Image via Complex Original
Nothing puts a dagger in a fan's heart like a clutch three to put the game away. However, nothing elates a crowd like backing the guy who drains the game-winner. Today we celebrate the marksmen who stir those emotions. A collection of the best to let it fly from beyond the arc.
While the list seems inherently biased towards modern players, it is, as you probably know the three point line made its debut in the 1979-80 season. It started as a gimmick and now is a way of life. It allows short men (and by that we mean guys around 6'4") an opportunity to compete on a floor with giants. It's also one of many things the NBA stole from the ABA to ruthlessly build their multi-billion dollar empire.
While it may be the product of blatant theft it has led to a far more interesting game since the days of set shots and bounce passes. We salute the men who've adopted long range shots as a regular piece of their arsenal. You got to be on-target or risk the wrath of a non-stop "air ball" chant. It's no less a skill than an art.
No. Just kidding. It's not art. As a birthday salute to Kyle Korver, here are The 25 Greatest Three-Point Shooters in NBA History.
RELATED: The 25 Greatest Centers in NBA History
RELATED: The 25 Greatest Point Guards in NBA History
25. Tim Legler
Career: 1989-2000
Team(s): Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Washington Bullets
Three-point career stats: 260-603, (.431)
In case you don't watch ESPN and see his resume pop up every time he talks, he led the league in three-point percentage in 1995-96. And though we'd love to give the man more credit for hitting 52 percent that year, his 603 career attempts leave something to be desired. Still that sharpshooting season made him credible enough for a studio spot and, more importantly, may've opened the door for a bevy of poon.
24. Jeff Hornacek
Career: 1986-2000
Team(s): Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz
Three-point career stats: 828-2,055, (.403)
White Men Can't Jump but they can still hit a bucket from beyond the arc. That's a very practical skill to have. Example: Jeff Hornacek, a shooter so precise he once nailed 67 free throws in a row.
Hornacek didn't put up as many treys as most of the guys on this list, but when he did he made them count. In '94 he landed himself on the long-distance radar by going eight-for-eight from downtown against the Sonics. A month later he knocked down 11 in a row over a two week span. As he got older he refined his touch notching his career best (percentage wise) in his final season in the league (99-00) when he hit almost 48 percent of his threes. He also has the highest playoff percentage on this list at .433.
23. Klay Thompson
Career: 2011-present
Team(s): Golden State Warriors
Three-point career stats: 500-1,226, (.408)
The youngest guy on our list, which reflects in our rating. It's all uphill from here. He's the first dude in league history to knockdown 500 threes in the first three seasons of his career. We try to reward clutch shots and his 8-for-9 performance against the Spurs in the 2013 playoffs is an excellent foundation to build upon. If he keeps this up (and he will) well, that's what updates are for.
22. Steve Novak
Career: 2006-present
Team(s): Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, Toronto Raptors
Three-point career stats: 536-1,238, (.433)
The 2011-12 three-point percentage leader (.472) is currently proving he can rain with the best of 'em. But like Thompson his rating suffers due to a smaller sample size. At 30, he still has an opportunity to climb the charts and if he can maintain that career rate (sixth all-time) he could be a mighty impressive one-trick pony.
21. Ben Gordon
Career: 2004-present
Team(s): Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats
Three-point career stats: 1,136-2,824, (.402)
There was a time when Gordon's game was coming off the bench and popping threes. That time was called 2004-2013. It's a role he played well, winning the NBA's Sixth Man Award as a rookie while draining 770 threes in his first five seasons. His crowning performance from downtown came at the end of the '05-06 season when he dropped nine straight from distance. He tied the feat again in March 2012, this time as a member of the Pistons. Though his numbers have dropped off (and he's struggled with injuries) since leaving Chicago he still earns a shout for putting on shooting clinics that'd make Betty Ford jealous.
20. Brent Barry
Career: 1995-2009
Team(s): Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Seattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets
Three-point career stats: 1,395-3,442, (.405)
A man of many talents. The first three things that pop up when you Google his name are dunks, three-pointers, and Tony Parker. While the first two display his versatility as a player the third led to "irreconcilable differences" (a.k.a. wife reportedly plowed by crappy teammate). Barry finished his career 24th all-time in three point percentage with his peak coming in 2000-01 when he led the league by draining 48 percent of his three balls. He also set the (then) rookie record by hitting 123 triples in 95-96. While that can't fix the past it's better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all win two NBA championships and make $53 million dollars.
