Reggie Miller
Three-pointers made: 2,560 (2nd all-time) Three-pointers attempted: 6,486 Three-point percentage: 39.5% When the game was on the line, Reggie Miller almost always seemed like the one to turn to. He was one of the league’s best clutch shooters of all times, even though his jump-shot is never going to appear in a how-to video. He is known for his flared out elbow, his strange landing positions, and his release, which seemed like he was letting go with both hands.
Stylistic differences aside, there’s no doubt he made it work. In the impressive spot of No. 2 all-time for three-pointers made, Miller based his entire career on making big-time shots from the outside.
Peja Stojaković
Three-pointers made: 1,760 (16th all-time) Three-pointers attempted: 4,392 Three-point percentage: 40.1% Another Croatian to make the list is 6-foot-9 Peja Stojaković, who also proves that Central Europe knows how to make some amazing shooters. Stojaković started out in Sacramento, and his talent for three-point shots was immediately evident. He excelled at foul shooting, doing so automatically from inside the line, and he was also deadly accurate from the arc.
Stojaković's time with the Kings has changed the way teams have seen wing players. His style of playing basketball would have actually been a perfect fit for today’s games.
Steve Nash
Three-pointers made: 1,685 (18th all-time) Three-pointers attempted: 3,939 Three-point percentage: 42.8% One of the leading members of the 50-40-90 club, Steve Nash, is undoubtedly on top when it comes to all-around shooters. Nash is just as good from the free-throw line as he is behind the arc. He was a good scorer, who didn’t get the acknowledgment he deserved because his skills overpowered his shooting as a playmaker.
Nash was always among the league leaders in three-point shooting percentage and built his career using his excellent vision and unbelievable ability to shoot the ball. No wonder he was recently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Ray Allen
Three-pointers made: 2,973 (1st all-time) Three-pointers attempted: 7,429 Three-point percentage: 40.0% Not only was Allen number 1 of all-time in three-pointers made, but he also dominated the court in all other areas as well, from defending top perimeter players to finishing around the basket in traffic. His skills as an all-around player, however, were not as impressive as his unforgettable jump shot. Any random search of his name will result in many clutch threes that he performed during his career.
Allen’s most memorable play was, without a doubt, the three points he scored that sent Game 6 of the 2014 NBA Finals into overtime. That one throw is an accurate representation of his incredible career.
Stephen Curry
Three-pointers made: 2,129 (7th all-time) Three-pointers attempted: 4,880 Three-point percentage: 43.6% The number one spot on this list is sure to create controversy. While some think it is too soon to give Stephen Curry the top spot, others think it dishonors the amazing shooters that came before him. The stats, however, are impossible to dispute, and they don’t care about historical implications or sentiments. In the end, Curry has made more three-pointers than anyone else in history, and his runner up isn’t even nipping at his heels. During his historic 2016 season, Curry made just over five threes a game.
If we compare, Reggie Miller never averaged three three-pointers per game over an entire season. Curry made 688 threes combined in 2015 and 2016, which is more than Bird made in his entire 13-year career (649). There may be plenty of criticism about the game of basketball in 2020, or opinions about the players who surround Curry, but his skill is impossible to ignore. Curry is a force of nature the likes of which we have never seen and may never see again, so in the meantime, just enjoy the show.