MIES (Switzerland) - We've reached the 10-day mark in the countdown for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. To commemorate the occasion, we highlight the top 10 "stealers" in competition history.

10. Joe INGLES

FORWARD

Birth date: 02/10/1987

Steals: 33
Games played: 19
Participations: 3 (2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 0

Of all the qualities that make Ingles a favorite of teammates and fans, it's his penchant for coming up with steals. His long arms, anticipation and his hunger have arguably made the biggest weapon on defense in the history of Australian basketball.

He had 11 steals at his first World Cup and then nine at this second. His highest tally was four years ago in China, when he 13 - which tied him with Rudy Fernandez of Spain and Omar Abada of Tunisia for second most behind Facundo Campazzo of Argentina, who had 16.

9. Sergei PANOV

POWER FORWARD

Birth date: 30/06/1970

Steals: 33
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (1994, 1998, 2002)
Medals:🥈(1994, 1998)

Though he never reached the top of the podium at the FIBA Basketball World Cup with Russia, Panov did compete in two Finals. The 2.03m (6ft 8in) tall Panov had long legs and long arms. His finest hour was in 1998, when he scored the winning basket against the USA in the Semi-Finals of the World Cup.

It was his defense that helped Russia get that far. Panov had four steals in games against Japan, hosts Greece and Canada. His 20 steals were the highest number at the event in Athens.

8. Vasili KARASEV

GUARD

Birth date: 14/04/1971

Steals: 34
Games played: 25
Participations: 3 (1994, 1998, 2002)
Medals:🥈(1994, 1998)

The Russia point guard was a defensive menace. Karasev, a 1.93m (6ft 4in) workhorse, finished tied for second with Argentina's Hugo Sconochini with 16 steals behind Karasev's teammate, Panov (20), at the 1998 World Cup, an indicator of the strength of the Sergei Belov coached team that allowed it to reach the Final.

Karasev then had 15 steals at the 2002 World Cup in Indianapolis.

7. Pablo PRIGIONI

GUARD

Birth date: 17/05/1977

Steals: 36
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (2006, 2010, 2014)
Medals: 0

Prigioni was one reason why Argentina continued to thrive, even if members of the country's golden generation weren't able to play. His point guard skills were excellent, both in terms of dribbling and passing and running the team, and also as the leader on defense. With cat-like quickness (think of a Puma), Prigioni didn't tear into his prey yet swiped the ball with regularity and helped Argentina win many big games.

His best World Cup in terms of steals was 2010, when he had 18 - tied for most in the competition with teammate, Carlos Delfino. His highest tally in a single game at that World Cup was five in a 84-82 loss to Serbia.

6. Leandro BARBOSA

GUARD

Birth date: 28/11/1982

Steals: 37
Games played: 27
Participations: 5 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 0

In the famous battle against the USA at the 2010 World Cup, The Blur helped Brazil give the Americans a huge scare by not just pouring in 14 points but also coming up with four steals. A long-serving national team star well known in the United States because of his NBA career, a steal by Barbosa usually meant points for Brazil because he was so fast that no one could catch him going the other way.

Brazil fell at the buzzer, 70-68. Barbosa had had four steals in the previous game, too, against Tunisia, and finished the event with 12. Defense was a strength, yet so was scoring. Barbosa brought a lot to the floor for Brazil.

5. Dimitris DIAMANTIDIS

GUARD

Birth date: 06/05/1980

Steals: 39
Games played: 15
Participations: 2 (2006, 2010)
Medals:🥈(2006)

Imagine if the Greece player with so much savvy, especially on defense, had played in just one more World Cup. He might be the overall leader in steals! It's quite a telling statistic and indicative of the defensive brilliance of 3D - 39 steals in just 15 games. Diamantidis played at his first World Cup in 2006, in Japan, and had five steals against the first opponents, Qatar.

Several games later he had six steals against Brazil. Diamantidis only had two against the USA in the famous 101-95 Semi-Final triumph. He finished with a whopping tournament-high 30! Four other players were tied for second with 17 apiece. Since FIBA began archiving steals stats, 30 is a record number of steals for a tournament.

4. Alex GARCIA

GUARD

Birth date: 04/03/1980

Steals: 40
Games played: 32
Participations: 5 (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 0

Long-time Brazil international Alex was a model of consistency when it came to coming up with steals at World Cups. He played in five editions, starting in 2002, and always brought a sense of urgency to the court when Brazil needed to increase the tempo of games.

Alex was a blend of speed, quickness, power and fearlessness which is why he was an automatic selection for so long.

3. Manu GINOBILI

GUARD

Birth date: 07/28/1977

Steals: 44
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (1998, 2002, 2006)
Medals:🥈(2002)

The Argentina legend made his bow at the 1998 World Cup in Greece but did not establish himself as one of international basketball's top players until the next edition in 2002, including defensively. Ginobili had more steals than any other player with 19 as Argentina made it to the Final before falling in overtime to Yugoslavia.

He had quick hands and tremendous instincts. Fueled by the disappointment of the near miss, Ginobili spearheaded Argentina's run to the gold medal two years later at the Athens Games. At the World Cup in Japan in 2006, Ginobili led the team in scoring again and was at his best on defense with 15 steals in the tournament. Argentina missed out on the podium after falling by one to Spain and then losing to USA in the Third-Place Game.

2. Ricky RUBIO

GUARD

Birth date: 21/10/1990

Steals: 50
Games played: 24
Participations: 3 (2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals:🥇(2019)

There is no end to the brilliance of Spain's Ricky Rubio, who capped his third World Cup in China four years ago in style, winning the World Cup for the first time in his career and being named MVP.

Rubio did it all, leading Spain in scoring, assists, efficiency and by also coming up with 12 steals. It was at his second World Cup in 2014 when Rubio went crazy in the steals department, coming up with a tournament-high 25! He had against Iran, seven against Serbia and five against Senegal.

1. Rudy FERNANDEZ

FORWARD

Birth date: 04/04/1985

Steals: 52
Games played: 33
Participations: 4 (2006, 2010, 2014, 2019)
Medals: 🥇(2006, 2019)

Spain's two-time World Cup winner can score, rebound and set up teammates. He can also get steals. A bunch of them! Whether he is diving at a ball being dribbled or passed, or just reaching in and knocking it away, Fernandez's steals lead to points and create momentum for his team. Throughout his career, his dedication on defense has been unrivaled in international basketball.

Fernandez led Spain with 13 at the last World Cup in China - the same number he had 13 years earlier as a 21-year-old playing at the tournament for the first time, in Japan. In the 2010 edition, Fernandez had his highest total at a World Cup with 16 steals.

If you liked this editorial piece, please make sure to check the FIBA Basketball World Cup Top 100 scorers here, the Top 50 rebounders here and the Top 20 passers here.

FIBA