Making The Case For The Greatest Three-Point Shooters Of All Time

Published on February 20th, 2023 3:07 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


There has been a recent spirited debate over Larry Bird and whether or not he is one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time.

Is it fair to say that a player with just 649 three-pointers over the course of his career (Bird) is one of the best three-point shooters ever?

Is it fair to call Larry Bird a top three-point shooter ever when over 250 players in the history of the NBA have scored more from beyond the arc?

Is it fair to call Larry Bird a top three-point shooter EVER when there are thirteen players (soon to be more) with more than 2,000 three pointers?

Is it fair to call Larry Bird a top three-point shooter ever when his career percentage from beyond the arc was 37.6%, well behind the likes of Steve Kerr (45.4%), Steph Curry (42.8%) and JJ Redick (41.5%), to name a few?

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I think it's fair to exclude Larry Bird (as great of a shooter as he was) from the list of all-time great three-point shooters.

If you are compiling a list of the top three shooters from downtown all time, the list could potentially look like this:

1. Steph Curry.
2. Ray Allen.
3. Kyle Korver.

I think Curry and Allen are the clear top two three-point shooters of all time, though there are a number of names that could be considered for the #3 spot, including James Harden, Reggie Miller, Kyle Korver and Damian Lillard, to name a few.

Steph Curry is the clear #1 choice, as he has the most three-pointers ever (3,302 and counting), and has shot nearly 43% from beyond the arc.

Ray Allen is #2 on the list, as he had a career 2,973 three-pointers, and shot exactly 40% from three-point land.

The #3 spot is certainly up for debate - James Harden is #3 with 2,708 three-pointers, though Reggie Miller (2,560 three-pointers) had a significantly higher shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

Kyle Korver shot 42.9% from three-point land over the course of his career, though he finished with less three-pointers than Reggie Miller.

Damian Lillard has over 2,300 three-pointers at the age of 32, though his shooting percentage from beyond the arc is significantly worse than the likes of Korver and Miller.

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I think it's fair to say, given the data, that the top three 3-point shooters of all time would likely include three of Steph Curry, Ray Allen, Kyle Korver, Reggie Miller, James Harden or Damian Lillard.