NBA teams are relying more than ever before on three-point shooting and Eurohoops invites basketball fans to vote for the best “executioner” from the 7.25!
The NBA is changing! Basketball itself is changing! The game is gradually moving away from the basket, which means the teams that have the most charismatic shooters automatically gain an advantage.
It’s no coincidence that, in this decade, the Golden State Warriors are trying to build their own dynasty based to a large extent on three-point shooting and line-ups that are made-up of 2, 3 or even 4 players who can shoot from the perimeter.
Still, over the years, basketball fans have enjoyed numerous stars with a poisonous shot. Eurohoops singled out 8 individuals and invites basketball fans to vote for the top shooter among the best!
Ray Allen
Total three-pointers: 2973/7429 (2.3/5.7) Percentage: 40% Games: 1300
Ray Allen can boast that he’s the king of threes since he’s at the top of the list of best shooters, with the inconceivable number of 2973 shots on target! In fact, if one considers that the charismatic shooting guard counts a total of 7429 attempts from 7.25, then the 40% with which he completed his career takes on even greater value.
The important three-pointers he has scored on the courts of the NBA are countless, but one of them produced his 2nd championship ring. It’s when the Heat went to… hell and back against the Spurs, and ultimately won the championship in overtime!
Reggie Miller
Total three-pointers: 2560/6486 (1.8/4.7)
Percentage: 39.5%
Games: 1389
For somewhat older NBA fans, those who are nostalgic of the 90s, Reggie Miller will always be a unique chapter in the history of Indiana. He played in the colors of the Pacers from 1987 to 2005 and despite the fact that he didn’t celebrate a title he did manage to earn the respect of teammates and rivals.
His 39.5% figure confirms his unique ability, one that placed him in second place of the list with the most threes of all-time. His career includes many beautiful moments but the standout is definitely the 8 points in 9 seconds in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals (1995) against the Knicks.
Jason Terry
Total three-pointers: 2244/5910 (1.6/4.3)
Percentage: 38%
Games: 1374
Jason Terry connects yesterday to today as he’s 41 years of age and just a few days ago admitted that he wants to continue for one more season so that he will have played in the magical world of the NBA for 20 seasons. The championship of 2011 alongside Dirk Nowitzki and against the Heat’s super team (LeBron, Wade, Bosh) is without a doubt the most brilliant moment in his career so far. Besides, we’re dealing with a player who has been consistently shooting over 35% since 2004-05, securing a role in every team he played in.
His “Jet” celebration after making big shots will remain unforgettable! As will his 9 threes in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Lakers (2009)…
Kyle Korver
Total three-pointers: 2148/4975 (2.0/4.6) Percentage: 43.2% Games: 1071
Early on Tuesday morning, Kyle Korver climbed up to 4th place on the list of best three-point shooters of all time and at the rate, he’s scoring, it’s only a matter of time before he reaches number 3, Jason Terry.
However, special attention should be paid to his percentage! The charismatic guard for the Cavs has attempted a total of 4975 threes and 43.2% of those have hit the mark. In fact, of all the others on this list, no one else aside from Curry executes with such ease and frequency.
At 36 years of age, the veteran Korver is chasing the first ring of his career and despite the fact that he has been an All-Star only once (2015), the fans will remember him as one of the most dangerous hit men!
Paul Pierce
Total three-pointers: 2143/5816 (1.6/4.3)
Percentage: 36.8%
Games: 1343
Paul Pierce was never considered a pure three-point shooter but his talent was such that it allowed him to execute whenever and from wherever he liked. He completed his career with a figure of 36.8% and some basketball moments that others can only dream of experiencing. Of course, the crowning achievement is winning the championship in 2008.
“The Truth” connected his name with the Boston Celtics as few have, as that’s where he spent his most beautiful years before knocking around the Nets, the Wizards and the Clippers. The story behind his nickname “The Truth” is especially interesting, with Shaquille O’Neal confirming that we’re dealing with one of the most… cold-hearted killers.
Check out the 2010 three-point contest, with Paul Pierce beating Curry and Billups…
Peja Stojakovic
Total three-pointers: 1760/4392 (2.2/5.5)
Percentage: 40.1%
Games: 804
Peja Stojakovic is rightly considered one of the most successful European shooters of all time in the NBA, with 1760 threes and 40.1% bearing this out. His excellent course in Sacramento made the team’s people retire his jersey with the No.16 in a special ceremony in December 2014.
Stojakovic made history in 2002 when he became the first European player to win the three-point contest (19/30) and a year later he repeated the triumph by scoring 22-for-30! Enjoy him…
Klay Thompson
Total three-pointers: 1468/3480 (2.9/6.9) Percentage: 42.2% Games: 505
In any other team in the NBA, Klay Thompson would be the headliner! However, the amount of talent that exists in Golden State is so bountiful that the 27-year-old with the “poisonous” shot is playing in the shadow of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that Thomspon isn’t one of the best three-point shooters of all time. Besides, his percentage (42.2%), the threes he scores (2.9 per game), the speed of execution and the way he moves on the court will vouch for that.
At this point, however, we should emphasize this: championship teams are built in such a way as to create the best possible conditions for their shooters. In fact, for someone to grasp the extent to which this era favors records in three-point shooting, one only has to consider the fact that Larry Bird attempted 1727 threes in his entre career, when Thompson counts 3480 in 6.5 seasons.
Check out the unforgettable three-point contest of 2016, with Thompson beating Curry!
Stephen Curry
Total three-pointers: 2033/4659 (3.4/7.7) Percentage: 43.6% Games: 602
There’s no need to say much about Stephen Curry! Almost two months before hitting 30 years of age, Golden State’s leader already counts 2033 three-pointers, with the mythical 43.6% from the perimeter but also 3.4 shots on target per game.
No other player has ever scored with such frequency and such ease from outside the 7.25! As is perfectly normal, he holds the Top 3 records in threes scored in a season, with 402 (2015/16), 326 (2016/17) and 286 (2014/15). On November 7, 2016, he made history by scoring 13 (!) threes in a single game…
