At the end of the 2004-05 season, current
longtime NBA on TNT/NBATV analyst retired as the all-time leader in
three-pointers made in the history of the National Basketball Association
(NBA), which he accomplished in late April 1998 and held that mark for 13 years.
On Feb 20, 2011 a fellow now Hall of Famer surpassed him to become the new
leader in three pointers made in NBA history, with the man he passed on the
call of that game in “Beantown” for NBA on TNT. On Tuesday night, both men were
in attendance to witness the new all-time leader in three-pointers made in NBA’s
Silver Anniversary.
At the 10:57 mark of the first quarter of
the Golden State Warriors (23-5) 105-96 win at the New York Knicks (12-16) on
Tuesday night, Wardell Stephen “Steph” Curry II tied Hall of Famer Ray Allen
for the most threes made in NBA history at 2,973.
Then at the 7:34 mark of the opening
stanza off a pass from Andrew Wiggins, Curry made his second three of the
contest, passing Ray Allen for the most three-pointers made in NBA history at
2,974.
“Here’s Curry for the record. It’s good!!!
And there it is!!!,” was the call of NBA on TNT play-by-play announcer Brian
Anderson when Curry passed Allen. “Stephen Curry. The all-time three-point king
in the NBA!!!”
Curry finished the night with 22 points,
going 5/14 from three-point range, now with 2,977 career threes made.
Most
Three-Pointers Made In NBA History
3-Pt. Made 3-Pt. Attempted Career Games Played
Stephen Curry 2,977 6,903 789
Ray Allen 2,973 7,429 1,300
Reggie Miller 2,560 6,486 1,389
It was eight years ago in his fifth
appearance at the “World’s Most Famous Arena” that Curry scored a then
career-high 54 points on a then franchise record 11 threes, going 11/13 from
three-point range, falling one shy of the single-game NBA-record at that time
of 12 made threes.
To put into context the kind of
performance Curry had on that night in front of a nationally televised audience
on ESPN, since the opening of MSG at its present location in New York, NY since
1968, only the late Kobe Bryant (61 points in 2009) and fellow Hall of Famer
Michael Jordan (55 points in 1995 for Chicago Bulls) and Curry are the only
three visiting players to score more than 54 points at the “World’s Most Famous
Arena.”
But the Knicks won the game 109-105. That
was the last time the Warriors lost at the Knicks, winning counting their visit
Tuesday night their last seven visits to MSG, and going 10-1 in their last 11
visits in the Curry era, and he has had his fingerprints on each of those wins,
especially from three-point range.
Curry registered his fourth career
triple-double in the Warriors’ 126-104 win at the Knicks on Feb. 28, 2014 with
27 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds. He became the first Warriors player to
put up a triple-double against the Knicks since Feb. 26, 1988 when Winston
Garland, the father of current Cleveland Cavaliers lead guard Darius Garland
had 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in the team’s 125-119 loss versus the
Knicks.
In the Warriors Feb. 23, 2021 visit to
MSG, Curry had 37 points going 7/14 from three-point range in the 114-106
victory, one of his NBA-record 101 career games with seven-plus threes made.
“This arena, I can’t express how much of
an honor that was for the reaction on the road,” Curry said to “Inside the NBA”
crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal after
the win. “The appreciation for this milestone and obviously it’s great to get
the win on top of that. So, a very, very special night.”
This major accomplishment by Curry, which
began on Oct. 30, 2009 at the Phoenix Suns where Curry made his the first
three-pointer of his career is a culmination of how Curry said to NBA on TNT
sideline reporter Allie LaForce put it before the game that when you “pour
yourself into a mission” is when good things will happen.
Notable Three-Pointers Made in
Stephen Curry’s Career To Date
Oct. 30, 2009 at the Phoenix Suns: first career made
three-pointer in second quarter of his second career NBA game.
Dec. 7, 2013 at Memphis Grizzlies: In his
276th career game became the Warriors all-time leader in
three-pointers made passing Jason Richardson
Mar. 11, 2016 versus Portland Trail
Blazers: became the fastest to reach 1,500 career threes made in his 477th
career NBA game. Curry has made 155 triples to date in his career against the
Trail Blazers, the third most against any of the 30 NBA squads in his career.
April 13, 2016 versus the Grizzlies (final
night of regular season): hit his 400th three-pointer of the season,
ending the back end of his back-to-back Kia MVP seasons, the second one by a
unanimous vote, the first player to have that distinction in NBA history. Curry
finished with an NBA record 402 threes made that season, where the Warriors
posted the best regular-season mark in NBA history at 73-9.
