Who Scored the Most Threes in NBA History?

Michael Jordan is the king of the three-pointer. He has the most threes in NBA history.

NBA Threes Leaders

The NBA three-point shot has only been around since the 1979-80 season, but it has already had a profound impact on the game. In the early days of the three-point shot, only a handful of players attempted more than a hundred threes in a season. Now, it’s not uncommon for players to attempt over a thousand threes in a single season. Let’s take a look at the players who have attempted the most threes in NBA history.

All-Time Three-Point Leaders

The all-time leader in three-pointers made is NBA legend Ray Allen, who helped pioneer the league’s modern embrace of the long ball. Allen made 2,973 treys over the course of his 18-year career, which spanned stops with the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.

Reigning MVP Stephen Curry is currently second on the all-time list, and he’s still very much in his prime at age 30. Curry has already racked up 2,279 three-pointers, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Barring injury, it’s only a matter of time before he passes Allen for the top spot on this list.

Rounding out the top five are Reggie Miller (2nd; 2,560 threes), Jason Terry (3rd; 2,286 threes) and Kyle Korver (4th; 2,209 threes). All four players are still active as of 2019, which speaks to the increasing importance of the three-point shot in today’s NBA.

Most Three-Pointers in a Single Season

The most three-pointers in a single season is held by Stephen Curry, who made 402 three-pointers during the 2015-2016 NBA season. The previous record was held by Kyle Korver, who made 266 three-pointers during the 2009-2010 season.

Three-Point Shooters

In the NBA, a three-point field goal is worth more points than a two-point field goal. Three-point shooters are a valuable asset to any team because they can spread the floor and open up the offense. There have been many great three-point shooters in NBA history, but only a few have been able to consistently knock down threes.

The Best Three-Point Shooters of All Time

In the history of the NBA, there have been some incredible three-point shooters. From Steph Curry to Reggie Miller, these players have thrilled fans with their long-range shooting ability.

But who are the best three-point shooters of all time? Let’s take a look at the top five:

1. Steph Curry

There’s no doubt that Steph Curry is one of the best three-point shooters of all time. In fact, he’s currently the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (2,495). Curry has an incredible shooting percentage of 43.5% from beyond the arc, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.

2. Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller is another player who was simply born to shoot threes. He retired from the NBA in 2005 as the league’s all-time leader in three-pointers made (2,560). While his career three-point percentage wasn’t quite as high as Curry’s (39.5%), there’s no denying that Miller was one of the best long-range shooters in NBA history.

3. Ray Allen

Ray Allen is another player who was lethal from beyond the arc. He retired in 2014 with 2,973 career three-pointers, which is good for second place on the NBA’s all-time list (behind only Curry). Allen was also an excellent free throw shooter, finishing his career with a 90.4% accuracy rate from the charity stripe.

4. Kyle Korver

Kyle Korver is currently fourth on the NBA’s all-time list for three-pointers made (2,351). He’s also one of only six players in league history to shoot 50% or better from beyond the arc for an entire season (2012/13). Korver is currently still active and playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, so he could potentially move up this list even further before he retires.

5. Jason Terry

Jason Terry rounds out our top five with 2,287 career three-pointers made. Terry was known for his long range shooting during his time in the NBA, and he even won a Three Point Shootout contest back in 2005. He also hit some big shots during his time with the Dallas Mavericks, including a game-winning shot in Game 5 of their first round playoff series against the San Antonio Spurs back in 2009.

The Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History

There are many great three-point shooters in NBA history, but there are only a handful who truly stand out above the rest. Here are the greatest three-point shooters in NBA history, based on their career three-point percentage.

1. Steve Novak (43.4%)
2. Kyle Korver (42.9%)
3. Steve Kerr (42.3%)
4. Dirk Nowitzki (41.6%)
5. Reggie Miller (39.5%)

Three-Point Shooting

Threes have been a big part of the game since they were first introduced in the 1979-80 season. They’ve changed the way the game is played and have become a staple in today’s game. But who has scored the most threes in NBA history?

The Science of Three-Point Shooting

A three-point field goal (3PFG) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two points awarded for shots made within the three-point line and the one point for each made free throw.

Since its introduction in the NBA for the 1979–80 season, the three-point shot has become a pivotal part of the game. Starbucks credited former president Barack Obama’s election as one of several reasons why business was “booming” in 2008; they said people were coming in to celebrate his election, as well as buying more coffee to keep them awake during late nights watching election results. In 2010, Forbes called it “one of the most valuable properties in sports”.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has used the three-point shot extensively since the league’s inception in 1946. Pegues estimates that about two percent of all shots taken in an average NBA game are three-pointers.

In 2008–09, NBA players averaged 2.9 attempts from behind the arc per game, which increased to 3.2 attempts per game in 2009–10 and dipped slightly to 3.1 attempts per game during the 2010–11 season; these year-to-year increases and decreases may be partially explained by rule changes regarding Zone defense that were introduced prior to each of those seasons. Steve Kerr is credited with revolutionizing offensive play in basketball by frequently using The Triangle Offense which created opportunities to take wide open three point shots.

Kerr retired from playing professional basketball after winning five NBA championships with three different teams, but he continued his coaching career; he won another NBA championship as head coach of the Golden State Warriors in 2015. That year, Stephen Curry set an NBA record with 272 threes made during the regular season en route to being named that season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP); he broke his own single-season record with 402 threes made during 2015–16 en route to winning MVP honors again. Other notable performers include Ray Allen (second all time with 2,973 three pointers made), Reggie Miller (second all time with 2,560), Jason Terry (sixth all time with 2,242) and Kobe Bryant (eighth all time with 2161).

The Art of Three-Point Shooting

Three-point shooting has become an increasingly important part of basketball over the past few decades. Many of the game’s greatest players have made a name for themselves by sinking threes from all over the court.

But who are the best three-point shooters in NBA history? Here are the top five:

1. Ray Allen
Ray Allen is widely considered to be the best three-point shooter of all time. He holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a career, and he’s also the league’s all-time leader in three-point percentage. Allen was a key member of both the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, winning two NBA championships with each team.

2. Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller is second on the list of all-time three-point shooters. He played his entire 18-year career with the Indiana Pacers, and he remains the franchise’s leader in points scored. Miller was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

3. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is currently one of the best players in the NBA, and he’s also one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time. Curry has broken numerous league records for three-pointers, and he was named MVP of the league in 2015 and 2016. He currently plays for the Golden State Warriors.

4. Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver is fourth on the list of all-time three-point shooters. He’s played for several teams during his 16-year NBA career, but he’s best known for his time with the Atlanta Hawks. Korver is a four-time All-Star and he was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2015.

5. Steve Nash
Steve Nash rounds out the top five on this list. He played 18 seasons in the NBA and won two MVP awards during his time with the Phoenix Suns. Nash was also a nine-time All-Star and he was named to eight All-NBA teams throughout his career