NBA Before, there was a custom that "insider is king". Without an MVP-level insider, it would be difficult to go far in the NBA. In that era, every confrontation was a collision of muscles, so even if As strong as and Jordan , they could only place third in the 1984 draft. If you don't open your eyes to God, I believe that the Rockets will select Olajuwon 10,000 times. Therefore, it is not incomprehensible that the weak Curry fell to the seventh overall pick in the 2009 draft. Who would have thought that this thin shooter could create a wave of three-pointers?
In the first decade of the 21st century, the level of confrontation in the NBA was still intense. Although it had moderated after Auburn Hills, hand-to-hand combat was still the mainstream of the era, so muscular men like Howard could perfectly adapt to that era. At that time The most enjoyable thing to watch is the flying sky and the earth and various difficult goals. However, this kind of confrontation has caused many players to suffer from injuries, such as Curry. This situation changed in the second decade of the 21st century, especially after Silver took office. He intentionally or unintentionally promoted the speed of the game. After all, it is the faster pace and smooth offense that make fans more excited. Feast your eyes, in this case, a large number of new functional players emerged at the historic moment. Super shooting control and organizational forwards have become the trend of this era, commonly known as the "small ball era".
In this era, three-point ability has become an important indicator for testing a team, so a lot of three-point teams came into being. First there were the Warriors, then the Rockets, and then there were Bucks , There are many excellent three-point teams such as Suns . Under such a general premise, almost all guards who are not capable of three-point shooting have been eliminated. Only mid-range shooting kings such as DeRozan and stand out there, but it is the three-pointers who are really on the stage of history today. Point masters, especially Curry, Harden, and others have become the trendsetters of the times.
List of the top ten players in active three-point field goals:
No. 10, Eric Gordon , 1,746 three-pointers (26th in history)
Career data: 16.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game
He averaged 2.6 three-pointers per game, and his three-point shooting percentage was 37.1%.
Gordon Jr. was also a flying figure back then. After being injured, he could no longer fly, so he began to specialize in three-pointers, but Even so, he has still suffered from injuries in recent seasons, so his three-point output has been greatly affected. He currently leads Anthony with 1731 records.
Gordon has been a three-pointer since his debut. However, due to historical reasons, he did not focus on three-pointers in his early years. Because his output was not high in the first few years of his career, he averaged less than 2 three-pointers per game, but he is comfortable. In the last two years of the Pelicans, the three-pointers have been more than 2. After arriving with the Rockets, they have reached more than 3 for three consecutive seasons. If healthy, Gordon can maintain more than 200 three-pointers every season. There is no problem, but Gordon, who has played less than half of the games in the past three seasons, is in doubt. It is difficult to say whether he can enter the 2,000+ three-pointer club in his career. Of course, there is no problem if he is healthy.
No. 9: Kevin Durant, 1,770 three-pointers (24th in history)
career data: 27.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists per game
averaged 1.9 three-pointers per game, 38.4 three-point shooting percentage %
Durant has many offensive methods. He can shoot three-pointers but never relies on three-pointers. Therefore, his three-pointer output is not high. He averages 1.9 three-pointers per game and is still far behind the current top shooters. , but fortunately his efficiency is good, and his career three-point shooting percentage can reach 38.4%. The main reason why he can be ranked ahead of Gordon is that he is healthier than Gordon and has played two hundred more games, but despite this, He only has 24 more three-pointers than Gordon. Once Gordon returns, Durant will soon be overtaken, but for Durant, three-pointers do not seem to be that important. Mid-range pull-ups and Killing inside is his most efficient way.
As the most efficient scorer in history, Durant, with his height of 2.10 meters and wingspan of 2.25 meters, makes many defenders sigh at his shooting. In the next few years, as he ages, The increase should increase the proportion of three-pointers, but it is probably impossible to surpass Ray Allen . After all, it is still more than 1,200 short of Allen's 2,973 three-pointers. It is really not possible. easy.
