barton deflects a pass and Meyers Leonard grabs the ball, who gets credit for the steal? TIA!

 

[Haakzilla]

...wiki's got this one:

In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called.

Steals are not credited if the defensive player merely picks up a loose ball in his vicinity or when an errant pass goes directly to him. Steals are credited to the player who first causes the turnover, not the player who eventually gains possession. Whenever a steal is recorded for a defensive player, an offensive player must be credited as making a turnover.

--> READ MORE

 

[Mediocre Man]

I have a question about the way steals are recorded. If Will Barton deflects a pass and Meyers Leonard grabs the ball, who gets credit for the steal? TIA!

It's always the player who causes the turnover.

 

[KingSpeed]

Thank you.

 

[BBert]

I will chirp in to say that while the rule may be clearly stated, the person keeping the stats is the one who is going to decide when to award a steal and who to give it to. For example, the part about it's not a steal if the opponent just hands you the ball or you pick up an errant pass. I have heard in the past that home cooking often prevails. I thought there was one famous story about a Clippers game where the score keeper awarded a ridiculous number of assists? Anybody?

 

[BBert]

I would add that I have often had the same question while watching games. It seems like more often than not, player A deflects the ball to player B, but the announcer invariably says that player B 'stole the ball'. This has always puzzled me, since I think the steal should go to the player who deflected it.