It may be surprising to some.
It wasn’t to Paul Millsap.
When told that he leads the NBA in steals, the Hawks’ power forward asked rhetorically “Really?” The question came with a sly smile that indicated the information was not exactly a revelation.
Through 15 games, Millsap has 35 steals, a 2.33 per-game average. He is tied at the top of the statistical standings in both categories with Wizards point guard John Wall.
Millsap did admit that leading the league in the category is a personal goal.
“It was something that I wanted to accomplish, especially from the power forward position,” Millsap said Monday after the Hawks prepared for Tuesday’s home game against the Boston Celtics. “It’s something that is going to help me on the defensive end, to stay with it and continue to be gritty out there.”
Millsap, Anthony Davis of New Orleans and Kawhi Leonard of San Antonio are the only front-court players in the Top 10 in the category.
The fact that leading the league is steals is a goal for Millsap has precedent. He finished tied for ninth last season with 129. In 2011-12, he finished third overall with 118.
“Being 6-foot-8, guarding guys a lot bigger than me in the post, I have to be good at something,” Millsap said. “One of my favorite things is trying to steal it from behind — get a hand on the ball and knock it from their hands.”
Millsap had a season-high five steals against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 5. He has had four steals in a game on three occasions, including Friday’s victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. In only one game this season has he not recorded a steal.
The current NBA steals rankings also did not come as a surprise to Millsap’s teammates. Kyle Korver, who also played with Millsap with the Utah Jazz, knew just who was at the top of the list.
“He has always been active like that,” Korver said. “He’s always been someone who gets tough rebounds, blocked shots.
“In Utah, we used to keep track of hustle stats. That was a deflection, a steal, a block, a (drawn) charge. They would keep track of it and there was a ranking on the board. Paul was always on top of it. … Even though he played less minutes back then, he was always one of those players who has had a nose for the ball and is able to stick his hands in there.”
Millsap’s success is also part of a larger team success and philosophy for the Hawks. You know it immediately when coach Mike Budenholzer screams from the sideline “Hands!” The near-constant reminder makes it clear he wants constant activity on defense.
The Hawks are tied for fifth in the NBA in steals with the Grizzlies and Heat at 8.3 per game. The 76ers lead the league at 9.9 per game.
“He wants us to be active,” Millsap said. “He doesn’t want us to be out there hacking and fouling and gambling every time, but he loves it when we are out there active, using our hands, trying to get into passing lanes.”
Notes: Budenholzer missed practice Monday with what the team termed an illness. Currently, he is expected back to coach Tuesday's home game against the Celtics. … Budenholzer was a nominee for Coach of the Month for October/November. The awards went to the Raptors' Dwane Casey and the Grizzlies' Dave Joerger. … Point guard Jeff Teague was a nominee for Player of the Week for Nov. 24-30. The awards went to the Cavaliers' LeBron James and the Clippers' Blake Griffin.
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