19. Mike Miller
Career: 2000-present
Team(s): Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat
Three-point career stats: 1,505-3,689, (.408)
Life as a three-point specialist is good. If you can do it well enough you can bankroll Somalia's GDP and latch on for a ring or two. We're not sure why, but that reminds us of Mike Miller. Currently Miller sits at 18th all-time in three-point percentage, not bad for a guy who's put up close to 3,700 of those shots in his career. Hitting the three ball is the best way to stick around into old age, when your legs go and gravity claims your jumping ability you can rely on that sweet stroke to keep you around for a ring. An honor reserved for the all-time greats.
18. Allan Houston
Career: 1993-2005
Team(s): Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks
Three-point career stats: 1,305-3,247, (.402)
If you're a Knicks fan, think not of the end of Allan Houston's career, when a max contract and a knee injury made him a virtually untradeable hole on Knicks teams that remind boycotting fans things could be worse. Think not of his refusal to get knee surgery during that same ordeal. Instead, think back to the Allan Houston that not only made it onto the court, but routinely hit big threes on postseason contending Knicks teams. Houston also had one of the highest playoff percentage for three-pointers on this list, drilling his long-range jumpers with 42 percent success.
17. Mark Price
Career: 1986-1998
Team(s): Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
Three-point career stats: 976-2,428 3 Pt. FG's, (.402)
When you're six feet tall you better learn to shoot if you want to survive in the NBA. Obviously Mark Price did because he's on this list he played a dozen seasons and then had his jersey retired.
During the 1988-89 season, Price became the second player in league history to join the 50-40-90 Club along with Larry Bird who may or may not also make this list. He finished in the top ten in three-pointers four times and three-point percentage twice. For good measure he won the Three-Point Shootout title in both 1993 and '94. At the end of his career he was hampered with injuries which dragged down his career three-point percentage. Time catches up to us all.
When you're lying on your deathbed someday remember Complex told you that.
16. Rashard Lewis
Career: 1998-
Team(s): Seattle Supersonics, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat
Three-point career stats: 1,776-4,593, (.387)
We can appreciate a guy who chucks threes for a living. If that dude is 6'10" then we have even more respect. Lewis was the last of fifteen players sitting in the "Green Room," during the '98 NBA Draft, but his ability to score from distance gave him the longevity to remain active while most of his contemporaries were put out to pasture. After nine seasons in Seattle (where he passed Dale Ellis and Gary Payton to become the franchises all-time leader in treys) Lewis went cross-country to Orlando where he put up over 1,100 threes in his first two seasons (note: he hit 446 of them). That doesn't count the postseason where he put up over 200 more.
While his career percentage is below most of the guys on this list his sheer volume puts him seventh all-time and his percentage bests a few ahead of him (Jason Terry, Paul Pierce and Jason Kidd) while many may not agree, that's what typing "your a fukin moran," in the comments section is for.
15. Chauncey Billups
Career: 1997-present
Team(s): Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers
Three-point career stats: 1,830-4,725, (.387)
Just ahead of Rashard Lewis is fellow NBA-old timer Chauncey Billups who currently places sixth in career threes made. The two (reasonably) sharpshooters have an identical career percentage with Billups chipping in 267 more in the postseason including 37 in the Pistons' '03-04 championship campaign.
14. Dell Curry
Career: 1986-2002
Team(s): Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors
Three-point career stats: 1,245-3,098, (.402)
While many of our fathers passed off the genes to be 5'10" or shorter with a two inch chode, Dell Curry gave his son something useful: the ability to tickle the twine from distance and get the eight zero bank account that comes with it. While Steph is great and getting greater, Dell was no slouch either, leading the league in three-point percentage in 1998-99 (.476) and finishing his career as the all-time leading scorer in Charlotte Hornets history.
13. Wesley Person
Career: 1994-2005
Team(s): Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets
Three-point career stats: 1,150-2,754, (.418)
The Rifleman's younger brother actually turned out to be far more of a precise shooter. While Chuck Person settles for an honorable mention, Wesley quietly ended his career in the top ten for career three-point percentage. At the moment he's still a very respectable 13th. He led the league in three-point FG's in 1997-98 and finished in the top five in percentage five times. While his journeyman career saw seven cities in 11 seasons his ability to stroke the three-ball earned him $45 million. If your 6'6"+ your next step should be obvious: Drop out of school or quit your job to work on that jumper.
