The Greatest Three-Point Shooting Point Guards In NBA History

Over the last 15 years, the NBA has evolved from a big-man league dominated by power forwards and centers controlling the paint into a league enamored with three-point shooting. This influx of three-point shooting has inspired a generation of basketball players, no matter the position they play, to work on their jump shots and perfect their game from beyond the arc. That is the way of the NBA in 2023, and as much as that may come with disdain from basketball purists, it seems to be working out just fine. 

Today, we are going to begin to break down the best three-point shooter at each position. We will begin with the point guards and eventually work our way up to the centers, all while determining who the second-greatest three-point shooter in NBA history is. I would say who the first is, but everyone already knows it is Stephen Curry, and he will be listed below as a point guard. Some players will be omitted that certainly have an argument to be on this list. Steve Kerr and Mark Price are two of the greatest three-point shooting point guards ever, but with under 1,000 made for their career, we simply cannot put them with the players who have had far more success from three-point range. The point guard position has had some of the greatest shooters in NBA history, and we will dive into the 10 greatest below, adding context across the board.

These are the greatest three-point shooting point guards in NBA history.

10. Tim Hardaway

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,542

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 1.8

3-Point Percentage: 35.5%

Tim Hardaway is one of the smoothest ball handlers in NBA history. His signature Killer Crossover is one of the best signature moves in NBA history and accounted for more than his fair share of broken ankles. In his 13-year career, Hardaway earned five All-Star appearances and five All-NBA Team selections with the Warriors, Heat, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Pacers. 

In his first six seasons with Golden State, Hardaway took 4.0 attempts per game from three and knocked them down at 35.5%, which happens to be his career average. In 1995, he attempted a career-high 7.2 threes per game and shot 37.8%. In the following six seasons with the Heat, Hardaway was a 35.6% three-point shooter on 6.2 attempts. His efficiency climbed as he attempted more shots, but with no seasons above 40.0% shooting, he can be no higher than 10th on this list.

9. Chris Paul

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,623

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 1.3

3-Point Percentage: 36.9%

Chris Paul gets a ton of criticism these days for going his entire career without being able to lead his team or even be a part of a team that has won an NBA championship. He is one of the best two-way point guards in NBA history and has solidified himself as a top 10 point guard of all time. In his career with the Hornets, Clippers, Thunder, Rockets, and Suns, Paul is a 12-time All-Star, 11-time All-NBA Team selection, six-time steals champ and five-time assists champ. 

Paul has never been an overly abundant three-point shooter, but he has reached 40.0% shooting from three twice in his career, in 2010 with the Hornets and in 2017 with the Clippers. Paul attempted a career-high 6.5 three-pointers in 2017 with the Rockets and was still able to shoot 38.0% from three that year. With his 1,623 three-pointers, Paul ranks 32nd on the NBA’s all-time list.

8. Jason Kidd

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,988

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 1.4

3-Point Percentage: 34.9%

Jason Kidd is known as an all-time playmaker, defender, and overall two-way point guard. His leadership on the court helped an underwhelming New Jersey Nets team make two consecutive NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, and he was able to win an NBA championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. Kidd earned 10 All-Star selections in his career as well as six All-NBA Team selections, nine All-Defensive Team selections, and five assists titles in his career with the Mavericks, Suns, Nets, and Knicks. 

Kidd was never a voluminous three-point shooter in his early career, having never attempted more than 3.0 three-pointers per game until 2002. During his later years with Dallas, Kidd began to shoot much more from beyond the arc and even had himself consecutive 40.0% seasons from three in 2009 and 2010. He ranks 15th all-time in 3-pointers made, falling just 12 shy of 2,000 for his career.

7. Steve Nash

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,685

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 1.4

3-Point Percentage: 42.8%

Steve Nash is widely known as one of the greatest playmakers and point guards in NBA history. During his peak with the Phoenix Suns, Nash was a two-time MVP, six-time All-Star, and a five-time assists champion. Nash led the NBA’s most potent offense to record-breaking seasons as far as pace and scoring are concerned and cemented his place among the game’s greatest players.

One underrated aspect of Nash’s game was his ability to shoot the ball from anywhere on the court. Nash’s efficiency is some of the best from a point guard ever, as he joined the 50/40/90 club four different times in his career. The only knock on him is that he didn’t shoot the ball enough but that just wasn’t his game. Nash attempted over 4.0 threes per game four times in his career and shot over 40.0% every time. Could you imagine if he had the green light from deep like point guards do in 2023?

6. Kemba Walker

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,670

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 2.2

3-Point Percentage: 36.0%

After setting the college world on fire at Uconn during his NCAA days, Kemba Walker was the ninth overall pick to the Charlotte Bobcats which eventually became the Hornets again. While with the Hornets for eight seasons, Walker became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and number one in total three-pointers made. He earned four straight All-Star appearances from 2017 thru 2020 and had his first and only All-NBA Team selection in 2019 in his final season in Charlotte. 

Although he has never been a 40.0% three-point shooter, Kemba has doubled the volume of attempts from our previous members of this list. Walker attempted over 8.0 threes per game from 2019 thru 2021 and averaged 36.4% shooting from three during that time. Despite an All-Star season as recently as 2020, injuries and failure to find a new situation that embraces him have set his career on the path toward the end. Walker ranks 31st all-time in three-pointers made in NBA history with 1,670.

