If you were watching the NBA last year, you know the vibe changed. It wasn’t just about who could heave the most shots from the logo. It became about who could actually make them at a rate that felt, honestly, a little bit like a video game. When we talk about the nba 3-point percentage leaders 2024, we aren't just looking at a list of names. We're looking at the guys who essentially broke the math of the game.
Usually, if you shoot 40% from deep, you’re an elite sniper. But in 2024? 40% barely got you into the conversation. To lead the league, you had to flirt with 50%.
The Surprise King: Grayson Allen’s Masterclass
Nobody really saw Grayson Allen coming for the crown. Sure, he’s always been a "good" shooter, but what he did in the 2023-24 season for the Phoenix Suns was basically a flamethrower act for six straight months. He finished the season as the official leader, clocking in at a ridiculous 46.1% from beyond the arc.
Think about that. On nearly six attempts per game, almost half of them went in. It wasn't just "garbage time" shooting either. Playing alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Allen benefited from some of the best spacing in the league. If you double-team KD, you leave Grayson open. And last year, that was a death sentence. He wasn't just a beneficiary of the system, though; he was the engine that made the Suns' spacing actually work.
Why Grayson Allen Won
- Catch-and-shoot dominance: He was arguably the best in the league at readying his feet before the ball even touched his hands.
- The Gravity Effect: Defenders were so terrified of Booker and Durant that Allen often had "ocean-open" looks.
- Shot Selection: Unlike some other leaders, he rarely took "bad" threes. Almost every shot was within the flow of the offense.
Luke Kennard and the Art of the Reluctant Sniper
If Grayson Allen was the breakout star, Luke Kennard was the steady hand. Kennard has been a perennial name among the nba 3-point percentage leaders 2024, and honestly, for the last few years. He finished the 2023-24 season just a hair behind Allen at 45.0%.
The weird thing about Kennard? Sometimes we want him to shoot more. Coaches have literally begged him to stop passing up semi-contested shots because his "bad" shot is still better than most players' "good" shots. In Memphis, he was the primary floor spacer for a team that desperately needed it amidst a sea of injuries.
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The Big Men Joining the Party
One of the coolest things about the 2024 season was seeing the "Bigs" invade the leaderboard. It’s not just for the 6'4" guards anymore.
Take a look at Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s long called himself the greatest big-man shooter ever, and the stats in 2024 backed him up. KAT finished the regular season shooting over 41%. Then you have guys like Bobby Portis and even Nikola Jokic—who might not always have the volume to qualify for the official percentage title—but hit timely threes at a clip that keeps defenders honest.
The Qualification Rule (The "Fine Print")
To be officially recognized as the leader, a player has to make at least 82 three-pointers in a season. This is why you sometimes see a random bench player with a 55% average who isn't on the "official" list. They simply didn't shoot enough to prove it wasn't a fluke.
NBA 3-Point Percentage Leaders 2024: The Final Standings
If we look at the guys who actually met the volume requirements, the top of the mountain looked like this:
- Grayson Allen (PHO): 46.1%
- Luke Kennard (MEM): 45.0%
- Mike Conley (MIN): 44.2%
- Buddy Hield (PHI/IND): 38.6% (Volume was massive, but percentage dipped late)
- Norman Powell (LAC): 43.5%
Wait, why is Mike Conley so high? Because the "Minnesota Old Head" is a genius at finding his spots. Conley’s 44.2% was a career-high for him, proving that you can actually get better at shooting even when your vertical leap starts to decline. He was the stabilizing force for the Timberwolves, hitting big shots whenever Anthony Edwards got trapped.
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The Seth Curry 2025 Ripple Effect
Now, we’re currently in the 2025-26 season, and the landscape has shifted. Looking back, 2024 was a bridge. It was the year we realized that 3-point shooting isn't a "specialty" anymore—it's a requirement.
In the 2024-25 season that followed, Seth Curry actually took the mantle, leading the league at 45.6%. It seems the Curry DNA just doesn't know how to miss. But the foundation for this "new era" of efficiency was definitely laid in 2024 when we saw the highest collective league-wide percentage in years.
What Most People Get Wrong About Shooting Stats
A lot of fans look at 3-point percentage and think it tells the whole story. It doesn't.
Volume vs. Efficiency
Steph Curry often doesn't lead the league in percentage. Why? Because he takes "insane" shots. He’s shooting off the dribble, from 35 feet, with two guys draped over him. Grayson Allen, while brilliant, is mostly taking "stationary" shots.
If Steph took the same shots Grayson Allen takes, he’d probably shoot 60%. But the Suns don't need Grayson to be Steph; they need him to be exactly what he was: the most efficient "connector" in the league.
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The Technical Shift: Why Percentages are Rising
So, why are these numbers so high now? It’s not just that players are "better" (though they are). It’s the mechanics.
Most of the nba 3-point percentage leaders 2024 use a "one-motion" shot. In the 90s, guys had a "hitch" at the top of their jump. Today, the power comes from the legs and flows directly through the wrist. It’s faster, it’s smoother, and it’s way more repeatable under pressure.
How to Use This Info for Your Game
If you're a player looking at these leaders, don't just try to copy their stats. Copy their process.
- Find Your "Hot Zone": Grayson Allen is lethal from the corners. He knows it. He hunts those spots.
- The "Ready" Stance: Watch Luke Kennard. His hands are always "active" before the pass arrives.
- Don't Force It: The leaders in 2024 were masters of the "extra pass." They’d pass up a 35% shot to get a teammate a 45% shot.
To stay updated on how the current season's sharpshooters are performing compared to the 2024 historic marks, keep a close eye on the weekly NBA hustle stats. You can actually track "contested" vs "uncontested" percentages on the official NBA website, which gives you a much better idea of who the real snipers are when the lights are brightest.