12. Dirk Nowitzki
Career: 1998-present
Team(s): Dallas Mavericks
Three-point career stats: 1,440-3,765, (.382)
Unlike a lot of guys on this list, Dirk has an extremely well-rounded game. While many of these guys are specialists who make their living from beyond the perimeter Dirk is collecting more than eight boards a night on top of his ability to pop from anywhere. At seven feet tall Dirk can gash you inside and out.
But, also unlike a lot of guys on this list, Dirk has been the focal point of opposing defenses for more than a decade. That means he hit a lot of his threes with a hand (or two) in his face and/or with the game on the line. While the .382 career percentage doesn't jump out at you the stressful situations his long distance buckets came in, too.
11. Peja Stojakovic
Career: 1998-2011
Team(s): Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks
Three-point career stats: 1760-4392, (.401)
A two-time winner of the NBA Three-Point Shootout. But who cares if you can sink a three when it's wide open? Obviously, Stojakovic could do it with a hand in his grill, and he rode that ability to sixth on the all-time list for treys. He led the league in three-point FG's in 2003-04 (the season he completed a three-peat of All-Star appearances). In his final season Peja hit at a rate of .419. And finished by going a respectable 29 for 77 in the playoffs on the way to a Mavericks title and a picture wrap on a career created behind the arc.
10. Dale Ellis
Career: 1983-2000
Team(s): Dallas Mavericks, Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets
Three-point career stats: 1,719-4,266, (.403)
The greatest thing that ever happened to Dale Ellis' career was getting dealt from Dallas to Seattle. He went from averaging 15.1 MPG to 37.5 and with that increase in PT the threes started raining like uh...*is lazy* Seattle's climate. Northwest is not only a ridulous name Kanye and Kim gave their kid, it's also where Dale Ellis set about amassing the league's three-point record.
He became the league's most improved player in 1987 and shot 48 percent from downtown in '88-89. After injuries sent his numbers into a decline he toured in Milwaukee, San Antonio and Denver before being sent back to the Emerald City in 1997. There, at age 37, he led the NBA in three-point percentage by connecting to a tune of .464. For two more seasons he built upon his record and retired with 1,719. Since then it's been shat on by nine different guys (and counting) but we still felt it necessary to pay homage to a man who perfected the 'catch and shoot.'
9. Mitch Richmond
Career: 1988-2002
Team(s): Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers
Three-point career stats: 1,326-3,417, (.388)
There's something to be said for guys who connect on more than 40 percent of their three-point attempts. As you can attest to, those men are well represented on this list. But, there's also something to be said for a guy who shoots near that while being the top scoring threat for his team. In California's capitol city, Mitch Richmond was that guy.
While scoring over 20,000 points in his career, Mitch took almost 1,000 threes between 1995 and '97, hitting over 43 percent. The creators of NBA Jam took notice, making him the most dominant perpetually "on fire," player in the game. Plus his form was so beautiful that nobody will blame you for busting out the paper towels and Jergens while watching "Mitch Richmond's shot," on YouTube.
8. Kyle Korver
Career: 2003-present
Team(s): Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks
Three-point career stats: 1,482-3,485, (.425)
The 2013-14 three-point percentage leader (.491) "Hot Sauce" Korver banks $5 million a year to come off the bench and drain treys. He set the single season three-point field goal percentage record by connecting on almost 54 percent of his triple attempts in the 2009-10 season. He also set a record by hitting a three in 127 consecutive games until a couple of weeks ago when Portland stifled him and he went 0-for-5. That smashed the previous record by Dana Barros and we add insult to injury by screwing him out of this list. That will piss you off if:
A. Stupid stuff makes you mad.
B. You're Dana Barros.
7. Glen Rice
Career: 1989-2004
Team(s): Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers
Three-point career stats: 1,559-3,896, (.400)
Glen Rice came into Sarah Palin the league at a time when the NBA was realizing that the three was not a gimmick, but a very viable option to get an extra point every time down the floor. All a sudden the value of a guy like Rice was through the roof and he went hog wild putting up almost 2,400 threes over the course of six seasons peaking in 1996-97 when he went 207-for-440 to lead the league with a .470 percentage. The next season he hit a lower, but still incredibly respectable .433.
After that he turned 31 and his skills began to erode which made his career clip appear less outstanding. In his old (relative term) age he still managed to hit 34 of 81 over two different postseasons making him a veteran alternative when the Lakers and Knicks needed a key three off the pine.
