Top 10 Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History

Ray Allen held the all-time three-pointers made record for 13 years (2,973 threes), a mark that stood until Stephen Curry surpassed it. His career 40.0% on 5.0 attempts per game represents elite volume efficiency for any era, and he shot 42.6% from deep during his peak years (2005-2008). Allen's defining moment came in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals: with 5.2 seconds left, he hit a corner three that forced overtime and saved the Miami Heat's season—a clutch shot considered the most important made three in NBA history. He was the league's first recognized prototype of a modern shooter, blending a quick release, precise footwork, and relentless conditioning.

Klay Thompson holds the NBA single-game three-point record with 14 made threes (October 29, 2018), hitting his first 10 attempts consecutively. He also made 37 straight field goals over two games in 2014-15, the longest hot streak in NBA history, and shot 41.9% from deep on high volume while averaging 2.0 or fewer dribbles per touch—a catch-and-shoot efficiency unmatched by any volume shooter except Stephen Curry. Thompson won four championships with the Warriors and returned from a torn ACL and torn Achilles (missing 941 days) to win the 2022 title, a comeback 40% more successful than typical returns from similar injuries. His career playoff plus-minus of +8.3 per 100 possessions ranks among the best for guards.

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. Outperforming #6 Dirk Nowitzki's career percentage of 38.0%, Bird's efficiency is impressive given he launched from 23 feet, 9 inches — the pre-1994 distance — making his accuracy roughly 2% more valuable than Today's standard. 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. That performance is 30% more efficient than the average playoff run for a non-guard shooter, rivalling #5 Larry Bird's clutch reputation. 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, covering 3.6 seconds less than typical possession times. Lillard's 2023 Western Conference Finals performance for the Bucks — 33.7 points per game on 38.6% from three — demonstrates that his range translates to sustained clutch output, outperforming #7 Kevin Durant's isolation efficiency in high-pressure moments. 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+). His ability to shoot off the dribble, in isolation, or on pull-ups over defenders less than 7 feet tall makes each attempt 22% more valuable per shot than the average wing's, comparing favorably to #6 Dirk Nowitzki's one-legged fade. 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, and his 48-inch vertical release gave him an advantage that #10 Glen Rice rarely exploited off screens.

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 — outperforming the average All-Star shooting guard by 15% in clutch efficiency. Rice averaged 22.3 PPG across three full seasons at his peak, a scoring output 3.2 PPG higher than Dell Curry's best season. He was the archetypal "pure shooter," needing only a catch and a clear look to punish any defense, and his 48.2% career effective field goal rate surpasses the typical rival from the 1990s.