Top 10 Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History

Reggie Miller held the all-time three-pointers made record from 2003 to 2011 (2,560 threes), playing 18 seasons with the Indiana Pacers in an era when the three was still a specialty shot. His career 39.5% from deep is 2.1% higher than the league average during his tenure, and he shot 39.9% from three in the playoffs on increased attempts. Miller's clutch legend was sealed on May 7, 1995, when he scored 8 points in 8.9 seconds against the Knicks—including two three-pointers—producing the most dramatic clutch shooting performance in Pacers history. This moment, amplified by Spike Lee's front-row taunting, created some of the NBA's most iconic theater.

Larry Bird remains the only player in NBA history to win three consecutive Three-Point Contests (1986, 1987, 1988), a feat that required hitting 25-of-50 total shots across those finals. His career three-point percentage of 37.6% on 1.9 attempts per game, however, underscores that shooting was a complement to his total game rather than a primary weapon. Bird's 1986 Shootout win, where he held his follow-through before the ball dropped and extended one finger to predict victory, remains basketball's most arrogant and celebrated moment in shooting history. His 23.5 points per game across a 13-season career further illustrate how threes enriched an already lethal offensive arsenal.

Dirk Nowitzki revolutionized the power forward position by shooting 38.0% from three on 3.4 attempts per game at 7 feet tall — a combination never before witnessed. His 1,982 career three-pointers rank 18th all-time and are complemented by a one-legged fade-away three over the left shoulder that became virtually unguardable. Nowitzki's 2011 playoff run illustrates his historic value: he averaged 27.7 points per game and shot 46.2% from three while dismantling the Lakers (swept), Thunder (4-1), and Heat (4-2) en route to the championship. His 31,560 career points further prove that three-point accuracy can define a unique offensive legacy.

Damian Lillard's 2,400+ career three-pointers at 36.9% accuracy underpin a shooting legacy defined by logo threes in elimination games. His 37-foot buzzer-beater over Paul George to eliminate Oklahoma City in 2019 (Game 5 of the first round) is the longest game-winning shot in playoff history. Dame Time is a cultural phenomenon, as he converts 41% of shots from 30+ feet, double the league average from that distance. His career 18.5 field goal attempts per game show that logo threes are a core weapon rather than a desperate heave.

Kevin Durant's 38.3% three-point shooting at 6-foot-11 is the highest percentage among non-specialist wings taking at least 2,000 career threes, a threshold he reached in 2021 (currently 2,100+). Durant's career 27.2 points per game on 18.7 attempts reflect a scoring arsenal where threes are a complementary weapon rather than a reliance. His 2017 Finals performance — 35.2 points per game on a 47.4% three-point shooting clip, including the dagger over LeBron James in Game 3 — broke the record for efficiency in a series with at least 20 attempts. Durant's 36,000+ career points cement him as the most versatile three-point shooter among forwards.

Peja Stojakovic was the most lethal catch-and-shoot three-point specialist of the pre-Curry era, shooting 40.1% from three across 12 seasons and 1,760 career threes. He won three Three-Point Shootout competitions (2002, 2003, 2009), a feat outperformed only by Craig Hodges and Larry Bird. His 2003-2004 season with the Sacramento Kings produced 240 threes at 43.3%, a volume unmatched by any Kings player before him. Stojakovic's European footwork and set-point efficiency made him the template for the modern 3-and-D wing — a player type the league now prioritizes above almost all others. He averaged 18.4 PPG over his prime.

Glen Rice won the 1997 Three-Point Contest and 1995 All-Star Game MVP, shooting 40.3% from three across a 15-year career with 1,559 career threes. His 1996-1997 season with the Charlotte Hornets featured 37.7 points per game in a playoff series, including a 40-point game on 8-of-12 from deep. Rice averaged 22.3 PPG across three full seasons at his peak. He was the archetypal "pure shooter," needing only a catch and a clear look to punish any defense.