6. Steve Nash
Career: 1996-present
Team(s): Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers
Three-point career stats: 1683-3934, (.428)
While his career isn't cooperating with a fairy tale ending, Nash still possessed one of the sweetest strokes since...who gives a shit? Nash's greatest asset was his remarkable consistency. From 1999 through 2010, Nash hit over 40 percent of his threes with a high of .470 (2007-08) and a low of .403 (1999-2000). In nine seasons he finished in the top-10 in the league and was the runner-up in back-to-back years.
While nearly every great shooter struggles to connect at 40 percent in the playoffs (due to the play of actual defense) Nash is the rare baller who exceeds the mark with a career .406 playoff three-point percentage. The man was once a legend and though he's lingering like a grandparent who selfishly refuses to let nature take its course, he's still one of the greatest shooters who ever lived.
5. Stephen Curry
Career: 2009-present
Team(s): Golden State Warriors
Three-point career stats: 845-1,935, (.437)
Some of you may wonder why a youngster like Stephen Curry enters the top five while Klay Thompson suffers the unconscionable embarrassment of languishing outside the top 20. Well, Curry has two seasons on Thompson and over the past two years has led the NBA in both three-point field goals and three-point field goal attempts. All this while being the biggest focal point of opposing defenses. Combine that with the fact that he set the NBA record for three-pointers last year (plus he's the active leader in percentage) and you got an answer to a question you probably didn't ask.
4. Steve Kerr
Career: 1988-2003
Team(s): Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers
Three-point career stats: 726-1,599, (.454)
While Curry's the active leader, Steve Kerr remains the leader, period. After hitting at a rate of .573 in his senior season of college, Kerr picked up where he left off while having the bonus of playing for an actual pay check. By his second year at the world's highest level Kerr hit more than half his threes. After injuries cut into his playing time, Kerr found himself in Chicago playing for a team that just lost its GOAT to a baseball playing mid-life crisis.
Kerr picked up what slack he could by again sinking over half his threes in 1994-95. The next year, on the legendary 72-10 '96 Bulls squad, Kerr played a valuable role by hitting 122 of 237 triples at a .515 clip. While his final couple years saw uncharacteristic drop-offs below .400, Kerr still retired with a record .454 percentage that still stands today without suffering so much as a challenge.
3. Larry Bird
Career: 1980-1992
Team(s): Boston Celtics
Three-point career stats: 649-1,727, (.376)
Acid washed jeans reigned. Shitty rock dominated the charts. And literally everybody was doing coke. That's our colorful way of saying the '80s were a different era and thus the reason that Larry's numbers suck (comparatively) against others on this list. In 1985-86 Larry led the league with 194 attempts from downtown. That wouldn't even put him in the top 75 for the current 2013-14 campaign. Like we said, different time.
He led the league in threes twice just to show the league how well-rounded he was, and he won the first three three-point contests while taunting other players. Most importantly he saved his best display for the 1986 Playoffs when he hit over 41 percent of his shots to lead the Celtics to their third Bird-era title.
We should also use this slide to mention that Larry was shooting from an arc that was as deep as 23'9" compared to the uniform 22 feet we know today. The change occurred in the mid-'90s which hopefully gives you a little more respect for those roughing it before then.
2. Reggie Miller
Career: 1987-2005
Team(s): Indiana Pacers
Three-point career stats: 2,560-6,486, (.395)
Reggie led the league in three-point FG's twice and his propensity to hit 'em in the clutch was his most memorable attribute as a player. Case in point, Game 1 of the '95 Conference semifinals, Miller hit two threes and a couple free throws in under nine seconds to stun Spike Lee and the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Case in point number two came in the '98 Conference Finals when Miller tied up the series at two-all after Reggie separated/pushed off/whatever from Michael Jordan drilling a game winner with 0.7 seconds left to make Chicago panic. Also there was this.
He was known as "Knick Killer," for a reason. That crowd collectively shitting their pants (above) is all you need to know.
1. Ray Allen
Career: 1996-present
Team(s): Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle Supersonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Three-point career stats: 2,944-7,354, (.400)
The all-time leader in three pointers, and that doesn't even include the biggest one of his career in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals to save both the season and, more importantly, an insufferably long off-season about LeBron and his fucking legacy as dictated by ESPN.
Allen has led the league in treys an appropriate three times and is inching towards becoming the first member of the 3,000 Club. If you include his 352 that've come in the postseason, he's already well past it. His insane volume, as well as the amount of years he's been doing it make Allen our pick as the greatest sniper of all-time.