Leading 3 Point Shooters in NBA History: Ranking the Greatest Sharpshooters

As I look back at the evolution of basketball, I've always been fascinated by how the three-point shot transformed from an afterthought to the most lethal weapon in modern offenses. When I first started analyzing NBA games in the early 2000s, coaches would actually bench players for taking too many threes—can you imagine that today? The journey from that conservative approach to the current era where teams regularly launch 40+ attempts per game represents one of the most dramatic shifts I've witnessed in sports strategy.

Stephen Curry stands alone at the pinnacle of this revolution, and frankly, I don't think it's particularly close. The numbers speak for themselves—he's shattered the career record with over 3,500 made threes and owns the single-season record with 402 in 2016. But what truly separates Curry isn't just the volume—it's the degree of difficulty. I've never seen anyone who can pull up from 30 feet with such consistency while defenses know exactly what's coming. His shooting percentage of 42.8% career average becomes almost unbelievable when you consider the defensive attention he commands and the absurd range he operates from. Watching him warm up before games, I've seen him routinely make 15-20 consecutive shots from beyond 30 feet—it's like watching someone play a different sport entirely.

Ray Allen's mechanical perfection represents the classical approach to shooting that paved the way for today's gunners. His 2,973 career threes stood as the record for years, and what always impressed me was his ability to deliver in clutch moments. That corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals? I still get chills thinking about it—the perfect form, the flawless release, the way the net barely moved. Allen maintained a 40% career average while often being the primary scoring option, which speaks volumes about his consistency. Reggie Miller brought a different kind of magic—the art of movement without the ball. Studying his footage, I'm still amazed at how he could run defenders through screens for entire possessions, then catch and release in the blink of an eye. His 2,560 threes came in an era where the shot wasn't nearly as emphasized, making his numbers even more impressive.

When we talk about pure shooting talent, Klay Thompson deserves special mention for his explosive capabilities. That 37-point quarter against Sacramento? I remember watching it live and thinking I was witnessing something that defied basketball logic. His 14 threes in a single game remains untouched, and his quick release is something I've tried to break down frame by frame—it's almost impossible to defend even when you know it's coming. James Harden represents the modern evolution of the three-point artist—the step-back three has become his signature, and while his efficiency fluctuates, the volume and difficulty of his attempts revolutionized how creators use the three-point line. Damian Lillard's deep threes have literally changed how defenses scheme against pick-and-rolls—teams now have to guard him from the logo, creating unprecedented spacing.

The philosophical question "Bakit natin pinapaabot du'n pa?"—why do we extend it there?—perfectly captures the evolution of shooting mentality. We've moved from questioning why players would shoot from that far to expecting them to make those shots. The three-point line has psychologically expanded, and today's shooters operate with a range that would have been considered irresponsible just a decade ago. This mental shift, combined with technical refinement, has created the most exciting offensive era in basketball history. Looking forward, I suspect we haven't seen the limits of shooting range yet—the next generation will likely make Curry's deep threes look routine, and I can't wait to see how far this evolution goes.