Top Three Point Shooters: NBA has evolved many a times over the change in generations, but the most significant change came in the 1979-1980 season when 3-pointers were introduced.
Although at that time, only a handful of players were considered a threat. However as the NBA has become fierce as ever, there are no words that could describe the importance of 3-point shooting in the game.
Having said that in today’s game the 3-pointer is used more than ever and accounts for more than 35% of all shots taken in an average NBA game. Justifying the same, in this list we would take a look at the top five 3-point shooters that have embraced the court with their presence.
Top Three Point Shooters
- James Harden
A player who has made Houston Rockets reach into the NBA Finals on the shoulders of his 3-point shooting ability. James Harden’s style of play revolves around his shooting from behind the arc. Harden who is also known as ‘The Beard’ has made over 2,425 3-pointers at an average of 36.5 points per game.
Not only that James Harden has led the 3-Pointers tally in the previous 3 seasons, doing so with 265, 376 and 299 respectively. The Beard’s 6,646 attempts from downtown is the most by any active player in the NBA and lacks only behind NBA Legend Reggie Miller and Ray Allen.
- Kyle Korver
He made an accuracy rate of 43% from the 3-point line in his 17 illustrious year in the NBA. Kyle Korver has knocked 2,450 3s in only 5,715 attempts for ninth best in NBA History, while his efficiency is fifth best. He was more popularly known as ‘The Sniper’, making career-high 226 3s in the 2004-05 season.
Moreover, in terms of 3-Point efficiency, Kyle Korver led the league in four seasons, including a record 53.6% in the 2009-10 season.
- Reggie Miller
He was the premier 3-Point shooter in the NBA in 1990s before Ray Allen took his throne. Reggie Miller drained 2,560 3-Pointers in his NBA career and was also one of the most efficient clutch players having led Indiana Pacers.
Miller led the 3-Pointers made in a season on two occasions and made at least 200 3s. He had an accuracy of over 40% from the 3-Point line and his 6,484 attempts are the second most taken by a player in NBA History.
- Stephen Curry
No Elite 3-Point shooting or scoring list in the NBA is complete without Golden State Warriors’ 3-Point King, Stephen Curry. He recently became the leading scorer in franchise history overtaking Wilt Chamberlain. He has attempted only 6,150 three-pointers in his 12 year NBA career for an efficiency of 43%.
Additionally, Curry has led the NBA in 3-Pointers made in a season on five occasions. In the 2015-16 NBA season, he made 402 3sthe most in a single season in the competition’s history.
- Ray Allen
Undoubtedly the top spot goes to NBA Hall of Famer, Ray Allen who has knocked 2,974 3s in 7,429 attempts. Ray Allen shot 40% from the 3-point line. He led the NBA in 3-Pointers made in a season on three occasions and his 269 3s made in the 2005-06 NBA season were an NBA record before Stephen Curry surpassed him.
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