The Best Shooter From Every Decade In NBA History

Shooting is arguably the most important of today’s NBA games. That is why teams are paying a heavy premium for the best shooters in the NBA, especially since the 3-point shot has been the most valued offensive play over the past few years. We have seen the likes of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant shoot their way to NBA titles, and teams are trying to repeat that. More than ever, shooting is the most critical aspect of professional basketball.

Times have changed, certainly, because shooting wasn’t always the most important factor in the game. Size, defense, and rebounding were keys throughout NBA history stemming from the 1950s until the 1980s. Big men ruled the NBA, and it was a big boy’s league. Nowadays, it is a guard-driven league, and big men who cannot shoot have been essentially exiled from the game. That doesn’t mean that there weren’t elite shooters throughout NBA history because a few special players managed to stand out among the rest, even in eras where shooting wasn’t prioritized.

Here is the best shooter from every NBA decade, from the very first decade in 1950 until the 2020s decade we are currently in.

1950 – Bill Sharman

The legendary Bill Sharman played 11 seasons in the NBA, making 8 All-Star teams and 7 All-NBA selections before eventually making the Hall of Fame. Sharman was mainly part of a dominant Boston Celtics team, winning 4 NBA titles and averaging 17.8 PPG for his career. Out of all the perimeter players who played in the 1950s, Sharman might have been the best shooter.

His scoring ability makes him a worthy inclusion as one of the greatest shooting guards ever, and he was certainly an efficient marksman in an era where shooting numbers were hardly looked at, if at all. The importance of the NBA in the 1950s came down to winning championships because there were fewer than 10 teams in the league, but Sharman was still the best shooter.

In the 1950s, Bill Sharman shot 42.2% from the field and an impressive 88.2% from the free-throw line. The legendary shooting guard had the highest free-throw percentage in the NBA 6 times in the decade and had a knack for swishing shots better than anyone else. It is interesting to mention that Sharman is also one of the four people to be entered into the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach, which makes his career all that more impressive.

1960 – Jerry West

Jerry West, the NBA’s logo, is easily one of the best players ever, regardless of position. A Lakers legend, West shot a career 81.4% from the free-throw line and 47.4% from the field while averaging 27.0 PPG. Clearly, he was a sharpshooter and scorer of the highest order and one of the best shooting guards of all time who often goes underappreciated on all-time lists because of how many dominant Los Angeles Lakers players came after him.

Jerry West was too talented not to be recognized as arguably a top-4 shooting guard ever, and the numbers back it up when looking both at his scoring and shooting percentages. The shooting guard entered the league in 1961, and until 1969, he averaged 46.0% from the field and 81.0% from the stripe without the presence of a three-point shot.

He also only averaged under 25 PPG in a single season only once, and that came in his rookie season. West’s high came in 1966 when he posted 31.3 PPG and had two other seasons averaging at least 30 PPG in the decade. Jerry’s form was sublime, and he always managed to rely on his jumpers to score all the points he did, which makes him the greatest shooter of the 1960s without a shadow of a doubt.

1970 – Pete Maravich

Pistol Pete Maravich had a Hall of Fame career with the New Orleans/Utah Jazz, but he kickstarted his stardom with the Atlanta Hawks. The legendary guard was drafted No. 3 in the 1970 NBA Draft and made All-Rookie by averaging 23.2 PPG and 4.4 APG, an indication of what was to come. An iconic offensive player and shooter, Maravich once averaged 26.1 PPG, 27.7 PPG, and 31.1 PPG in different seasons, thanks to his marksmanship.

Pistol Pete’s ability to make jumpers, slice to the basket, and make his foul shots consistently made him one of the most respected offensive players of his generation. Maravich’s 31.1 PPG came in 1977 when he won the league’s scoring title, and he was by then the best shooter of the decade. The 6’5” shooting guard was supremely gifted as a shooter, averaging 44.1% from the field and 81.9% from the free-throw line.

The three-point shot was not introduced in the 1970s, meaning we never got to see Maravich take shots worth at least three points at a high percentage. But Pistol Pete was renowned for his efficiency from the field when he took jumpers, and he also never shot below 80% from the free-throw line either.

1980 – Larry Bird

It is unbelievable and very unfortunate that Larry Bird only made 649 threes in his Hall of Fame career because he played in an era where long-range shooting was not encouraged. Instead, Bird made the most of what the 80s encouraged and brought his competitive style of play to the court every night. Larry even shot above 40% from three in 6 different seasons, despite never attempting more than three 3’s per game on average in any season.

Easily one of the top-10 players ever, Larry Bird does not rank anywhere near the other players on this list in total threes made. That doesn’t take away from the fact that Bird won three straight 3-Point Contests, and has countless clutch baskets from beyond in competitive matchups. Larry Legend should have played in today’s game because if he did, we are looking at a top-5 shooter ever, without a doubt.

