The three-point shot was introduced to the NBA in the 1979-80 season, with Brian Taylor becoming the league’s first three-point champion by making 90 shots from beyond the arc. The evolution of the game has been remarkable, with Stephen Curry topping the charts for the 2023-24 season, making 357 three-pointers.
Here are the players who have led the league in three-point scoring on multiple occasions:
Stephen Curry: 8 times
Stephen Curry has made history by leading the league in three-point field goals a record eight times. He holds the title for the most three-pointers made in NBA history, amassing a total of 3,747 throughout his career. In playoff performances, he remains the all-time leader with 618 three-pointers, averaging 4.2 per game at a 39.7% shooting percentage. His highest single-game record is 13 three-pointers, achieved on November 7, 2016, against the New Orleans Pelicans. Often hailed as the greatest shooter of all time, Curry is a two-time Kia MVP and a four-time NBA champion, with 10 All-Star selections and two scoring titles to his name. Over his back-to-back MVP seasons in 2015 and 2016, Curry averaged 26.9 points per game with a shooting percentage of 49.6%, along with 4.3 three-pointers at 44.9% accuracy. As he heads into his 16th season with the Golden State Warriors, Curry was drafted 7th overall in 2009.
James Harden: 3 times
James Harden claimed his three three-point titles consecutively from 2017 to 2020, making 942 three-pointers during this period at a shooting percentage of 36.3%. He was awarded the Kia MVP in the first of these three seasons and led the league in free throws made throughout all three years. Additionally, Harden topped the scoring charts in the latter two years of this stretch. His tenure with the Houston Rockets, which lasted nine seasons, saw him average 29.6 points on 44.3% shooting, hitting 3.3 three-pointers per game at a 36.3% success rate. He also recorded averages of 7.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals over 37 minutes of play. A 10-time All-Star, Harden has led the league in assists twice and played for several teams, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, and Philadelphia 76ers. He is now poised for his second season with the LA Clippers after being selected third overall in 2009.
Ray Allen: 3 times
Ray Allen, a Hall of Fame guard celebrated for his exceptional shooting skills, was also an effective all-around scorer at the peak of his career. He led the NBA in three-pointers made in 2002, 2003, and 2006, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics during this time. Allen was selected to four All-Star teams during these years and averaged 23.3 points per game on 44.4% shooting while making 3.0 three-pointers at a 39.9% clip. His career three-point shooting percentage stands at 40.0%, and he is a two-time NBA champion, having won titles with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and the Miami Heat in 2013. He exhibited impressive shooting performance in the playoffs as well, with a 40.1% success rate from beyond the arc over 171 postseason games.
Players who have led the NBA in made three-pointers twice include: