A Look at the Greatest NBA 3 Point Champions in Basketball History

As I sit here watching the NBA playoffs unfold, I can't help but reflect on how dramatically the three-point shot has transformed basketball. Having followed the league since the late 90s, I've witnessed this revolution firsthand - from when teams barely attempted 15 threes per game to today's analytics-driven era where some squads regularly launch over 40. The three-point line has become basketball's great equalizer, and the masters of this art form have fundamentally changed how the game is played at every level.

When we talk about the greatest three-point champions in NBA history, the conversation absolutely begins with Stephen Curry. What he's accomplished goes beyond mere statistics - though his numbers are staggering enough. The man has made over 3,500 three-pointers in his career, including that incredible 402 in a single season back in 2016. I remember watching that season unfold thinking I was witnessing something that would never be repeated, yet here we are years later and nobody has come close. His shooting isn't just technically perfect; there's an artistic quality to it that makes defenders look helpless. The way he creates space with his dribble and releases in the blink of an eye has forced entire defensive schemes to be redesigned around containing him.

Ray Allen deserves his flowers too, particularly for his clutch gene. That corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals might be the most important shot in NBA history, and it came from thousands of hours of repetitive practice. What many fans don't realize is that Allen maintained remarkable consistency throughout his career, shooting around 40% from deep across 18 seasons. Then there's Reggie Miller, who was doing step-back threes and talking trash before it became fashionable. His 8 points in 9 seconds against the Knicks remains one of those legendary playoff moments that gets better with every retelling.

The evolution continues with today's specialists like Klay Thompson, who holds the record for most threes in a game with 14. I was watching that night he went nuclear against the Bulls, and it felt like every shot was going in regardless of how much defense Chicago threw at him. Damian Lillard's deep range has literally expanded the court, forcing defenses to guard players as soon as they cross half-court. What fascinates me about these modern shooters is how they've turned what was once a supplementary skill into a primary weapon.

Looking at the current landscape, I'm convinced we'll see even more three-point records fall in the coming years. The game has shifted so dramatically that today's youth players grow up practicing from NBA range rather than adapting to it later. This creates a development pipeline of shooters who are comfortable from deep from their earliest basketball experiences. The three-point contest during All-Star weekend has become must-see television precisely because we appreciate the specialization required to excel at this skill.

As much as I love the long ball, I do worry sometimes that we're losing some of basketball's interior artistry. The game feels increasingly polarized between layups and threes, with the mid-range game becoming an endangered species. Still, there's no denying the excitement that comes from watching these shooting masters work their craft. They've turned basketball into a game of spatial mathematics and split-second decisions, creating a product that's both intellectually stimulating and visually spectacular. The three-point revolution shows no signs of slowing down, and I for one can't wait to see what the next generation of shooters brings to this beautiful game.