NBA all-time steals list -- Chris Paul moves into fourth place

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul continues to ascend the NBA all-time steals list, moving into fourth place after notching three steals Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies. He surpassed former point guard and Basketball Hall of Famer Gary Payton.

Since being drafted in 2005, Paul has had a knack for taking the ball away. He's averaged two or more steals per game in 10 of his 17 years in the NBA. He's also led the league in steals six times in his career. His exceptional defense and offensive prowess have been vital to the Suns' success this year as they have the top seed in the Western Conference.

Now that Paul is fourth on the all-time steals list, how far away is he from becoming No. 1? He might have to pick up the pace if he hopes to be first on that list before he retires.

Here's an updated list of the NBA's all-time steals list:

Steals: 3,265

The Utah Jazz teams of the 1990s were led by the dynamic duo of Stockton and Karl Malone. Stockton, a 6-foot-1 point guard, knew how to take the ball away from the opposition.

His 3,265 steals are the most in league history by a wide margin — over 500 more than the next player on this list. In addition, he was the league's steals champion in 1988-89, averaging 3.2 per game, one of seven players to average more than three steals in a season, per StatMuse. Stockton ranked No.1 in steals again in 1991-92 and was selected to the NBA All-Defensive second-team five times in his career.

Steals: 2,684

He's roaming the sidelines as the Dallas Mavericks head coach nowadays, but Kidd was looking for steals on the hardwood when he played from 1994 to 2013. He was especially skilled early in his career, where he averaged two or more steals a game from 1995 to 2003. Kidd was a four-time