Nov. 7, 2016 versus New Orleans Pelicans
(116-106 win): Curry made a then NBA record 13 threes, going 13/17 from
three-point range and 16/26 overall from the floor totaling 46 points. That
record would be broken by Curry’s teammate Klay Thompson, who made the current
NBA record 14 threes, going 14/24 on his way to 52 points on 18/29 overall from
the floor in the Warriors 149-124 win at the Chicago Bulls Oct. 29, 2018.
Jan. 23, 2021 at Utah Jazz: Curry nailed a catch-and-shoot right corner three-pointer to pass Miller for No. 2 on the all-time three-pointers made list in his 715th career game, which happened very early into season No. 12 of his NBA career.
Dec. 14, 2021 at New York Knicks: He
passed Ray Allen to become the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.
Curry built his soon to be Hall of Fame
legacy from the ground up as a youth to now 12 seasons with the Warriors where
be all the odds. Coming out of Charlotte Christian Academy he got only one
scholarship offer from a Power 5 institution. In his college career at Davidson
College, the then 165-pound Curry was told that if he made it to the NBA that
he would be a “decent” player.
He became more than a decent player. Curry
became a three-time NBA champion; two-time Kia MVP; seven-time All-Star; seven-time
All-NBA selection; and one of “The Association’s” most transcendent players
all-time.
Career Ark of Ray Allen and
Stephen Curry
Allen
Curry
2,973 3-Pt. Made 2,977
1,300 Games
Played 789
5.7 3-Pt. Att/GM 8.7
1 Seasons W/250+ 3-Pt. Made 7
As Anderson put it, Curry is “the man who
changed the game.” The individual who ignited the evolution of the three-point
line into the most important part of all 30 NBA team’s offensive attack. Very
similar to how the late legend of Major League Baseball Babe Ruth changed that sport with the ability to hit
the ball right out of the ballpark.
Curry got congratulations via Twitter from
the likes of four-time Kia MVP LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers
@KingJames saying, “Just landed in Dallas to see @StephenCurry30 broke the
record and to make it even doper he did it in the GARDEN!! WOW CONGRATS
BROTHER!! INCREDIBLE.”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady
and seven-time Super Bowl champion @TomBrady said, “Congrats to my friend and
@UnderArmour teammate. What an accomplishment @StephenCurry30.”
Actor and Knicks fans Ben Stiller, who was
in attendance for the historic moment, tweeted @RedHourBen, “Congrats
@StephenCurry30 at #MSG.”
Also in attendance was comedian John Stewart, the former host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” Fellow actor and comedian Chris Rock. NFL Hall of Famer and host of ABC’s “Good Morning America” FOX’s NFL Sunday Pregame show Michael Strahan. Longtime NBA play-by-play commentator for Madison Square Garden Network, NBC, and TNT Marv Albert. Actor Michael J. Fox. Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan. Grammy Award singer Alicia Keys. Actor Pete Davidson from NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.” Actor, Oscar Winning Director and Knicks’ super fan Spike Lee.
Curry also got congratulations from NBA
Commissioner Adam Silver, who said in a statement, “It’s truly thrilling to see
Steph break the NBA’s all-time record for three-pointers. He has revolutionized
the way the game is played and continues to leave fans in awe with his amazing
artistry and extraordinary shooting ability. We congratulate him on this historic
achievement.”
To put into context how Curry has changed
the game in terms of how the three-point line is utilized today in the NBA, in
the first season that the league introduced the three-point shot teams on
averaged made close to one triple per game in nearly three tries. In Curry’s
rookie season in 2009-10, teams averaged six made threes. When the Warriors won
the first of three titles in their five straight Finals appearance from
2015-19, teams made an average of 7.8 threes. So far this season, that average
has gone up to 12.3 made threes per game.
Miller said during the broadcast that when
he began his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers in 1987-88, teams only
attempted a little over five threes per game.
Three-Point Progression NBA
History
Year 3-Pointers Made Three-Pointers Attempted
1979-80 0.8 2.8
2009-10 6.4 18.1
2014-15 7.8 22.4
2021-22 12.3 35.4
NBA Three-Pointers Per Game: Notable
Seasons Since Stephen Curry’s NBA Debut in 2009-10 By NBA Teams
Seasons 3-Pt. Made PG 3-Pt. Attempted PG
2009-10 6.4 18.1
2013-14 7.7 21.5
2018-19 11.4 32.0
2021-22 12.3 35.4 (highest
average all-time)
Evolution Of NBA Three-Point Record: Notable
Record Holders At Time Of Becoming Three-Point
Leader
Year
Name Three-Pointers
1982 Brian Taylor 155
1982 Joey Hassett 158
1984 Darrell Griffith 197
1986 Larry Bird 249
1989 Dale
Ellis 460
1991 Michael Adams 626
1993 Dale Ellis 815
1993 Michael Adams 821
1993 Dale Ellis 823
1998 Reggie Miller 1,592
2011 Ray Allen 2,562
2021 Stephen Curry 2,977
“He has changed the game with the
three-ball,” Miller said during the broadcast on Tuesday night of how Curry
changed the game with his ability to quickly strike a match from long range. “How
all 30 teams approach the game is because of No. 30.”
