20. Alvin Robertson – vs. Utah Jazz, November 19, 1990
For a player who made more than his fair share of unsavory life choices both during and after his playing career, it’s difficult to question Alvin Robertson’s command of the game on the floor. Robertson stands in unique company as only one of four players to ever record a quadruple-double in the Association, but it was his ability to steal the ball that really made him different.
Robertson is the NBA’s all-time leader in terms of steals per game with 2.71 per contest (don’t forget steals weren’t recorded before 1985-86), and he had many games that showcased those abilities during his time in Milwaukee.
Perhaps, the most notable of which came during an early season clash with Karl Malone and John Stockton‘s Utah Jazz in the 1990-91 season. Del Harris’ team had gotten off to a solid 6-3 start to the campaign as the Jazz rolled into Milwaukee.
The Bucks clinched a convincing 10 point win, behind a performance that saw them force Utah into 29 steals as opposed to only 11 of their own. The driving force in that was Robertson, who along with his 16 points and nine assists, recorded the only 10 steal game in franchise history.
It may have just been a random Monday in November, but what Robertson did on that night has yet to be repeated by a Buck in the time since.
Next: 19. Larry Sanders