The Untold Story Behind the NBA’s All-Time 3-Point King Revealed!

Who would’ve imagined forty years ago that the basketball world would shift from cautiously tapping the three-point line like hesitant kids at a pool party, to a full-blown analytic frenzy where shooters are launching threes like it’s their favorite hobby? The game has been utterly transformed—gone are the days when teams barely broke a sweat firing 2.4 threes a night. Now, in the 2023-24 season, the average squad is chucking over 35 attempts per game. This seismic leap, driven by advanced offensive metrics and analytics, has not only reshaped strategies but also rewritten history, propelling six active players right into the upper echelons of three-point kings. It’s a war where the leaderboard is as dynamic as the plays themselves—so who really holds the crown for the most career three-pointers? Let’s dive into the sharpest shooters and see how analytical evolution has changed the art of the long-distance shot forever. LEARN MORE.

The analytically-driven explosion of the 3-point shot has drastically altered the all-time leaderboard in shooting from beyond the arc.

As the league increasingly values advanced offensive metrics, coaches and front offices have encouraged their players to shoot more and more 3s. In the 2023-24 season, the average team shot 35.1 3s per game compared to 2.4 per game 40 years prior in the 1983-84 season.

This staggering discrepancy is why six of the top 10 players remain active and hope to move further up the list.

Let’s take a look at the players with the most career 3-pointers made in NBA history.

* Player remains active

1. Stephen Curry – 4,058*

Curry has established himself as the undisputed greatest shooter the game has ever seen. Whether his shots are catch-and-shoot or off-the-dribble, 24 feet away or from the logo, it doesn’t matter.

Curry has made virtually every type of long-distance shot imaginable, doing so at a high percentage with a high shot volume. Curry’s style of play and unmatched shot-making ability has truly changed the game.

***Stephen Curry shoots over Utah Jazz guard Shelvin Mack in March, 2016. (AP Photo)***

2. James Harden – 3,175*

Another game-changing player, Harden utilizes his elite ball handling and driving ability to create space for a 3-pointer. Many of his 3s, especially those in clutch moments, have come by way of his signature step back which allows him to create space for his own shot.

Harden is not just capable of scoring with the 3-ball, as he’s averaged at least 29.0 points in five different seasons.

3. Ray Allen – 2,973

Before the sharpshooters of today’s game, Allen helped revolutionize the way the 3-point shot was viewed in basketball. Opposing teams were forced to create a defensive game plan often centered around Allen and his shooting ability â a relatively novel concept before Allen entered the league.

He was especially deadly from the corner of the arc, showcasing one of the purest shooting strokes of all time.

4. Damian Lillard – 2,804*

Lillard will forever be known for his clutch shooting in some of the biggest moments, including his two buzzer-beaters in closeout postseason games that sent the Portland Trail Blazers to the next round.

Another player willing to shoot from well beyond the arc, Lillard is one of the most impactful shooters in league history.

5. Klay Thompson – 2,697*

Often overshadowed since he played most of his career in a backcourt alongside Stephen Curry, Thompson is one of the best pure shooters of all time. He’s always had the ability to get hot in an instant, once scoring a league-record 37 points a single quarter.

6. Reggie Miller – 2,560

Another player known for clutch performances, Miller and his quick release became a cornerstone of a very successful Indiana Pacers team in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Miller had 10 seasons with at least a 40.0% 3-point field goal percentage, a level of efficiency rarely seen from beyond the arc with Miller’s shot volume.