When Stephen Curry finally retires, they’re basically going to have to rename the record book after him. It’s not even a competition anymore; it’s a victory lap. As of January 2026, the landscape for the most 3 pointers made in NBA history has shifted from a tight race into a "how far can he actually go?" scenario. We’re watching a guy who has already crossed the 4,200-mark. Think about that. When Ray Allen retired, his 2,973 seemed like an Everest that would take decades to summit. Steph didn't just climb it; he built a skyscraper on top of it.
Basketball has changed so much in the last ten years that the "all-time" list feels like two different sports being played. You've got the pioneers like Reggie Miller, who fought through hand-checking and a slower pace, and then you've got the modern "spam the button" era where a 30-footer is a good shot. It's wild.
The 4,000 Club and the Chef's Reign
Steph Curry officially hit the 4,000-mark in March 2025. Honestly, it felt inevitable, but seeing the number actually pop up on the scoreboard was something else. By early 2026, he's sitting at roughly 4,205 career threes. The distance between him and second place is roughly the same as the distance between second place and the guy sitting at 15th. That is an obscene level of dominance.
He's 37 now. You'd think the legs would go, or the release would slow down. Nope. He’s still movement-heavy, still running through three screens just to launch a relocation trey that barely touches the nylon. Steve Kerr recently called it "art," and yeah, it kinda is. But it's also math. If you're hitting nearly five threes a game for 15+ years, you end up in a stratosphere where nobody can breathe your air.
James Harden and the Quiet Ascent to Second
While everyone was busy watching Steph's highlights, James Harden just kept doing James Harden things. He’s currently second on the list with 3,293 made threes. It's a different style entirely. Where Steph is all motion, Harden is all isolation. The step-back is his bread and butter.
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People love to hate on the "Harden style" because of the foul-baiting and the slow pace, but you can't argue with the efficiency of that shot. He passed Ray Allen a while back and is firmly entrenched in the silver medal spot. Is he going to catch Steph? Absolutely not. Even Harden would tell you that. But being the only other human being to cross 3,200 makes him a locked-in legend, even if his game doesn't "feel" as pretty as the Splash Brothers.
The Battle for Third: Klay vs. Dame
This is where the real drama is right now. Just a few days ago—January 15, 2026, to be exact—Klay Thompson officially passed Damian Lillard for 4th place on the all-time list. Klay is sitting at 2,809, while Dame is right behind him at 2,804.
Watching Klay do this in a Dallas Mavericks uniform still feels a little wrong to some fans, but he’s proving he’s still got that flamethrower. He dropped six threes against the Jazz to secure the spot.
- Stephen Curry: 4,205
- James Harden: 3,293
- Ray Allen: 2,973
- Klay Thompson: 2,809
- Damian Lillard: 2,804
Klay is only 164 makes away from catching Ray Allen for third. If he stays healthy, he’s going to pass Jesus Shuttlesworth by the end of next season. Dame, on the other hand, has had some nagging injuries lately, which has slowed his climb. It’s basically a game of leapfrog between these two for the next two years.
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Why These Numbers Actually Matter
It’s easy to get lost in the stats. But the most 3 pointers made in NBA history represents a total philosophical shift in how the game is won. Back in the 90s, if you took ten threes in a game, your coach would bench you. Now, if the Boston Celtics take fewer than 40, people think something is wrong with the offense.
LeBron James is also creeping up here. He’s 6th all-time with 2,595. It’s the ultimate irony that the guy known for being a freight train to the rim has more threes than Reggie Miller (2,560). Longevity is a hell of a drug. LeBron isn't a "shooter" in the traditional sense, but when you play 23 seasons, the volume adds up.
The Young Guns: Who is the Real Threat?
If you're looking for someone who could actually challenge Steph in fifteen years, keep an eye on guys like Anthony Edwards or Jayson Tatum. Tatum is already over 1,500 and he's still in his prime years.
But here is the problem: the "Steph Pace" is impossible. You don't just need to be a great shooter; you need to be a great shooter who takes 12 attempts a night and stays healthy for two decades. Buddy Hield is another name that pops up—he’s currently 15th with 2,175—and he's the fastest to ever hit 1,000. But even Buddy's trajectory doesn't touch the Chef.
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What to Watch Next
If you’re tracking these records, the next big milestone is Klay Thompson chasing down Ray Allen’s 2,973. It’s a sentimental mark for a lot of fans who grew up watching Allen’s perfect form.
To keep a pulse on this, you should check the box scores for the Mavs and Bucks every night. The gap between Klay and Dame is so small that the #4 spot could change hands three times in a single week. Also, keep an eye on Kevin Durant; he’s currently at 2,273 and is likely to crack the top 10 before he hangs them up.
The best way to stay ahead of the curve is to monitor the NBA's official tracking data or sites like Basketball-Reference, which update daily. We are living in the greatest era of shooting the world has ever seen, and these totals are only going to get more ridiculous.