Out of all the shooters in the 1980s, Larry Legend has to be the best one. The iconic marksman made 455 threes on 1,206 attempts which were good for 37.7%. Had Bird competed in today’s decade and worked hard on his three, there is no doubt he would be right with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson as the best to have ever done it. Bird had a high-arcing release and was not affected by a hand in his face, a reason why he managed 24.3 PPG career scoring average despite being an efficient rebounder and passer as well.

1990 – Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller is a legend and one of the greatest players of the 90s era. Even if he never captured an MVP Award or an NBA championship, Miller was a force on the court and was a part of a great Indiana Pacers squad that made the NBA Finals in 2000. With his clutch shooting and long-range prowess, Reggie was a one-of-a-kind offensive player and stood out tremendously during the 1990s.

He held the three-point record for most threes for a long time, although he never benefited from playing in the modern era. Had Reggie played in today’s game, he might have been an even more impactful superstar on the court, and possibly the all-time leader of threes made right now. Reggie was Mr. Clutch because he seemed to get hotter when his team needed him most, and the Pacers were never truly out of a game when Miller was taking shots.

In the 1990s, Miller made 1,543 three-pointers in 3,809 attempts which were good for 40.5%, an alarming great percentage for players who barely took outside shots in the 1990s decade and were instead focused on punishing defenses inside and from mid-range. Armed with a perfect form that sent the ball looping in the air, Miller ranks 4th all-time behind three other players who passed him in total threes made (Stephen Curry, Ray Allen, James Harden). If only we got to see, Reggie Miller battling Stephen Curry in this decade because it would have been three-point madness.

2000 – Ray Allen

Ray Allen made history when he broke Reggie Miller’s record for most threes made because we would never have thought that a shooting guard could make more outside shots. Armed with a consistent jumper that was perfect in any situation, Ray Allen made over 2,200 three-pointers in his career as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat.

Allen was known to have practiced thousands of shots per week and made sure that he would get his jumper off in any in-game situation. He was a valuable member of the Celtics team that would win an NBA title and made arguably the biggest shot in playoff history when his corner three saved the Miami Heat in Game 6. When the game was on the line, and Allen had a good look from three, it was almost guaranteed the shot would go in every time.

Allen was proficient with his 40.0% career average from three, and he is one of the greatest shooters in the history of basketball. The Hall of Fame shooting guard made a total of 1,974 three-pointers over the 2000s decade and did it at an efficiency of 40.3%. That means Allen took 4,903 threes and still managed to hit the mark over 40% of the time. Thanks to his consistent form, Ray has to be the best shooter of the 2000s, ahead of the likes of Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kobe Bryant.

2010 – Stephen Curry

As expected, the man who holds the record for most threes made is the greatest shooter of the 2010s decade. As of right now, Stephen Curry is 309 three-pointers clear of Ray Allen for the all-time top spot, and he is not slowing down soon. Thanks to his deep-range prowess and unlimited range, Steph completely changed the game for the foreseeable future. Steph took a whopping 5,690 three-pointers between 2010 and 2019, an indication that he might have the biggest green light in basketball history.

Throughout history, we have seen some special shooters in the NBA, including Ray Allen and Reggie Miller, but neither player could create their own shot from three as soon as he steps a foot in front of half-court. Ranking 1st in all-time 3PM, Steph built his 3-point shooting legacy in the 2010’s decade because that was when the point guard became a two-time MVP and multiple-time NBA champion.

Amazingly, Curry would also be the greatest shooter ever in the decade after. Steph has changed the game, and his percentages are off the charts. He is averaging 47.4% from the field, 42.7% from three, and 90.9% from the free-throw line over his career. His numbers in the 2010s decade stood at 47.7% FG, 43.6% 3-PT FG, and 90.5% FT. In other words, Curry has been the greatest shooter ever since he probably entered the league, or at least when he won his first MVP award.

2020 – Stephen Curry

Even as we are 4 years into the 2020s decade, Stephen Curry is the best shooter in the NBA by a wide margin. The point guard is off to a tremendous start to a new decade by shooting 40.1% from three en route to 799 three-pointers made on 1,991 shots. Unsurprisingly, Curry has made the last two All-Star Teams and possibly the one in 2023.

Stephen Curry is only 34 years old, and considering his finesse style of play, he will likely play on for at least another 3 or 4 years. That means the point guard could come close to completing another decade as the most impactful shooter in the league yet again. There isn’t anyone who can come close.

Klay Thompson is still going strong in the NBA, and so are Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard. But none of those guys will likely showcase they can shoot better than Steph, although Kevin Durant might have a chance to increase his percentages. As things stand, Curry is the best shooter in the world for the second-straight decade.

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