No. 8: Wesley Matthews, 1,782 (23rd in history)
Career statistics: 12.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game
Averaged 2 three-pointers per game, 37.7% three-point shooting percentage
As an undrafted player, Matthews' career can be considered a success. He performed well with the Jazz in the first season of his career, and became a qualified starting point guard after joining the Trail Blazers. , although he is only 1.96 meters tall and has a wingspan of 2.05 meters, Matthews has a good three-point touch, especially next to Ade and Lillard , he has gained a lot of shooting space, three-pointers His ball ability has also been greatly improved during the Trail Blazers period.
The best season of Matthews' career was in the 2013-2014 season. In that season, he averaged a career-high 16.4 points per game. He also shot 39.3% from three-point range, becoming a powerful player next to Double Deutsche. assistant. He was a decent starting guard in his career, but he suffered a disaster in the 2018-2019 season. He wandered to three teams within a year, and his condition was not as good as the previous year. This season, he was unsatisfactory as a substitute in Bucks . He only averaged 1.1 three-pointers per game and his shooting percentage was only 33.8%. Judging from his performance, he is not far from retirement. Give him applause in advance.
No. 7: Paul George 1852 (19th in history)
Career statistics: 20.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game
Averaged 2.5 three-pointers per game, shooting 38.5%
Pickle's career is very inspiring , I have complained about many stars on the Internet, but I never complain about players like George who have been seriously injured and can return to their peak. Regarding injuries, only those who have experienced them will know how difficult it is to recover as before. See The moment he was injured, I thought it would be great for him to come back and play, but to my surprise, not only did he come back, he also played better than before.
In addition to Paul George's poor three-point shooting in the first season of his career, his three-point shooting percentage has never been lower than 35%, and he has had four seasons of more than 40%, and his production is not low. In that season, he averaged 28 points and averaged 3.8 three-pointers at a 38.6% shooting rate. In recent seasons, the number of three-pointers has been stable at more than 3. When he returns next season, the number of three-pointers will still be high. It will continue to rise. After all, he is only 32 years old, and there is still a lot of room for improvement in three-pointers in the future. He is now only 1,121 three-pointers away from Ray Allen. If he can play another 5-6 healthy seasons, there should be There is a chance to surpass Ray Allen. As for Curry, even if Curry retires now, it will be a bit difficult.
No. 6: Klay Thompson 1,912 (18th in history)
career data: 19.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game
averaged 3.0 three-pointers per game, shooting 41.2%
Thompson was delayed for two by injuries Many seasons, otherwise with his production, I am afraid he should have exceeded the 2,400 mark. He was an efficient shooter when he debuted. From the first season of his career to the season before his injury, Thompson shot more than 40% from three-pointers for 8 consecutive seasons. Even this season, his three-pointer percentage was as high as 38.5%. .
Tangshen once again proved his strength in the playoffs , averaging 19 points and 3.9 assists per game, while also averaging 3.5 three-pointers per game with a 38.5% shooting rate, and in the finals against Brown's defense is also indispensable. After returning from a serious injury, Tang Shen is still trustworthy. After all, the shooter's confidence is that as long as the touch is still there, he can still shoot.
I believe that Tang Shen will start to make up for the lessons he has missed in the past two years next season. After all, when healthy, he can stably contribute 200+ three-pointers every season. If he goes by his playoff status, he will surpass Rea. Lun may only be able to do it in less than five seasons. If he works hard, he might be able to get it done in four seasons.
fifth place: Kyle Lowry 1971 three-pointers (15th in history)
career data: 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists per game
averaged 1.9 three-pointers per game, 36.8% three-point shooting percentage
Lowry can be said to be the most successful player to come out of the Rockets in recent years. Although he is only 1.83 meters tall, of course he became a little steel cannon in the Rockets in the early stages of his career. To be fair, he was a very bad player in the early stages of his career. He shot three-pointers, and his three-point shooting rate was less than 30% for 4 consecutive seasons. At that time, his output relied entirely on his short and lean body and he ran rampant in the penalty area.
The turning point of his career was in the 2010-2011 season. By that time, George W. Bush had left the Rockets, but Lowry's three-pointers suddenly skyrocketed from 27.2% to 37.4%, becoming a reliable three-pointer. shooter and has remained at a high level.
