It used to be that hitting 2,000 threes was the gold standard. If you got there, you were basically a lock for the Hall of Fame. But honestly? The way the game is played right now makes those old milestones look like warm-up drills. We are living in a completely different reality than the one Reggie Miller inhabited.
Stephen Curry didn't just break the record for all time 3 pointers in nba history—he blew the doors off the building and set the rubble on fire. As of January 2026, he is sitting on an almost "obscene" 4,199 career triples. Let that sink in for a second. He passed the 4,000 mark back in March 2025 against the Kings, and he hasn't slowed down since. It’s reached a point where we aren't even comparing him to other players anymore; we’re comparing him to a glitch in a video game.
The Mount Rushmore of Distance
If you look at the top of the list today, it’s a mix of retired legends who built the foundation and active guys who are currently benefitng from the "Curry Effect."
The current leaderboard for all time 3 pointers in nba looks something like this:
- Stephen Curry: 4,199
- James Harden: 3,291
- Ray Allen: 2,973
- Damian Lillard: 2,804
- Klay Thompson: 2,801
James Harden recently moved into that second-place spot, passing Ray Allen in late 2024. It's wild because Harden doesn't shoot like Curry. He’s the king of the step-back, the guy who draws fouls at an historic rate. In fact, throughout his career, Harden has drawn over 700 three-point shooting fouls. That is more than Curry, Lillard, and Klay Thompson combined. It’s a different way to dominate the perimeter, but the results are undeniable.
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Why Ray Allen’s Record Fell So Fast
For a long time, Ray Allen’s 2,973 felt untouchable. When he passed Reggie Miller in 2011, Reggie famously said the record might stand forever. He thought the next person to break it hadn't even been born yet.
Reggie was wrong.
The pace of play changed everything. Back in the 90s, if a team took 15 threes in a game, the coach was probably screaming about "settling" for bad shots. Now? We see teams like the Celtics or the Warriors regularly chucking up 45 or 50 attempts a night.
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Look at the math. Ray Allen needed 1,300 games to reach his mark. Curry passed him in just 786 games. That’s not just a slight improvement; it’s a fundamental shift in how the sport functions. We've moved from "the three-pointer is a weapon" to "the three-pointer is the entire offense."
The Klay and Dame Chase
Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard are currently locked in a neck-and-neck battle for that fourth spot. Klay, now with the Mavericks, is sitting at 2,801. Dame is right there at 2,804. Every single night the standings could flip. It’s sort of poetic that Klay, the other half of the Splash Brothers, is still right there in the thick of it despite the devastating injuries he faced a few years back.
The LeBron Factor
One thing nobody talks about enough is LeBron James. He’s currently 6th all-time with 2,590 makes.
LeBron isn't a "shooter" in the traditional sense. He’s a freight train who learned how to shoot to survive his second decade in the league. The fact that he’s ahead of pure shooters like Reggie Miller (2,560) is a testament to his longevity. He’s played so many games and stayed so productive that he’s accidentally become one of the greatest long-range threats in history. It’s kinda hilarious if you think about it.
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The New Generation is Coming
If you think the current numbers are crazy, keep an eye on guys like Anthony Edwards and Luka Dončić.
Luka is already at 1,476 makes and he's still in his mid-20s. Donovan Mitchell is another one; he’s leading the league in makes for the 2025-26 season so far with 143. These guys are entering the league with the greenest of green lights. They don't remember a time when shooting a 30-footer was a benchable offense.
What the Stats Don’t Tell You
Numbers are great, but they miss the nuance of gravity. When Stephen Curry stands 30 feet from the hoop, three defenders lean toward him. That doesn't show up in the box score under "3PM," but it’s why the Warriors' offense has worked for over a decade.
The all time 3 pointers in nba list is essentially a map of how the league's geometry has expanded. We’ve gone from a game played in the paint to a game played in the logo.
Limitations of the List
We have to acknowledge that comparing eras is basically impossible.
- The Line Moved: In the mid-90s, the NBA shortened the line to try and boost scoring.
- Volume: Larry Bird’s career high for threes in a season was 90. Curry hits 90 in a few weeks.
- Specialization: Today, even centers like Brook Lopez are expected to hit at least 35% from deep.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking these records or trying to understand the "Greatest Shooter" debate, keep these factors in mind:
- Look at Attempts, not just Makes: Efficiency matters. Steve Kerr still holds the record for highest career percentage at 45.4%, even though he’s nowhere near the top of the volume list.
- Watch the Longevity: To crack the Top 10 now, a player basically needs to average 200+ makes for at least 12 seasons. That is a massive physical toll.
- Factor in the "Gravity": A player who shoots 38% but is guarded at the logo is often more valuable than a "corner specialist" who shoots 42% but only takes wide-open looks.
The chase for 5,000 is officially on. Given how Curry is playing, it’s not a matter of if, but when. If you want to keep up with the daily shifts in the rankings, your best bet is to follow the live tracking on Basketball-Reference or the official NBA stats portal, as these numbers change every single Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday night.