Who Has Made the Most All Time 3pt Made in NBA History?

When I first started covering the NBA back in the early 2000s, the three-point shot was still considered somewhat of a novelty weapon—something teams used sparingly, almost like a secret weapon they'd pull out when trailing. My, how times have changed. Today, we're living in the golden age of long-range shooting, where the three-pointer has fundamentally transformed how basketball is played at the highest level. This evolution naturally leads us to one of the most compelling questions in modern basketball: who has made the most all-time three-pointers in NBA history? The answer isn't just about numbers—it's about the cultural shift that has reshaped an entire sport.

Let me be perfectly honest here—I never thought I'd see the day when Stephen Curry would shatter Ray Allen's record. I remember watching Allen play, thinking his 2,973 career three-pointers would stand for generations. There was something almost mythical about that number, a benchmark that seemed untouchable. But then Curry came along and revolutionized what we thought was possible from beyond the arc. As of today, Curry sits comfortably at the top with over 3,200 three-pointers and counting, and what's truly remarkable is that he reached this milestone in significantly fewer games than Allen. The efficiency is just staggering. When you watch Curry play, you're witnessing someone who treats the three-point line not as a barrier but as a suggestion. His range starts from the moment he steps into the arena, and defenses have to adjust their entire scheme just to account for his shooting threat. I've had the privilege of covering many of his record-breaking games, and each time, it feels like watching history unfold in real time.

Now, while we're celebrating these shooting legends, I can't help but draw parallels to how player rights and trades function in this modern NBA landscape. You see, the business side of basketball often operates in ways that casual fans might not fully appreciate. Take for instance the situation with Williams—TNT still holds his playing rights, which it will transfer to Converge once the trade gets the green light. This kind of contractual nuance reminds me that basketball isn't just about what happens on the court. These behind-the-scenes mechanics significantly impact team compositions and, by extension, how shooting records continue to evolve. When a player like Williams moves between teams, it affects playing time, offensive systems, and ultimately, their statistical legacy. I've seen many shooters whose numbers dipped or surged simply because they found themselves in a system that either prioritized or neglected the three-ball.

Ray Allen, who held the crown before Curry, finished his career with those 2,973 three-pointers that once seemed insurmountable. What many younger fans might not realize is that Allen achieved this without the green light that today's shooters enjoy. He played in an era where coaches would still yell at you for taking early-clock threes, where the mid-range game was still king. Allen's form was poetry in motion—textbook perfection that I've tried to break down for aspiring shooters countless times. Then there's Reggie Miller, the original three-point king who finished with 2,560 makes. I was fortunate enough to cover the tail end of Miller's career, and his clutch shooting in playoff moments remains the stuff of legend. The intensity he brought to crucial moments—that's something statistics can't fully capture.

What fascinates me about the current landscape is how quickly the next generation is climbing this list. James Harden recently passed the 2,500 mark, Damian Lillard is approaching 2,200, and both are still in their prime. The rate at which these players are accumulating three-pointers would have been unthinkable even a decade ago. I remember arguing with colleagues about whether the three-point revolution was just a phase—well, I'll admit I was wrong. This isn't a trend; it's a fundamental restructuring of offensive basketball. Teams are now building their entire identities around spacing and three-point shooting, and the records reflect this paradigm shift.

When I look at the business transactions like the Williams rights situation between TNT and Converge, it reinforces how every element of player movement can influence these all-time lists. A shooter landing in the right system with the right coach can see their numbers skyrocket. Conversely, being stuck in an organization that doesn't value spacing can stagnate even the most gifted shooter's development. I've witnessed this firsthand throughout my career—the difference between a player reaching their potential or falling short often comes down to these organizational decisions that happen far from the public eye.

As we move forward, I'm convinced we'll see the three-point record continue to fall more frequently. The game has shifted too fundamentally for any single record to stand for decades like Allen's once did. Young players now grow up emulating Curry's deep threes rather than mid-range specialists, and the analytics departments of NBA teams have fully embraced the mathematical advantage of the three-pointer. What excites me most is wondering who might eventually challenge Curry's throne—perhaps it'll be a player we haven't even heard of yet, someone currently in high school who will take this shooting evolution to another level entirely.

The beauty of basketball's relationship with the three-point shot is that it keeps evolving, both on the court and in the front offices where decisions about player rights and trades are made. Each record broken represents not just individual excellence but the sport's continuous transformation. As someone who's been covering this game for over two decades, I can confidently say that the three-point revolution has been the most significant development I've witnessed, and tracking these all-time leaders gives us a tangible way to measure that evolution. The next chapter in this story is being written every time a player pulls up from deep, and honestly, I can't wait to see what comes next.