In Ray Allen’s 18-year career, he
attempted 15 threes in a game four times. Curry has attempted at least 15
threes 10 times already this season.
After Curry reached this historic
milestone, the game was stopped and everyone inside Madison Square Garden gave
the new three-point leader a well-deserved standing ovation.
Those that were a part of that ovation
were Curry’s parents in mom Sonya and dad Dell Curry, who played in the NBA for
16 seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors, and Milwaukee Bucks,
and now is a color analyst for the Hornets for Bally Sports Southeast.
“I mean, they’ve been a part of the whole
journey,” Curry said added Johnson, Smith, Barkley, and O’Neal about the night
and the hug he shared with his mom and dad after becoming the all-time NBA
leader in threes made. “It’s kind of crazy to think growing up around the
league [NBA], watching my dad play, my family, you know, going to old Hornets
games and having big dreams about shooting the basketball and hopefully one day
playing at this level.”
“To do it here at Madison Square Garden in front of, you know, this guy [Ray Allen] and Reggie and just all that basketball means to me. It’s special.”
Also in attendance was the aforementioned
Allen, who when passed Miller to become the all-time leader in threes made a
decade ago when the Boston Celtics hosted the arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers
that Thursday night, Miller was on the broadcast and the two embraced after he
passed Miller. Curry’s former college coach at Davidson Bob McKillop
(1989-present), and right next to him was Larry Riley, the man who drafted
Curry No. 7 overall in 2009.
In a conversation with LaForce at the
start of the week, Coach McKillop said in reference to Curry saying how
confidence is a “unique” thing.
“There are people that are confident. But
they’re arrogant and that’s reflected in their entitlement,” Coach McKillop
said. “Then there are people that are confident, but there humble and that’s
reflected by gratitude. And that’s Steph.”
“He’s grateful for his family, his
teammates, his gifts. He never takes something like this historical moment and
take credit for it just himself. It came from everybody.”
Curry, who was in his second year in the
NBA when Allen passed Miller on the all-time list, when asked by LaForce
pregame if he envisioned himself passing Allen? He said, “not even close.” That
it was not on his radar until 2014-15 that he felt he could become the all-time
leader in threes made.
One of the first teammates to greet Curry
when he passed Allen was Draymond Green, his teammate for a decade. Moments
later, he was greeted by his teammate for eight seasons, including this one in
2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala, and then his other fellow teammate and
brother-in-law Damion Lee. The Warriors assistant coaches from Mike Brown,
Bruce Frasier and then head coach Steve Kerr, who was on the floor the night
that Miller, his former colleague at Turner Sports surpassed Dale Ellis as the
all-time leader in threes made.
“Pretty emotional. More emotional than I
thought it would be,” Coach Kerr said to LaForce at the half about Curry
becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in threes made.
“It was just beautiful just to hear the
fan’s reaction. To see his teammates. To see his dad, you know. To see Reggie
and Ray over there on the sidelines. It was just a fantastic moment.”
Curry’s final two embraces before the game
resumed was with his dad Dell holding the game ball and with Allen.
This moment also not only displayed the
evolution of the game, but the impact one generation can have on another.
There is no Stephen Curry if there was no
Ray Allen. There is no Ray Allen if there was no Reggie Miller. There is no
Reggie Miller without someone like fellow Hall of Famer and three-time NBA
champion with the Boston Celtics Larry Bird. As Miller put it, these gentlemen
“pushed the game forward” because the next generation has to be uplifted by
those who can set the right example.
“And for Stephen and Ray to say they
looked up to me. I had people I looked up to as well in my evolution,” Miller
said. “Larry Bird was my guy. That’s who I modeled my game after. So, to get a
chance to watch how he prepared for games, and to hear Stephen and Ray say they
kind of mimic what I did, it’s all an evolution of the game. Trying to
encourage the youth and set good examples for the younger players ahead of us.”
Curry for sure has taken those lessons and
put them to good use as Curry before games is out early shooting with Coach
Frasier.
“This is pretty special,” Curry said of
the jersey exchange. “I mean, like I said these two legends [Allen and Miller],
I watched them growing up and understood what it meant to shoot the ball
because of them and my dad. Full circle moment, man. I’m blessed. Blessed for
sure.”
