While the three point rule was a late addition to the NBA game (didn’t come around until the NBA/ABA merger in 1976), it has quickly become one of the most influential and important aspects of the game. Players have made careers of being a good three point shooter and the three has been the key ingredient for many teams NBA Championships, such as last year’s Golden State Warriors. Here is a look at 5 of the best three point shooters in history.
1. Ray Allen
(source: reddit.com)
Allen is one of the best volume three point shooters of all time and his release is a thing of beauty. Seriously, it seems as soon as the man catches the ball, it is already on its way up into the net. Not only is his shot pretty and goes in all day long, but he is also unbelievably clutch. His shot in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA finals basically saved the Heat’s season and helped cemented the legacy of LeBron James. He is also the all-time leader in three pointers made with over 2,900, where the person in second place is more than 400 shots back.
2. Steve Kerr
(source: bullsnation.net)
While Michael Jordan was undoubtedly the leader of those Bulls teams throughout the 1990’s, don’t discount what Kerr brought to the table as well. His career averages for three pointer is simply disgusting (in a good way). Kerr regularly hit on over 50 percent of his threes in multiple seasons and has a career average of .454, which is miles ahead of everyone. Fun fact: Kerr is currently the coach of Steph Curry, the man closest to matching his career three point percentage.
3. Reggie Miller
(source: si.com)
Not only one of the best trash talkers in NBA history, Miller could also shoot a ball as well as anyone in history. While he is second all tiem in three pointers made and his average is nothing to scoff at, it is without a doubt his clutch gene that puts him on this list. Not only was this guy good at shooting threes all game, but he seemingly had this “extra gear” he would be able to hit in the clutch or when the game was on the line and his team needed him.
4. Kyle Korver
(source: cbssports.com)
Now this is a guy who basically made millions and millions of dollars based solely on his ability to hit the long shot. While most of the guys in this article had other redeeming factors, Korver has stuck around the league for a decade plus simply because of his ability to shoot well. His 09-10 season was unreal in particular as he hit on nearly 54 percent of his threes, which is an NBA record for percentage in a season.
5. Steph Curry
(source: sfchronicle.com)
What can I say about this guy that hasn’t been said already, he is inhuman. He is hitting shots at a clip unheard of in history and isn’t slowing down. He already has one of the highest percentages of all time, he has the record for most threes in a season by a mile and is well on his way to putting up and hitting more threes than anyone else. The distance and ease with which he is able to shoot is also unheard of and, for my money, he is already the best three point shooter of all time.
