Who are the 10 best 3-point shooters in NBA history?

As soon as seen as a uncommon expertise, 3-point taking pictures has virtually grow to be a should if you wish to play within the NBA.

During the last decade, 3-point taking pictures has exploded within the NBA. Most groups have lineups they generally use through which every participant is a risk from past the arc, regardless of the scale or place. 

However solely a choose few are ok annually to take part within the NBA’s 3-Level Contest at All-Star Weekend. One of many sport’s all-time nice 3-point shooters might make historical past within the 2025 3-Level Contest, with Damian Lillard attempting to grow to be the second participant to ever win the competitors three years in a row.

As Lillard seeks to three-peat within the Bay Space on Saturday, let’s check out the ten finest 3-point shooters in NBA historical past.

10 finest 3-point shooters in NBA historical past

10. Peja Stojakovic

Stojakovic discovered a task for himself on the Sacramento Kings groups of the late Nineteen Nineties/early 2000s resulting from his 3-point taking pictures, serving to area the ground for Chris Webber, Mike Bibby, Vlade Divac and others. He ultimately turned their second-leading scorer once they made the Western Convention finals in 2002 due to his effectivity from deep.

Whereas the Kings slowly light following that run, Stojakovic continued to develop as a participant — he ranked within the high 10 in 3-pointers made every season from 2002-03 to 2004-05. As he led the league in 3-pointers made in 2003-04, Stojakovic even completed fourth in MVP voting. Over that run, he received the 3-Level Contest twice (2002, 2003), making him considered one of eight gamers to win the competitors on a number of events. 

Stojakovic bounced round after the Kings traded him in 2006, however his long-distance sport remained an asset by his ultimate season. He completed twelfth within the league in 3-point taking pictures in 2010-11 earlier than profitable a championship with the Dallas Mavericks that postseason. 

On the time of his retirement, Stojakovic was fourth all-time in 3-pointers made. As of February 2025, he is thirty second on the listing, making him one of many gamers who might’ve benefited by being born just a bit bit later.  

9. Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki is likely to be the best taking pictures large man of all time. No energy ahead or middle has made extra 3-pointers than he has; with 1,982 made 3-pointers in his profession, he has 300 greater than second place as of February 2025. His profession 3-point share (38%) can be among the many finest ever for an influence ahead/middle.

Nowitzki’s deep taking pictures means made him one of many NBA’s high gamers within the 2000s and 2010s. The 14-time All-Star turned the fifth participant to hitch the 50-40-90 membership within the 2006-07 season when he made 42% of his 3-pointers en path to profitable MVP that yr.

Nowitzkii took his long-range taking pictures to a different degree through the 2011 playoffs. He made 46% of his 3-pointers that postseason, serving to the Mavericks take house a title.

On high of all of that, Nowitzki received the 3-Level Contest in 2006, changing into the primary large man to perform that feat. 

8. Damian Lillard

Lillard has been one of many NBA’s finest 3-point shooters for the reason that second he was drafted in 2012. He completed within the high eight in 3-pointers made in every of his first 9 seasons within the league, making at the very least 36% of his 3-pointers in eight of these seasons. Lillard is fourth on the all-time 3-pointers made listing and is tied for second in 3-pointers made per sport.

The largest photographs of Lillard’s profession additionally got here from deep. He eradicated the Houston Rockets from the primary spherical of the 2014 playoffs when he drained a 3-pointer on the buzzer in Sport 6. He did one thing comparable 5 years later, hitting a 37-foot 3-pointer on the buzzer over Paul George because the Portland Trail Blazers knocked out the Oklahoma City Thunder within the first spherical of the 2019 playoffs.

Lillard’s 3-point prowess led to him changing into one of many league’s high scorers within the final decade, ending within the high 10 in scoring on seven events. He additionally received the 3-Level Contest twice, incomes the title in two straight seasons (2023, 2024). 

7. JJ Redick

Earlier than he was the pinnacle coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Redick made a reputation for himself as a prolific 3-point shooter. There have not been as many gamers in NBA historical past who’ve the amount of makes and effectivity that Redick’s had from past the arc. His 1,950 3-pointers made have been the Fifteenth-most in NBA historical past on the time of his retirement in 2021, and his profession 41.5% 3-point share continues to be the 18th-best mark of all time. Of the 50 gamers who’ve made essentially the most 3-pointers in NBA historical past, Redick’s 3-point share is the fourth-highest.

Redick seemingly obtained higher from deep as he aged, too. He ranked within the high 5 in 3-point share on 4 events between the 2014-20 seasons, main the league in 3-point share in 2015-16 (47.5%). He is one of many few gamers on this listing who by no means received a 3-Level Contest, but it surely’s clear he did not want to take action to show his standing as among the finest 3-point shooters ever. 

6. Kyle Korver

In an analogous vein to Redick, Korver additionally carved a task for himself as among the finest 3-point shooters ever. He was only a smidgen higher than Redick.

Korver persistently ranked among the many high 3-point shooters when it comes to share, main the league in that stat 4 instances and ending within the high 10 eight instances. His 53.6% 3-point taking pictures in 2009-10 is one of the best single-season mark in NBA historical past.

