Top 10 Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History — Sports Top 10 List

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Top 10 Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History

The three-point revolution transformed basketball from an interior-dominated game into a spacing-obsessed, perimeter-first sport. These are the NBA's greatest three-point shooters ever — from pioneers who used the arc sparingly to volume artists who shattered every record. Ranked by accuracy, career volume, clutch performance, and lasting influence on the modern game. Statistics via [Basketball Reference](https://www.basketball-reference.com). Cast your vote below — who is the greatest three-point shooter of all time?

2026161 viewsJul 16, 2026 Updated Oct 3, 2026

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#1
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the undisputed greatest three-point shooter in history, holding every major record. He leads the all-time three-pointers made with 3,700+—over 700 more than Ray Allen's previous record—and owns the single-season mark of 402 threes (2015-16). Curry's career 43.3% from deep on 11+ attempts per game in his prime is a combination of volume and accuracy that outperforms every shooter on this list, including Klay Thompson's 41.9% on lower attempts. As the only unanimous MVP, he won four championships and transformed the game by making the 30-foot pull-up three a standard weapon, forcing every team to restructure their offense around his model.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#2
Ray Allen
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#3
Klay Thompson
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. His career playoff plus-minus of +8.3 per 100 possessions ranks among the best for guards.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#4
Reggie Miller
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#5
Larry Bird
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#6
Dirk Nowitzki
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#7
Damian Lillard
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#8
Kevin Durant
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#9
Peja Stojakovic
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →
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#10
Glen Rice
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.
source: wikipediaPlay →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history? Stephen Curry is the consensus pick, holding the all-time record for three-pointers made at an unprecedented volume and accuracy.

Who holds the NBA single-game three-point record? Klay Thompson set the record with 14 three-pointers made in a single game against the Chicago Bulls.

Who won the most NBA Three-Point Contest titles in a row? Larry Bird is the only player to win three consecutive Three-Point Contest titles (1986–1988).

How were the shooters on this list ranked? Shooters are ranked by a combination of career three-point accuracy, total volume, clutch performance, and their lasting influence on how the modern NBA game is played.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is widely considered the greatest three-point shooter in NBA history?

Stephen Curry is universally regarded as the greatest three-point shooter, holding records for most career three-pointers, highest volume efficiency, and revolutionary impact on the game.

Who holds the NBA record for most career three-pointers made?

Stephen Curry holds the NBA record for most career three-pointers made, surpassing Ray Allen's previous record of 2,973 in December 2021.

Who is the NBA's all-time leader in three-point percentage (minimum 1,000 attempts)?

Steve Kerr holds the NBA record for highest three-point percentage at 45.4% among players with at least 1,000 career attempts.

What criteria are typically used to rank the greatest three-point shooters?

Rankings combine volume and efficiency of three-pointers made, clutch shooting, playoff performance, consistency over a career, and overall impact on the game.

Are there any active players besides Stephen Curry on the all-time top 10 three-point shooters list?

Yes, active players such as Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard are frequently included in top 10 lists based on their career three-point totals and efficiency.