5. Chauncey Billups

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,830

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 1.8

3-Point Percentage: 38.7%

Chauncey Billups is one of the most accomplished point guards in NBA history and will soon, hopefully, take his rightful place in the Hall of Fame. In 2004, Billups was part of a Pistons team that delivered a championship to Detroit for the first time since 1990, and Billups was awarded Finals MVP honors. He earned five straight All-Star appearances from 2006 thru 2010 with Detroit and Denver as well as three All-NBA Team selections and two All-Defensive Team selections.  

Billups has had five seasons in his career in which he eclipsed 40.0% shooting in his career, and they all came as he added more shots from beyond the arc to his game. His best stretch as a shooter came from 2005 thru 2011 when he attempted 4.9 threes per game and shot 40.2% on average over that time. Billups also earned the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” for his ability to knock down big shots from deep in his career. His 1,830 three-pointers rank 22nd in NBA history.

4. Kyle Lowry

Total 3-Pointers Made: 2,072

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 1.9

3-Point Percentage: 36.8%

Kyle Lowry has been one of the most consistent point guards over the last decade as far as shooting and leadership are concerned. After early struggles to find a real spot amongst his teammates, Lowry became a star once he arrived in Toronto with the Raptors. He helped lead them to their first NBA championship in 2019 and earned six straight All-Star appearances from 2015 thru 2020. He also earned his only career All-NBA Team selection in 2016, with Toronto narrowly missing out on the honor in the years that followed.

It wasn’t until Lowry arrived in Toronto that he began to actually attempt a good amount of three-pointers. From 2014 to the present day, Lowry has attempted 6.9 three-pointers per game and has hit on 37.6% of them. Even at 36 years old in 2022-23 with Miami, Lowry is attempting 5.9 threes per game and still shooting 35.0%. Lowry’s 2,072 three-pointers rank 13th in NBA history, as he is just one of 14 players to reach 2,000 three-pointers in his career.

3. Kyrie Irving

Total 3-Pointers Made: 1,544

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 2.3

3-Point Percentage: 39.2%

Kyrie Irving is one of the most skilled players that the NBA has ever seen. From his insane ball-handling skills to his finishes at the rim, Irving has wowed fans and peers alike with his skills over the last 12 seasons. Irving has had a decorated career on the court with a Rookie of the Year award, eight All-Star appearances, and three All-NBA Team selections. He also hit one of the biggest shots in NBA Finals history alongside LeBron James to secure an epic comeback and an NBA championship for the Cavaliers in 2016.

People may not realize, but Irving has been one of the more efficient three-point shooters over the last decade. He has gone for over 40.0% from three six times in his career, even as he approached 7.0 and 8.0 attempts per game. He had a 50/40/90 season in 2021 and had a stretch from 2015 thru 2022 where he attempted 7.0 threes per game and knocked them down at 39.8%. Irving deserves much more recognition than he gets for his shooting split and numbers from beyond the arc.

2. Damian Lillard

Total 3-Pointers Made: 2,387

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 3.1

3- Point Percentage: 37.2%

The next two shooters on this list are the two greatest point guard shooters ever, and it isn’t particularly close. Damian Lillard has made a career out of breaking defenses backs with his ridiculous range as a shooter, sometimes needing just one or two steps beyond halfcourt to get to his spot. He has knocked down clutch shot after clutch shot in the playoffs and become one of the most prolific scorers from the point guard position in NBA history. Lillard is a seven-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA Team selection as well as a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Lillard came into the NBA, attempting over 6.0 shots per game from beyond the arc, and has only gotten more shots up since. He has three seasons in which he has attempted more than 10.0 threes per game and in every one of those seasons, has shot over 37.0% from deep. This includes 2020, when he attempted 10.2 threes per game and shot 40.1% on those attempts. Lillard currently ranks sixth all-time with 2,387 three-pointers made in his career and third among active players.

1. Stephen Curry

Total 3-Pointers Made: 3,353

3-Pointers Made Per Game: 3.8

3-Point Percentage: 42.8%

There is no doubt who was going to be claimed as the GOAT three-point shooting point guard when we began this list. Not only that, but Stephen Curry is the consensus three-point shooting GOAT, and rightfully so. Over the last decade, we have watched Curry change the game entirely with his ability to shoot the ball from incredible range, volume, and efficiency of his three-point shots. Curry takes this spot by a landslide, even over someone as accomplished as Lillard or Kyrie, as he led the Warriors to four NBA championships and won two MVP awards on the back of his shooting.

As the all-time three-point king, it will be interesting to see just how many threes Curry ends up with when it is all said and done. He has attempted over 10.0 threes per game in six seasons and only shot under 40.0% once. During his unanimous MVP season in 2016, Curry shot 45.4% on 11.2 attempts from three. In 2022-23, Curry has attempted 11.4 attempts from deep per game and is knocking down 43.0% of them. I do not know if many people realize how incredible that is to sustain that kind of efficiency over time. What else would you expect from the GOAT of three-point shooting?

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