The 10 best 3-point shooters in NBA history represent a blend of skill, consistency, and game-changing ability. Once considered a niche skill, 3-point shooting has evolved into a fundamental aspect of basketball, especially in the NBA.
In the past decade, the popularity of the 3-point shot has surged, with teams now fielding lineups where every player poses a threat from long range, regardless of their position. This transformation has reshaped offensive strategies across the league.
Despite the increasing emphasis on long-range shooting, only a few elite players participate in the NBA’s annual 3-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend. One player, Damian Lillard, is on the verge of making history in the 2025 competition, aiming to be only the third player to win the contest three consecutive years.
As Lillard prepares for this milestone event in the Bay Area, it’s fitting to highlight the 10 best 3-point shooters in NBA history.
10 best 3-point shooters in NBA history
10. Peja Stojakovic
Peja Stojakovic carved out a significant role with the Sacramento Kings during the late 1990s and early 2000s, showcasing his exceptional 3-point shooting ability. His long-range accuracy helped create space for stars like Chris Webber and Mike Bibby, eventually making him the team’s second-leading scorer during their 2002 Western Conference Finals run.
Despite the Kings’ decline after that season, Stojakovic continued to excel, ranking in the top 10 for 3-pointers made from 2002-03 to 2004-05. He led the league in 3-pointers made in 2003-04 and finished fourth in MVP voting that year. Stojakovic won the 3-Point Contest twice (2002, 2003), solidifying his legacy as one of the game’s great shooters.
After being traded in 2006, he remained a valuable long-range shooter until his retirement, finishing 12th in the league in 3-point shooting during the 2010-11 season and winning a championship with the Dallas Mavericks.
At retirement, Stojakovic ranked fourth all-time in 3-pointers made. As of February 2025, he stands at 32nd, illustrating how the evolution of the game has impacted historical rankings.
9. Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki’s remarkable shooting ability established him as one of the premier players in the NBA during the 2000s and 2010s. The 14-time All-Star joined the elite 50-40-90 club in the 2006-07 season, shooting 42% from 3-point range on his way to winning the MVP award.
His long-range shooting reached new heights in the 2011 playoffs, where he shot 46% from beyond the arc, leading the Mavericks to their first championship.
In 2006, Nowitzki became the first big man to win the 3-Point Contest, showcasing his unique skill set.
8. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard has consistently ranked among the NBA’s elite 3-point shooters since his 2012 draft. He has finished in the top eight for 3-pointers made in each of his first nine seasons, maintaining at least a 36% shooting rate in eight of those years. Currently, he is fourth on the all-time 3-pointers made list and tied for second in 3-pointers made per game.
Lillard’s most memorable moments have often come from beyond the arc, including a buzzer-beater against the Houston Rockets in the 2014 playoffs and a stunning 37-foot shot over Paul George in the 2019 playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His exceptional shooting ability has made him one of the top scorers in the league, finishing in the top 10 in scoring seven times. Lillard has also claimed the 3-Point Contest title twice, winning in consecutive years (2023, 2024).
7. JJ Redick
JJ Redick made a name for himself as a prolific 3-point shooter before transitioning into coaching. His career totals of 1,950 3-pointers made ranked 15th in NBA history at his retirement in 2021, with an impressive 41.5% shooting percentage, the 18th-best in history. Among the top 50 players in 3-pointers made, his percentage ranks fourth.
Redick improved over time, ranking in the top five for 3-point percentage on four occasions from 2014 to 2020, even leading the league with a remarkable 47.5% in 2015-16. Although he never won a 3-Point Contest, his shooting credentials firmly establish him as one of the best in the history of the game.
6. Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver also established himself as a premier 3-point shooter during his career. He consistently ranked among the best in shooting percentage, leading the league four times and finishing in the top 10 on eight occasions. His 53.6% shooting in the 2009-10 season remains the best single-season mark in NBA history.
Korver’s volume shooting is equally impressive, with 2,450 made 3-pointers, the eighth-most in NBA history as of February 2025. His 42.9% shooting percentage is the highest among the top 50 in 3-pointers made, which also ranks as the 10th-best mark overall.
Despite being named an All-Star only once during the 2014-15 season, Korver is recognized as one of the top bench players in recent NBA history, known for his ability to hit 3-pointers consistently.
5. James Harden
James Harden’s game is often associated with his ability to draw fouls, but his 3-point shooting has also drawn significant defensive attention. His signature step-back 3-pointer has become a well-known move in the league.
Harden ranked among the top five in 3-pointers made for six consecutive seasons (2014-20), leading the league in 3-pointers made during the last three seasons of that stretch.
As of February 2025, he ranks second in all-time 3-pointers made, achieving this with impressive efficiency. He shot below 35% from beyond the arc only three times in his first 15 years. Harden also ranks sixth in 3-pointers made per game among players with at least 400 career games played.
Harden, a standout player of his generation, won the MVP award in 2018 and was previously named Sixth Man of the Year.
4. Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is recognized as one of the greatest catch-and-shoot 3-point shooters in NBA history. He famously scored 60 points in a game in 2016, taking only 11 dribbles and making 8 of 14 3-pointers.
Thompson holds the single-game NBA record for 3-pointers made, hitting 14 in a game in 2018. His career total of 2,622 3-pointers ranks fifth in NBA history, and he is tied for second in 3-pointers made per game.
With a career shooting percentage of 41.2%, he ranks among the top 20 in 3-point shooting accuracy and is fifth among the top 50 players in 3-pointers made. Thompson’s contributions were vital to the Golden State Warriors’ success, helping them secure four championships from 2014 to 2022. He also won the 3-Point Contest in 2016.
3. Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller’s career 3-point shooting percentage of 39.5% ranks 69th in NBA history, yet he consistently finished among the top 10 in 3-point percentage five times. His 18-season career with the Indiana Pacers showcased his longevity and skill.
Miller retired with 2,560 made 3-pointers, the most in NBA history at that time. He held that record for six seasons and currently ranks sixth all-time as of February 2025, despite the league’s recent surge in 3-point shooting.
2. Ray Allen
Ray Allen surpassed Reggie Miller as the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made in 2011. His shooting ability remained consistent throughout his career with four different teams. Allen finished in the top 10 for 3-pointers made in a season 11 times, leading the league three times.
He recorded a career 40% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, ranking 47th in NBA history. Notably, Allen shot above 40% from 3-point range in three of his final four seasons, demonstrating his longevity and skill.
His most iconic moment came during the 2013 NBA Finals, where he hit a crucial step-back 3-pointer to keep the Miami Heat’s championship hopes alive.
1. Steph Curry
Steph Curry stands as the best 3-point shooter in NBA history, a title widely accepted by fans and analysts alike. He solidified his position when he broke Ray Allen’s record for the most 3-pointers made in 2021.
Curry has consistently ranked among the top 10 for 3-point shooting percentage throughout his career, with a current career mark of 42.4%, placing him 13th in NBA history and third among the top 50 players in 3-pointers made.
In almost every 3-point statistic available, Curry is either at the top or very close. His remarkable shooting has played a significant role in his success, contributing to two MVP awards and four championships.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Steve Kerr
- Jason Terry
- Eric Gordon
- Kevin Durant
- Steve Nash
- Paul George
- Buddy Hield
- Mike Miller
- Kyrie Irving
- CJ McCollum
- Dale Ellis
- Larry Bird
- Karl-Anthony Towns
