Leading 3 Point Shooters in NBA History: The Greatest Long-Range Scorers Revealed

I still remember the first time I witnessed Stephen Curry's shooting prowess during the 2015 NBA Finals - it felt like watching basketball evolution in real time. Having followed the league for over two decades, I've seen shooting transform from a supplementary skill to the game's primary weapon, and this evolution fascinates me both as a basketball enthusiast and someone who studies sports analytics. The three-point revolution didn't happen overnight, but when you look at the numbers, the trajectory becomes undeniable. Back in the 1979-80 season when the three-point line was introduced, teams averaged just 2.8 attempts per game - compare that to today's game where some teams launch over 40 threes nightly, and you begin to understand how fundamentally the game has changed.

What makes a truly great shooter isn't just about having a quick release or unlimited range, though those certainly help. In my analysis, the greatest shooters combine technical perfection with what I'd call "shot courage" - the willingness to take and make crucial shots regardless of game situation. Watching Ray Allen's iconic corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals exemplifies this perfectly. The degree of difficulty on that shot still gives me chills - coming off a screen, catching while moving away from the basket, with the season literally hanging in the balance. That's what separates good shooters from legendary ones. Allen finished his career with 2,973 made three-pointers, but that single shot might be his most memorable.

When we talk about pure shooting artistry, Steph Curry stands in a category of his own. I've charted his shots for years, and what amazes me isn't just his accuracy but his shot diversity. He can hit threes off the dribble, coming around screens, step-backs, pull-ups from near half-court - there's literally no bad three-point attempt for him. His 2015-16 season remains, in my opinion, the greatest shooting performance in basketball history. Making 402 threes while shooting 45.4% from deep defied all conventional wisdom about shot difficulty and efficiency trade-offs. The man essentially broke basketball analytics for a season, taking shots that would get most players benched yet making them at an elite percentage.

The conversation about great shooters inevitably leads to Klay Thompson, Curry's "Splash Brother" partner. What I find remarkable about Thompson is how he embodies shooting efficiency in its purest form. Unlike Curry who creates much of his offense, Thompson's game is about perpetual motion and lightning-quick releases. His 37-point quarter against Sacramento in 2015 represents shooting perfection - 13 shots, 13 makes, 9 threes - it's the kind of performance that even video game developers would consider unrealistic. Thompson holds the record for most threes in a playoff game with 11, and having watched that game live, I can attest that every single one felt inevitable once the ball left his hands.

Modern analytics have dramatically changed how we evaluate shooters today compared to even a decade ago. We now consider factors like shot contest percentage, dribbles per touch, and points per possession that simply weren't part of the conversation when Reggie Miller was revolutionizing the shooting guard position. Miller's 2,560 career threes stood as the record for years, but what impressed me most was his clutch performance. The Madison Square Garden choke gesture game in 1994 remains one of my favorite basketball memories - that's the kind of moment that defines a shooter's legacy beyond mere statistics.

The international influence on three-point shooting cannot be overlooked either. Watching Dirk Nowitzki revolutionize the power forward position with his shooting demonstrated how the game was evolving globally. His one-legged fadeaway wasn't technically a three-pointer, but it stretched defenses in similar ways and opened the door for today's stretch bigs. The way the game has embraced the three-point shot reminds me of that quote from Philippine basketball coach Chot Santos: "Patibayan na lang kung sino mas gusto, kasi lahat naman eh, yung mga teams na nandyan, lalaban yan since ito na yung totoong bakbakan." Roughly translated, it's about which team wants it more because everyone will fight since this is where the real battle happens. That philosophy perfectly captures today's three-point era - every team knows the importance of the long ball, and the real battle comes down to execution and mental toughness when it matters most.

Looking at today's emerging stars like Damian Lillard and Trae Young, we're seeing the next evolution of long-range scoring. Lillard's series-winning 37-foot buzzer-beater against Oklahoma City in 2019 wasn't just a great shot - it was a statement about how shooting ranges have expanded beyond what we previously thought possible. I've had arguments with traditionalists who claim today's game relies too heavily on the three-pointer, but to me, that's like criticizing musicians for using too many notes - it's not about quantity but how you use them. The artistry in Stephen Curry's deep threes or James Harden's step-backs represents basketball innovation at its finest.

As the game continues to evolve, I'm convinced we haven't seen the ceiling for three-point shooting yet. The next generation of players growing up watching Curry and Thompson will likely push the boundaries even further. We might see the first 50% three-point shooter on high volume, or someone who consistently makes shots from beyond 30 feet. What makes this era so exciting for someone like me who's been watching basketball since the 90s is that we're witnessing the game transform in real time. The three-point line has become the great equalizer, the strategic fulcrum around which modern offenses revolve, and the stage where basketball's most exciting scorers create their lasting legacies.