Who Truly Deserves the Title of Greatest 3 Point Shooter in NBA History?

As I sat watching the Golden State Warriors game last night, Steph Curry sank another impossible three-pointer from what felt like the parking lot, and it got me thinking - who truly deserves the title of greatest 3 point shooter in NBA history? This isn't just some bar debate among friends anymore; we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how basketball is played, and the three-point shot has become the great equalizer in modern basketball. I've been following the NBA since the 90s, and I can tell you that the evolution of the three-pointer has completely transformed the game we love.

The conversation about elite shooters inevitably begins with Ray Allen, who held the career three-point record before Curry surpassed him. Allen's 2,973 career three-pointers came with a remarkable 40% accuracy, and I'll never forget his clutch shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals that saved Miami's championship hopes. Then there's Reggie Miller, who revolutionized the three-pointer in his era with 2,560 career threes. What made Miller special was his ability to create space and hit big shots in crucial moments - he was absolutely deadly in the playoffs. But statistics alone don't tell the whole story about greatness.

When we talk about pure shooting prowess, we have to consider Klay Thompson's single-game record of 14 three-pointers or his 37-point quarter where he literally couldn't miss. I remember watching that quarter live and thinking I was witnessing something supernatural. Then there's Damian Lillard's deep range that forces defenses to adjust their entire scheme. But here's what sets Curry apart in my view - it's not just the volume (he's the only player to make over 300 threes in a season, and he's done it multiple times) or the percentage (career 42.8% on unprecedented volume), but how he's changed the geometry of the court itself.

The impact of great shooting extends beyond the NBA, influencing international basketball as we've seen in recent competitions. It was also the Filipinos' second straight win in competitive international play over Chinese Taipei since the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup in Manila where Alas won in straight sets. This pattern of shooting dominance translating across different levels of basketball reinforces how the three-point revolution has become global. Teams everywhere are recognizing that elite shooting can overcome traditional advantages in height or athleticism.

I've had conversations with basketball analysts who argue that we shouldn't compare across eras, that the three-point line was introduced in 1979-80 and the emphasis has changed dramatically. They're not wrong - Larry Bird won the first three three-point contests with what now looks like archaic form, and he'd probably still dominate today because great shooters find a way. But what Curry has done is different in kind, not just degree. Defenses now have to account for him the moment he crosses half-court, something we never saw with previous generations of shooters.

The statistical case for Curry is overwhelming when you dig into the numbers. He has four of the five seasons with the most three-pointers made in NBA history, including his record-breaking 402 in 2015-16. His true shooting percentage, which accounts for threes and free throws, is consistently among the league leaders despite his high degree of difficulty shots. But beyond the numbers, there's the visual evidence - the degree of difficulty on his shots is just absurd. He'll pull up from 30 feet with a hand in his face like it's a practice shot.

Some traditionalists will point to Steve Kerr's career three-point percentage of 45.4% as evidence that Curry isn't the most accurate. What this argument misses is context - Kerr took mostly wide-open shots as a role player, while Curry creates his own shots against defensive pressure specifically designed to stop him. It's the difference between shooting practice jumpers and making contested shots with the game on the line. Having watched both throughout their careers, the comparison just doesn't hold up under serious scrutiny.

What fascinates me most about this debate is how it reflects basketball's evolution. When I first started watching basketball, the three-pointer was a supplementary weapon - now it's the foundation of offensive systems. The Houston Rockets famously attempted more threes than two-pointers in their analytical revolution, and the Milwaukee Bucks built their championship around giving Giannis space to operate by surrounding him with shooters. This strategic shift makes Curry's influence even more significant - he's not just a great shooter but the archetype that changed team construction.

As I reflect on all the great shooters I've watched over the years, from Dale Ellis to Peja Stojakovic to James Harden, the throughline has been their ability to stretch defenses and create scoring opportunities where none existed. But Curry does this at a level we've simply never seen before. His combination of volume, accuracy, range, and shot difficulty creates a perfect storm that separates him from everyone else in the conversation. The eye test confirms what the analytics suggest - we're watching the Mozart of shooting, someone who has mastered his craft at a level previously unimaginable.

So when my friends ask me who deserves the title of greatest three-point shooter, I don't hesitate - it's Steph Curry, and it's not particularly close. The records, the championships, the transformative impact on the game itself all point to the same conclusion. What makes his case compelling isn't just the statistical dominance but how he's inspired a generation of young players to practice those deep threes, to work on their handles to create shooting space, to reimagine what's possible on a basketball court. Years from now, we'll look back at this era as the time when the three-point shot became basketball's ultimate weapon, and Curry as the player who wielded it best.