Who Has Made the Most All Time 3 Pointers in NBA History?

As I was watching last night's game highlights, I saw Stephen Cruz drain yet another three-pointer with that smooth, effortless release of his, and it got me thinking about the absolute legends who have defined long-range shooting in the NBA. Having followed basketball religiously since the late 90s, I've witnessed the three-point shot evolve from a strategic weapon to the centerpiece of modern offenses. That rainbow shot Cruz made—reminded me of how far we've come since the early days when players like Dale Ellis and Reggie Miller were considered revolutionary for even attempting multiple threes per game.

The conversation about the greatest three-point shooter inevitably starts and ends with Stephen Curry, and frankly, I don't think it's particularly close. With over 3,500 career threes and counting, Curry hasn't just broken records—he's completely rewritten what we consider possible from beyond the arc. I remember watching his 402-three season in 2016 and thinking nobody would ever touch that number, yet here we are years later, and he's still averaging around five per game. What makes Curry special isn't just the volume; it's the degree of difficulty. He'll pull up from what we used to call "bad shots" with such consistency that they've become high-percentage looks in his hands. Ray Allen, who held the record before him, was magnificent in his own right—I'll never forget that corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals—but Curry's impact transcends even Allen's incredible 2,973 career threes.

What's fascinating to me is how the game has transformed around these shooters. When I first started watching basketball seriously, teams averaged maybe 15-18 three-point attempts per game. Now we see teams like the Rockets under Mike D'Antoni regularly launching 45-plus. This evolution makes current players' numbers even more impressive when you consider the context. Reggie Miller's 2,560 threes seemed untouchable at the time, achieved in an era where the three-pointer was often a secondary option rather than the primary weapon it is today.

Looking at Cruz's recent performance—that season-high 27 points built on 9-of-12 shooting including a combined 4-of-5 from both the rainbow and four-point line respectively—it's clear we're witnessing the next generation of shooters who grew up watching Curry redefine shooting ranges. The "rainbow" reference particularly stood out to me because it speaks to how deep these players are comfortable shooting now. When I played college ball, we were taught anything beyond NBA range was irresponsible—today's players treat those shots as viable options.

The supporting cast in the all-time three-point conversation includes some incredible specialists who deserve more recognition. Kyle Korver's shooting mechanics were so pure I used to show clips of his form to young players I coached. His 2,450 threes came with a level of efficiency that's often overlooked—multiple seasons above 49% from deep, which is just absurd when you think about it. Then there's James Harden, whose step-back three has become as iconic as Kareem's skyhook in its own way. While his efficiency numbers might not match Korver's, the volume and difficulty of his contested threes are remarkable.

What often gets lost in these statistical discussions is the mental aspect of shooting. Having worked with developing shooters, I can tell you that the confidence to take—and make—these shots under pressure separates the good shooters from the historic ones. When Curry misses five in a row, he'll still take the sixth without hesitation. That psychological edge is something numbers can't fully capture but is evident in all the greats on this list.

As we look to the future, I'm convinced we'll see these records continue to fall. The game has shifted so dramatically toward perimeter shooting that today's teenagers are practicing 30-footers as routine shots. While Curry will likely hold the top spot for years to come, the next generation—players like Luka Dončić and Trae Young—are already building cases for themselves. The evolution isn't slowing down either; if anything, we might see the four-point line become standardized within the next decade, which would completely reset these conversations. For now though, watching artists like Curry and Cruz work from deep remains one of basketball's purest pleasures—a blend of skill, confidence, and innovation that continues to push the game forward.