Who Has Made the Most All Time 3 Pointers in NBA History?

2025-10-30 01:15

When people ask me about the most transformative evolution in modern basketball, my mind immediately goes to the three-point shot. Having followed the NBA for over two decades, I've witnessed how this single arc transformed from a novelty to the very foundation of offensive strategy. The question of who has made the most all-time three-pointers in NBA history isn't just a trivia query; it's a gateway to understanding a basketball revolution. The current record is a testament to longevity, skill, and an almost prophetic understanding of where the game was headed. It’s a record that, frankly, I didn't think would be challenged so soon after Ray Allen's reign, but here we are.

The throne, as of my writing this, belongs to Stephen Curry, and it's not even close. The numbers are just staggering. He surpassed Ray Allen's previous record of 2,973 and has since pushed the ceiling to over 3,600 and counting. What's truly mind-boggling is the rate at which he did it. Allen needed 1,300 games to set his mark; Curry blew past it in around 800. That's not just breaking a record; it's redefining the very possibility of long-range shooting. I remember watching Allen, a picture of flawless mechanics and clutch timing, and thinking his record would stand for a generation. Curry, with his audacious range and lightning-quick release, made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about shooting volume and efficiency. It's the difference between a master craftsman and a revolutionary artist.

This record speaks to a fundamental shift in the game's geometry. We're no longer just talking about a shot behind the line; we're talking about a weapon that forces defenses to cover areas they never had to before. I see echoes of this even in less-publicized performances, like the one from a player I followed recently, Cruz, who dropped a season-high 27 points built on hyper-efficient 9-of-12 shooting. What caught my eye was the note about his shooting "from both the rainbow and four-point line." While the NBA doesn't have a four-point line, that phrasing perfectly captures the modern ethos: extend the range, stretch the defense to its breaking point. Cruz going a combined 4-of-5 from those imagined zones is a microcosm of the Curry effect trickling down through every level of basketball. It's not just about making threes anymore; it's about making them from deeper, more demoralizing distances.

Looking at the all-time list behind Curry is like reading a who's who of shooting legends. You have Ray Allen, the pristine technician, and then Reggie Miller, the relentless competitor who pioneered the art of the off-ball scramble. The active players climbing the ranks, like James Harden and Damian Lillard, are a different breed entirely. They combine volume with incredible self-creation, often pulling up from what we'd call "bad shots" a decade ago. As a fan of the game's strategic depth, I have a soft spot for the Kyle Korvers of the world—the pure, movement shooters who weaponize spacing without needing a single dribble. But I must admit, the sheer audacity of a Curry or Lillard heave from the logo is what truly gets me out of my seat. It's a blend of skill and confidence that borders on arrogance, and I love every bit of it.

So, where does this leave us? Stephen Curry is the undeniable king of the three-pointer, and his record might be one of the most secure in all of sports, simply because it requires a perfect storm of volume, accuracy, durability, and a system built to maximize it all. The pursuit of this record has fundamentally changed how kids practice in their driveways; they're not just stepping to the line, they're stepping back well beyond it. The story of the NBA's three-point record is no longer just about a number in a record book. It's the story of how a single player's gravitational pull can warp the entire sport around him, inspiring a generation to shoot from the "rainbow" and beyond, forever altering the beautiful geometry of the game we love.