Basketball has come a long way since its dawn. A lot of things have changed throughout the course of history, from the way the game is played to the way players prepare for the season, and that’s why we could never objectively compare eras.
The game is leaning more towards the perimeter nowadays. It’s all about pace-and-space, and teams need five players who could shoot the ball from beyond the arc at a high level. We’re on the dawn of the positionless-basketball era.
However, long before a team dared to take 50+ three-pointers in a game, there were still some efficient and consistent three-point shooters. Today, we’re going to let you know about the players with the most three-pointers per decade.
1980s – Larry Bird
527 Three-Pointers on 38% 3FG
Young fans just don’t know how good Larry Bird was. He was Kevin Durant before Kevin Durant. He could run the offense, dominate both ends of the glass, put the ball on the floor, and consistently knock down shots from all three levels before any other player in NBA history.
Bird could shoot left-handed or right-handed. His hip and feet movement allowed him to create separation and his size gave him a huge advantage over every single defender he faced. Even though he only knocked down 527 three-pointers in that decade, he still must be considered one of the greatest three-point shooters ever.
1990s – Reggie Miller
1,728 Three-Pointers on 40% 3FG
Reggie Miller made the three-pointer cool. More than that, he was the first volume scorer from beyond the arc in NBA history, and back in the day, most defenses just didn’t have many answers for him once he caught the ball in the perimeter.
Miller was a cold-blooded assassin when he pulled up from beyond the arc. He owned and broke most three-point related records and was one of the most influential and revolutionizing players to ever do it because of his ability to efficiently knock down shots from deep.
2000s – Ray Allen
2,162 Three-Pointers on 40% 3FG
Most young fans view Ray Allen as just a shooter but he was an aggressive driver and slasher and an impressive athlete in the first years of his career. Then, he shifted this game towards the perimeter and became an unprecedented threat.
Allen has one of the smoothest jump shots in the history of the game and had a feel for knocking down huge three-pointers throughout his career, including one of the most iconic shots in the history of the NBA Finals in Game 6 vs. the Spurs in 2013.
2010s – Stephen Curry
2,953 Three-Pointers on 43% 3FG
If all those players from the past were impressive, then Stephen Curry is making them all look like amateurs, at least in terms of knocking down three-pointers. I mean, the guy literally shattered every single one of the existing three-point related records.
Stephen Curry will go down as the most influential player of the decade. He’s the reason why we have kids pulling up from the logo (and making the shots) more often nowadays. You may or may not like modern basketball, but you have to give credit for that to the greatest shooter to ever do it.
Next
The Perfect Team Around LeBron James ( $100 Million Budget)
Los Angeles Lakers Superteam: If Every NBA Player Returned To Their Original Team
LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan: Comparing Stats And Accolades During Regular Season And Playoffs
The Battle Of GOATs: Kareem Abdul Jabbar vs. LeBron James (Career Comparison)
A Dominant 11-Year Span: Why Michael Jordan Is The Greatest Player Ever