Lowry is definitely a good teammate. His care for Azan, a autistic patient, is still fresh in people's memory. The "Garbage Brothers" combination he formed with DeRozan was also one of the hottest backcourt combinations back then. , in the 2018-2019 season, Lowry won a championship with the team as the main point guard, and he has no regrets in his career. Now 36 years old, Lowry's condition has begun to decline, and his three-point shooting feel is unsustainable. It may be difficult to improve the number of three-pointers.
Fourth place: LeBron James 2,140 three-pointers (11th in history)
Career statistics: 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists per game
Averaged 1.6 three-pointers per game, shooting 34.6%
You should have no problem with me saying that he is not an excellent three-point shooter. Of course, three-pointers have never been the main offensive method of James . The main reason why he can reach this number is that he plays a lot of games. He has played 1,366 games in his career. He has played more than 300 games more than any other player in this article, but it is not easy to have such a long-lasting career. I still have to give the second one a thumbs up.
Before meeting Ray Allen, James' three-pointers and free throws could be said to be quasi-catastrophic, with his three-point shooting rate stable at around 30%. The two best seasons for his three-point shooting performance in his career were in the 2012-2013 season and the 2013-2014 season. Coincidentally, it was the two years when Ray Allen played for the Heat . Visual inspection must have been under the guidance of Ray Allen. Yes, after all, not everyone has the opportunity to work with a historical-level shooter.
Lao James is currently 833 short of Ray Allen's 2,973 three-pointers. According to his output of over 100 three-pointers per season, it will take at least 7 seasons to surpass Ray Allen, but he still has Can you fight for that long?
Third place: Damian Lillard 2143 three-pointers (tenth in history)
career data: 24.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 6.4 assists per game
averaged 3.0 three-pointers per game, three-point shooting percentage 37.3%
He was originally a player who could compete with Curry, but his style of play was considered a relatively selfish player. As a result, almost all his teammates left him, the most famous one being Ade. Lillard is a player with strong key ball ability. Almost every time I see him take a shot, I feel like he is going in.
He only played 29 games this season. He probably saw that the team was preparing to fail and didnβt want to play. He might also be injured. The efficiency dropped obviously. Although he still averaged 24+4+7.3 per game, he also made 3.2 field goals. He recorded three-pointers, but his shooting rate was only 32.4%, which is really not flattering. Lillard should be able to recover after returning next season. By then, 200+ three-pointers in a season should be commonplace. With his strength In terms of performance, there is still a good chance of surpassing Ray Allen, but Curry will definitely not be able to catch up.
Second place: James Harden 2,593 three-pointers (3rd in history)
career statistics: 24.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists
averaged 2.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 36.1%
may be affected by Due to the impact of injuries, or perhaps due to the transfer not being adjusted well, Harden's performance this season has been very poor. Although his power on the organizational end is still there, his efficiency on the offensive end has dropped significantly. During the Nets period, the three-point shooting rate was only 33.2%. During the 6ers period, the three-point shooting percentage was only 32.6%, and the output was not high, only 2.2.
The highlight of Harden's three-point shooting career was in the 2018-2019 season. He averaged 4.8 three-pointers per game and shot 36.8% from the field. In that season, he averaged 36.1 points per game, which was also the highest in his career. It was a crazy season. .
In the past two days, news has spread that Harden has jumped out of his contract. He is obviously preparing to work hard for the 76ers. His injuries should have eased and he has started training. This is for Harden, who has always been fishing. This is rare for a brother. I hope he can return with full blood next season.
Harden is currently only 380 three-pointers away from Ray Allen's second place in history. If Harden stays healthy, it will only take two seasons to surpass Ray Allen and occupy the second place in history.
No. 1: Stephen Curry, 3117 three-pointers (first in history)
career statistics: 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists
averaged 3.8 three-pointers per game, shooting 42.8%
Every time Curry scores one now The ball is the new historical three-point record. This feeling should be very refreshing. In his career, he averaged more than 5 three-pointers in 3 seasons, more than 4 in 3 seasons, and more than 3 in 3 seasons, with four. There are more than 2 seasons, and there are only two seasons where the shooting rate is lower than 40%. For him, there is nothing to say. In terms of three-pointers, it depends on whether he can surpass the 4,000 mark.
Do you think Curry has a chance to hit 4,000 three-pointers? If so, how many seasons?
