Who Has the Most 3 Pointers in NBA History?

In the history of the NBA, there have been some truly great shooters. But who has made the most 3-pointers of all time? Read on to find out!

NBA Three Pointers

When it comes to shooting threes, there are a few players that stand out above the rest. In this article, we will be discussing the top three point shooters in NBA history. These players have impressive records and have changed the game of basketball.

Three Pointers in NBA History

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional men’s basketball league in North America, composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). It is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, and is widely considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world.

The history of three-point shooting in the NBA begins in the 1979–80 season, when the newly created Boston Celtics, led by head coach Bill Fitch and guard Chris Ford, installed an offense predicated on making long-distance shots. The following season (1980–81), Ford would set an NBA record for three-pointers made in a season with 134. After several more seasons of experimentation by other teams, the three-point line was adopted by the rest of the league prior to the 1986–87 season. By comparison, during that same 1980–81 season Christopher Whitney of Golden State Warriors made only 13 three-pointers on 123 attempts (.106), while Gerald Henderson of Seattle SuperSonics shot just 8-for-61 (.131).

However, it wasn’t until the 1996–97 season that any player made more than 200 three-pointers in a season; that year, Dennis Scott of Orlando Magic set an NBA single-season record with 267 three-pointers made. Scott was one of a handful of players who specialized in long-distance shooting; among other players who attempted at least 200 threes that season were Steve Smith (Atlanta Hawks; 226), Allan Houston (Detroit Pistons; 213), Glen Rice ( Charlotte Hornets; 212) and Reggie Miller ( Indiana Pacers; 202). All five players shot above 40% on their three-point attempts that season.

Most Three Pointers in a Season

The most three-pointers in a season is 402, a record set by Stephen Curry in 2015-16. The previous record was 286, set by Damon Stoudamire in 2005-06.

Curry’s 402 three-pointers in 2015-16 are the most ever in a single season. He made them at a rate of three per game, and broke his own record for the most threes in a season.

In second place is George McCloud, who made 323 three-pointers in 1996-97. McCloud’s total is the second highest in a single season, and he made them at a rate of 2.9 per game.

Curry is also the career leader in three-pointers, with 2,485 as of the end of the 2018-19 season. He has averaged 2.8 per game over his career, and has hit at least 200 three-pointers in each of the last seven seasons.

Most Three Pointers in a Game

The most three pointers in a game is 12, a record held by Stephen Curry, Kobe Bryant, Donyell Marshall, and Damon Stoudamire.

NBA Players with the Most Three Pointers

Ray Allen is the NBA player with the most three pointers in history. As of the 2019-2020 season, Allen has made 2,973 three pointers in his NBA career. That is 400 more three pointers than the next player on the list, Reggie Miller.

Ray Allen

Ray Allen is widely regarded as one of the best shooters in NBA history. He currently holds the record for most three-pointers made in an NBA career, with 2,973. Allen played the majority of his 18-year career with the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics, before joining the Boston Celtics in 2007. He helped the Celtics win their first NBA Championship in over 20 years in 2008, and was a key player on their roster until he was traded to the Miami Heat in 2012. Allen won his second NBA Championship with the Heat in 2013. He played for the Heat until 2014, when he rejoined the Celtics for a single season. He then spent two seasons with the NBA Development League’s G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce before retiring in 2016.

Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association (NBA) career with the Indiana Pacers. Miller was known for his precision three-point shooting, especially in pressure situations and most notably against the New York Knicks, for which he earned the nickname “Knick Killer”. When he retired, he held the record for most career three-point field goals made, as well as most three-pointers made in a single season. He is currently second on both lists, behind only Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry

With 2,791 three-pointers, Golden State Warriors player Stephen Curry is the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made. Curry has played in the NBA for 11 seasons, including 10 with the Warriors. He is a six-time NBA All-Star and was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2016.

Active NBA Players with the Most Three Pointers

In the NBA, the three point shot has become increasingly popular. Many players have made a name for themselves by being able to hit the three pointer consistently. So, who are the active NBA players with the most three pointers?

Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving, drafted 1st overall in the 2011 NBA draft, is currently 6th all time in three pointers made. As of January 30th, 2020, he has made 1,825 three pointers in his career. He is currently 27 years old and playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

Klay Thompson

Klay Alexander Thompson (born February 8, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, he played college basketball for three seasons with the Washington State Cougars, where he was a two-time first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-10. He was selected in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft by Golden State with the 11th overall pick, and helped lead the Warriors to their first NBA championship in 40 years that season. In 2014–15, he and fellow backcourt partner Stephen Curry set an NBA record for combined three-pointers in a season.

Thompson is a five-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Third Team honoree. He has also been named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team twice. He holds Warrior franchise records for points in a quarter, threes in a game, and threes in a post-season game.

Damian Lillard

With 2,562 three-pointers made in his career, Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is currently sixth on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list.

Lillard is one of the best three-point shooters in the league, shooting a career 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. He also ranks seventh in NBA history in three-pointers made per game, averaging 2.9 made threes per contest.

Lillard has been especially prolific from three-point range over the last few seasons, making a combined 620 threes during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 campaigns. If he can continue making threes at a high rate, he has a good chance of eventually passing some of the legends ahead of him on the all-time list.