The swingman made all of these 3-pointers at a excessive quantity, too. His 2,450 3-pointers made are the eighth-most in NBA historical past as of February 2025. Of the 50 gamers who’ve made essentially the most 3-pointers in NBA historical past, Korver’s 42.9 3-point share is the best. That mark can be the Tenth-best in NBA historical past.

Korver was named an All-Star simply as soon as, which got here in his 2014-15 season with the Atlanta Hawks. However many regard him as one of many high bench gamers in latest NBA historical past resulting from his means to make 3-pointers seemingly each time he needed. 

5. James Harden

Lots of people affiliate Harden’s sport together with his means to get to the free-throw line. However he is been in a position to create defensive consideration that causes quite a lot of fouls resulting from his 3-point taking pictures. His signature stepback 3-pointer is without doubt one of the most well-known strikes in latest NBA reminiscence.

Harden ranked within the high 5 in 3-pointers made in six straight seasons (2014-20) and led the league in 3-pointers made within the ultimate three seasons of that stretch.

As Harden ranks second in all-time 3-pointers made as of February 2025, he is achieved it with good effectivity. He solely shot beneath 35% from deep 3 times over the primary 15 years of his profession. He is additionally sixth all-time in 3-pointers made per sport. 

Harden, among the finest gamers of his technology, was named the MVP in 2018 and likewise received Sixth Man of the Yr six years prior. 

4. Klay Thompson

we needed to have each of the Splash Brothers excessive up on our all-time 3-point shooter rankings.

Thompson is likely to be one of the best catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter in NBA historical past, recording a 60-point sport in 2016 when he took simply 11 dribbles and made 8-of-14 3-pointers.

That is clearly an excessive case of Thompson displaying his elite 3-point effectivity, but it surely is not onerous to seek out many different examples of him making numerous 3-pointers with out many misses. He holds the single-game NBA document for 3-pointers made, hitting 14 3-pointers on 24 makes an attempt in a sport in 2018.

As well as, his 2,622 3-pointers are the fifth-most in NBA historical past, and he is additionally tied for the second-most 3-pointers made per sport as of February 2025. His 41.2 profession 3-point taking pictures share is the Twentieth-best mark ever, but it surely’s additionally the fifth-best mark among the many 50 gamers who’ve made essentially the most 3-pointers.

Thompson’s 3-point taking pictures was important to the Warriors‘ dynasty success from 2014-22, serving to Golden State win 4 titles over that span. He additionally received the 3-Level Contest in 2016. 

3. Reggie Miller

Miller was arguably the primary all-time nice 3-point shooter within the NBA. With the arc being launched not lengthy earlier than he entered the league, Miller used the 3-point shot to his benefit when the sport turned extra defensive-oriented within the Nineteen Nineties. He was within the high 10 in 3-pointers made in every of his first 15 seasons, main the league in 3-pointers made twice. 

Whereas his profession 39.5% 3-point share is the 69th-best mark in NBA historical past, Miller completed within the high 10 in 3-point share 5 instances in his profession.

Miller performed within the NBA for 18 seasons, all with the Indiana Pacers. Along with his longevity and effectivity, it is no shock that his 2,560 profession 3-pointers made have been essentially the most in NBA historical past when he retired in 2005. He held that mark for six seasons and nonetheless sits sixth in all-time 3-pointers made as of February 2025, regardless of the latest 3-point explosion within the league.

2. Ray Allen

Allen supplanted Miller because the NBA’s all-time chief in 3-pointers made in 2011, and his shot traveled with him to every of the 4 groups he performed with in his NBA profession.

The Corridor of Famer completed within the high 10 in 3-pointers made in a season 10 instances over his profession, main the league in 3-point makes thrice. He even had a pair of top-five finishes when he was with the Boston Celtics as his touches dropped. 

His 40% profession 3-point share is simply the Forty seventh-best mark in NBA historical past, however he had 4 seasons when he completed within the high 10 in 3-point taking pictures share.

Whilst Allen obtained late into his profession, he remained a powerful 3-point shooter. He shot above 40% from deep in three of his ultimate 4 seasons. After all, his most memorable shot was additionally a 3-pointer, hitting a stepback 3-pointer to maintain the Miami Heat alive within the 2013 Finals. 

1. Steph Curry

Did you assume anybody else could be at No. 1?

Curry has been seen as one of the best 3-point shooter in NBA historical past by most followers and analysts since his MVP seasons within the mid-2010s. However he formally etched himself as the highest 3-point shooter in NBA historical past when he surpassed Allen’s mark for essentially the most 3-pointers made in 2022.

Nonetheless, there was virtually zero doubt over Curry’s standing earlier than that. He revolutionized the sport together with his 3-point taking pictures, main the league in makes in 5 straight seasons (2012-17). He additionally led the league in 3-point makes three extra instances after that. 

Curry has by no means led the league in 3-point taking pictures share, however he is completed within the high 10 in 9 seasons. As of Feb. 12, Curry’s profession 3-point share (42.4) is the Thirteenth-best mark in NBA historical past and the third-best mark among the many 50 gamers with essentially the most 3-pointers made in NBA historical past.

So, in nearly each 3-point stat out there, Curry both leads the listing or is someplace close to the highest of it. His 3-point taking pictures has made him one of many sport’s all-time biggest gamers, profitable two MVPs and 4 titles to date in his profession. 

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