The Ultimate Guide to the 3 Points NBA All Time Leaders and Records

2025-10-30 01:15

As I sit down to analyze the legendary 3-point shooting records in NBA history, I can't help but reflect on how much the game has evolved. When I first started following basketball back in the early 2000s, the three-point shot was more of a specialty weapon than the fundamental offensive tool it has become today. The transformation has been absolutely remarkable, and frankly, I believe we're witnessing the golden age of long-range shooting that future generations will look back on with awe.

Looking at the all-time leaders, the numbers themselves tell an incredible story of consistency and longevity. Stephen Curry stands alone at the summit with 3,390 career three-pointers as of the 2023-2024 season, a number that continues to grow with each game. What many casual fans might not realize is just how far ahead he is from second-place Ray Allen, who retired with 2,973. That's a gap of over 400 three-pointers, which in basketball terms is absolutely massive. Having watched both players throughout their careers, I've developed a personal theory that Curry's impact extends beyond mere numbers - his mere presence on the court stretches defenses in ways we've never seen before, creating opportunities for his teammates that simply didn't exist in previous eras.

The single-season record is another area where Curry's dominance is simply staggering. His 2015-2016 campaign where he sank 402 three-pointers remains one of those statistical anomalies that I doubt we'll see broken anytime soon. To put that in perspective, that's an average of nearly five three-pointers per game across an entire season, a pace that seems almost superhuman when you consider the defensive attention he commands every single night. What fascinates me even more than the raw numbers is the efficiency - Curry has multiple seasons shooting above 45% from deep, which for volume shooters is practically unheard of.

When we examine team records, the Houston Rockets' 2018-2019 season stands out with 1,323 three-pointers made, though I must confess I've always been more impressed by the 2016 Warriors who attempted 2,480 threes while maintaining championship-level efficiency. This brings me to an interesting parallel with the reference about roster decisions in international basketball - much like how coaches must consider player health and roster composition, NBA teams constantly balance three-point volume with quality looks. The evolution of the three-point shot has fundamentally changed how teams construct their rosters, prioritizing spacing and shooting in ways that would have seemed radical just a decade ago.

Records in other three-point categories reveal equally fascinating stories. Klay Thompson's 14 three-pointers in a single game against Chicago in 2018 remains one of those magical performances that those of us who saw it live will never forget. The Cavaliers' 25 three-pointers in a single game showcases what modern team shooting can accomplish at its absolute peak. These numbers aren't just statistics - they represent moments of basketball history that continue to shape how the game is played today.

As I consider the future of three-point shooting, I'm convinced we haven't seen the ceiling yet. Young players entering the league now have been practicing three-pointers since middle school, and the fundamental understanding of spacing and shot selection continues to evolve. The records we consider untouchable today might well fall to the next generation of shooters who will push the boundaries even further. The three-point revolution has permanently altered basketball's DNA, and honestly, I couldn't be more excited to see where it goes next.