If you’ve watched even five minutes of modern basketball, you know the game has fundamentally changed. The midrange jumper is basically a relic, and the paint is more of a passing lane than a home for big men. It's all about the arc now. But when people start asking who has the most 3 pointers in the NBA, they aren’t just looking for a name. They’re looking for the scale of a revolution.
Right now, as we move through the 2025-26 season, the answer is the same as it’s been for years, only the gap is getting wider. Stephen Curry isn't just leading; he's in a different stratosphere. Honestly, calling it a "lead" feels like an understatement. It’s more like he’s built a skyscraper while everyone else is still figuring out the foundation.
The King of the Arc: Stephen Curry’s Absurd Numbers
As of mid-January 2026, Steph Curry has officially pushed past the 4,200 mark for career three-pointers made. Just let that sink in for a second. When he passed Ray Allen back in late 2021, the world stopped. People thought that was the peak. But Curry didn't slow down. He actually got more efficient in some ways, even as his volume stayed high.
He’s currently sitting at roughly 4,205 made threes.
What’s even crazier is the volume. He’s closing in on 10,000 career attempts. No one has ever dared to shoot that much because no one has ever been allowed to. He didn't just break the record; he created a new math for the sport. Most experts, including the folks at Basketball-Reference, suggest that at his current pace, he could reasonably finish his career north of 5,000.
That’s a number that was literally unthinkable ten years ago.
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The Chasers: James Harden and the "Old Guard"
While Steph is the undisputed goat of the long ball, the list behind him is fascinating. James Harden holds the number two spot with roughly 3,295 makes. Harden’s journey to second place is totally different from Steph’s. While Steph uses off-ball movement and lightning-fast releases, Harden built his mountain on the step-back.
It’s kind of wild to think that Harden has more than 1,000 career attempts more than Ray Allen did, yet he’s only recently solidified that second-place cushion.
The current Top 5 looks something like this:
- Stephen Curry: 4,205+
- James Harden: 3,295+
- Ray Allen: 2,973 (Retired)
- Klay Thompson: 2,809+
- Damian Lillard: 2,804+
You’ll notice Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard are neck-and-neck. Every single night they play, that fourth-place spot can swap. Lillard is still high-volume in Milwaukee, and Klay, now with the Mavericks, is finding a second life as a pure floor spacer. They’ll both pass Ray Allen soon. It’s not a matter of if, but which Tuesday night it happens on.
Why Ray Allen and Reggie Miller Still Matter
It’s easy to look at the current numbers and think the older guys weren't that good. That’s a mistake. Ray Allen held the record for years with 2,973 makes. Reggie Miller was the king before him with 2,560.
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The difference is the era.
Reggie Miller played in a league where taking five threes a game was considered "chucking." If Reggie played today, with the green light that a guy like Tyrese Haliburton or Trae Young has, he’d probably be right there in the 4,000 club. You have to respect the pioneers who did it when the line was treated like a border you only crossed in emergencies.
The Next Generation: Is Anyone Catching Steph?
This is the question every stat nerd is obsessed with. To catch Curry, you don’t just need to be a great shooter; you need to start young, stay healthy for 15 years, and shoot at a volume that most coaches would find offensive.
Luka Dončić is the name that pops up most. Luka is high-volume, and he started his career at 19. By early 2026, he’s already climbed into the top 60 all-time, which is insane for his age. But there’s a catch. Luka shoots a lot, but he doesn't shoot the percentage Steph does. Steph is a career 42% shooter from deep. Luka hovers around 34-35%.
To pass Steph, Luka would have to play until he’s 40 and maintain a massive workload.
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Anthony Edwards is another one. He just set a massive mark in the 2024-25 season, making 320 threes in a single year. That’s the kind of pace you need. But even then, he’s chasing a moving target. As long as Curry is active, the finish line keeps moving further into the distance.
Beyond the Totals: Efficiency and the "Splash" Factor
We can talk about who has the most 3 pointers in the NBA all day, but efficiency is where the real separation happens. Look at Buddy Hield. He’s quietly moved into the top 15 all-time. He’s a flamethrower. But he’s moved around teams a lot—Pacers, 76ers, and now the Warriors (the irony of him joining Steph is not lost on anyone).
Hield is a great example of the "specialist." He might finish his career in the top 5, but he’ll never have the "gravity" Steph has. Steph doesn't just make shots; he ruins defensive schemes. He forces defenders to pick him up at half-court. That’s a stat that doesn't show up in the "made" column, but it's why he's the greatest.
What to Watch for This Season
If you're following the record books this year, keep your eyes on these specific milestones:
- Lillard vs. Thompson: The battle for the #4 spot is the most active "war" in the rankings right now.
- Kevin Durant’s Climb: KD is currently 12th. He’s not a "volume" 3-point shooter in the traditional sense, but he never misses. He’ll likely crack the Top 10 by the end of the season, passing Vince Carter.
- The 4,500 Mark: Steph is gunning for 4,500. It sounds fake, but he could get there by the start of next season if he stays healthy.
The reality of the NBA in 2026 is that the three-point line is the primary weapon of choice. While big men like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid dominate the MVP conversations, the historical record books are being rewritten by the guards.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, start looking at "3-pointers per 100 possessions." It’s the best way to see how the game is actually evolving beyond just the total makes. The volume is only going up, but the throne belongs to the guy in the Golden State jersey, and honestly, it probably always will.
Next Steps for Fans:
Track the nightly box scores for the Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks to see the back-and-forth between Lillard and Thompson. Also, keep an eye on Anthony Edwards' season total; if he breaks 350, he’s officially on the "Curry Track" for his career trajectory.