Stephen Curry hits a deep three-pointer, and the crowd goes wild. You can't talk about three-pointers in the NBA without starting with Curry, who has redefined the shot. But let's rewind to understand how we reached this point where players are hoisting up threes from nearly half-court.
Back in the day, particularly before 1979, the three-pointer didn't even exist. The American Basketball Association (ABA) first introduced the three-point line to add excitement and it worked. The NBA adopted it during the 1979-1980 season, but players and coaches were initially reluctant to embrace it, seeing it as more of a gimmick. Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics made the first official NBA three-pointer on October 12, 1979. That was a big deal back then, less for the shot and more for the possibilities it opened.
In the early 80s, three-point attempts were rare. Just look at Larry Bird: a legendary shooter with incredible range, yet he only attempted about one three-pointer per game in his early years. Things started to shift with the arrival of sharpshooters like Dale Ellis and Craig Hodges in the late 80s. Ellis, for example, wasn't hesitant; he attempted around five threes per game in his peak seasons, hitting at an impressive clip of over 40 percent.
Reggie Miller deserves a lot of credit for normalizing the three-pointer in the 90s. Not only did he frequently nail clutch shots, but he also attempted more threes than most players of his era. By the end of his career, Miller had amassed 2,560 career threes, a record that stood out for years. His rivalry with the New York Knicks, particularly those memorable 8 points in 9 seconds, showcased the power of the three-pointer in dramatic moments.
The late 90s saw the introduction of the Houston Rockets' duo, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, soon followed by players like Ray Allen and Dirk Nowitzki who started to shift the philosophy towards more perimeter play. Ray Allen broke Miller's record on February 10, 2011, and finished his career with 2,973 threes. Allen combined accuracy with clutch performance, remember his game-tying three-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals?
Fast forward to the 2010s, it wasn't just individuals but entire teams embracing the three-ball. The 'Seven Seconds or Less' Phoenix Suns led by Steve Nash and coached by Mike D’Antoni utilized the fast-paced, three-heavy offense that paved the way for today's game. The Golden State Warriors capitalized on this evolution, with Curry and Klay Thompson, famously known as the 'Splash Brothers', making over 1,000 three-pointers each in one season alone from 2014 to 2019. In fact, Curry himself hit an astonishing 402 threes in the 2015-2016 season.
If we look at the current landscape, James Harden is another key figure to consider. Over the past five seasons, he has attempted about 10 threes per game, racking up points with step-backs and creating new strategies around perimeter shooting. Harden's high usage rate combined with a decent efficiency has turned him into one of the top three-point shooters by volume, though his percentages are not as eye-popping as Curry's.
Moving beyond individual achievements, teams today average about 35 three-point attempts per game, a stark contrast to the early 80s when the entire league averaged below three attempts per game. Analytics have played a huge part in this evolution too. The concept of 'Moreyball', coined after Daryl Morey, the former GM of the Houston Rockets, emphasized the efficiency of three-pointers over mid-range shots. Morey believed that a three-point attempt, even at a slightly lower percentage than a mid-range shot, is statistically more valuable.
Coaches across the league now leverage player's three-point shooting capabilities, spotting talents from college drafts that align with this philosophy. Today, even big men like Karl-Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid possess the three-ball in their arsenal. Can you imagine Bill Russell or Wilt Chamberlain shooting threes? It's unlikely but the modern NBA player needs to be versatile.
Looking ahead, the record for most three-pointers is bound to be shattered multiple times. Young stars like Trae Young and Luka Doncic are already showcasing deep-range skills beyond their years. Trae Young, for example, has attempted over 650 threes in a single season. It's not far-fetched to imagine a future where players might regularly hit 500 threes in a season.
For an most 3 pointers in nba comprehensive view on this matter, it's fascinating to explore how rapidly everything evolves. शे transformation of the three-point shot is remarkable. Who could have predicted that something once considered a sideshow would become one of the most integral parts of the game? The journey from Chris Ford's first three to Stephen Curry's groundbreaking achievements is nothing short of extraordinary. This trajectory will continue evolving, shaping the future of professional basketball.