How big has Curry routine to gets constant
shots up before games? Fans at the Warriors arena the Chase Center and in
opposing arenas, fans show up early to get a glimpse of the kind of work Curry
puts in to go out and shoot at the level he does in games. During those
shooting workouts, Curry will shoot from very long distances like from the
locker room tunnel.
That ability to make threes at a high clip
is also a credit to the work behind the scenes that Curry put into his
conditioning and getting into the kind of shape necessary to attempt the high
number of threes he does, which has been in double-digits the past few seasons.
That comes from all the work Curry on his body, especially his ankles, which he
constantly injured early in his career.
This amazing achievement is also the
incredible work by his teammates of setting great screens to get him open to
attempt and make those three-pointers as well get him the ball when Curry does
get open.
“You see the finished polished product out
there. But you know, the reps that’s gone into it over the course of the
journey and knowing that how many teammates have been a part of this as well,”
Curry said to ESPN postgame. “But somebody’s got to set screens for me.
Somebody’s got to throw me the ball.”
“There’s been a lot of people that have
filled in those roles for me as well, So, hope they can celebrate this as
well.”
The other irony of Curry reaching this
milestone at Madison Square Garden is that 12 years ago, the Knicks had a
chance to draft him at No. 8 overall before the Warriors selected him at No. 7
12 seasons back. The Knicks took Jordan Hill No. 8 overall, who played just 24
games for the Knicks and 409 career games for five different teams over eight
seasons.
That moment more than anything showed that
Curry had the kind of focus that he could come to the “Big Apple” and take on
all the expectations that come with it.
Along with that, Curry would have been
paired with then head coach Mike D’Antoni, whose offensive system helped turn
Hall of Famer Steve Nash, now the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets into a
two-time Kia MVP and current Net James Harden into 2017-18 Kia MVP while with
the Houston Rockets.
Curry had displayed that quiet confidence
and unrelenting determination with the help from the aforementioned Green, Klay
Thompson, and Iguodala, and first under head coach Mark Jackson, and now head
coach Steve Kerr helped turn the Warriors from a cellular dweller into a
first-class organization that has as mentioned won three titles in a five-year
period and are knocking on that championship door again this season.
Most Assists On Stephen Curry’s Career
Three-Pointers Made
Draymond Green: 480
Andre Iguodala: 168
Kevin Durant (BKN): 153
Klay Thompson: 12
A little over two decades ago, Reggie
Miller became the all-time leader in threes made the NBA at a time when players
and teams were in the infancy of the three-point evolution. When fellow Hall of
Famer Ray Allen became the all-time leader in threes made a decade ago, teams
incorporated shooting threes a bit more. Today, the three-point shot is an
integral part of the NBA game and Wardell Stephen Curry is not only the
headliner in that evolution, he on Tuesday night at the “Worlds Most Famous
Arena” with his parents in attendance as well as Miller on the call of this
historic moment in the NBA and Allen the new all-time leader in made threes and
counting.
Curry put in the work just like his father Dell, Miller and Allen did, and earned not just a spot on the NBA all-time three-pointers made list but the top spot with many more years and three-point attempts left on his right hand to add to that number and hopefully one or two more titles as well.
Information, statistics, and quotations
are courtesy of 1/23/2021 www.nba.com
story, “Stephen Curry Passes Reggie Miller For No. 2 All-Time In 3-Pointers
Made,” By Brian Martin; 12/10/2021 www.nba.com
story, “10 Milestone Moments In Stephen Curry’s NBA Career;” 12/13/2021 1 a.m.
ESPN’s “Sportscenter With Scott Van Pelt” from Washington, D.C.; 12/13/2021
7:30 p.m. “Golden State Warriors versus New York Knicks” TNT, presented by
State Farm With Brian Anderson, Reggie Miller, and Allie LaForce; 12/14/2021 1
a.m. NBATV’s “Gametime” With Ro Parrish, Candace Parker, and Steve Smith;
12/14/2021 www.sportingnews.com
story, “NBA 3-Pointers Record: Warriors Stephen Curry Passes Ray Allen As
All-Time Leader,” By Scott Raferty; 12/15/2021 1 a.m. ESPN’s “Sportscenter”
with Michael Eaves and John Anderson; 12/15/2021 12:30 a.m. “Inside the NBA,”
presented by Kia on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and
Shaquille O’Neal; https://www.nba.com/game/gsw-vs-nyk-0022100414/box-score;
https://www.basketball-reference.com/bosxscores/198802260GSW.html;
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameid/400899549;
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/game/_/gameid/401070772;
and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Curry.
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