The introduction of the three-point line in the NBA during the 1979-80 season marked a significant evolution in basketball, with Brian Taylor becoming the first champion for three-point shooting, recording 90 makes in a season. Fast forward to the current 2023-24 season, Stephen Curry has set a new benchmark by leading the league with an impressive 357 triples.
Here’s a look at the players who have dominated the league in three-point scoring over multiple seasons.
Stephen Curry: 8 times
Stephen Curry has achieved the remarkable feat of leading the NBA in three-point field goals an unprecedented eight times. He holds the record for the most career three-pointers made, totaling 3,747, and he is also the all-time leader in playoff three-pointers with 618. In the postseason, Curry averages 4.2 made three-pointers at a rate of 39.7%. His standout performance includes a single-game high of 13 made three-pointers during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 7, 2016. Regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history, Curry is a two-time Kia MVP and a four-time NBA champion, with ten All-Star selections to his name and two scoring titles. He has also claimed a steals title during his career.
In his MVP seasons of 2015 and 2016, Curry averaged 26.9 points with a shooting percentage of 49.6%, making 4.3 triples at 44.9%, and boasting a free throw percentage of 91.0%. He contributed 7.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.1 steals across 33.4 minutes per game. As he embarks on his 16th season with the Golden State Warriors, Curry was selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
James Harden: 3 times
James Harden claimed his three three-point titles over three consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2020. During this time frame, he racked up 942 three-pointers made at a shooting percentage of 36.3%. Harden won the Kia MVP award in the first year of this run and led the league in free throws made for all three seasons. In the later years of this span, he also topped the scoring charts. This period coincided with the conclusion of his nine-season tenure with the Houston Rockets, during which he averaged 29.6 points on 44.3% shooting, hitting 3.3 three-pointers per game at 36.3% and maintaining an 86.2% free throw rate. In addition, he contributed 7.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals while spending an average of 37.0 minutes on the court.
Harden is a ten-time All-Star and has led the league in assists on two occasions. Before his time in Houston, he played three seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Afterward, he had stints with the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and is entering his second season with the LA Clippers. Harden was drafted third overall in 2009.
Ray Allen: 3 times
Ray Allen, a Hall of Fame guard renowned for his shooting prowess, also showcased his ability as an all-around scorer during his prime. He led the league in three-pointers made in 2002, 2003, and 2006, playing for both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Seattle SuperSonics. During these seasons, Allen made four All-Star appearances and averaged 23.3 points with a shooting percentage of 44.4%, making 3.0 three-pointers per game at a rate of 39.9%. His averages also included 4.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 threes over 38.2 minutes per game. Allen finished his career with a three-point percentage of 40.0% and is a two-time NBA champion, winning titles with the Boston Celtics in 2008 and the Miami Heat in 2013. Throughout his 171 playoff appearances, he maintained a shooting percentage of 40.1% from beyond the arc.
Players who have topped the NBA in made three-pointers twice include: