A long-range record matters. So do shot difficulty, movement, and the pressure a shooter puts on a defense.
Decide what you mean by shooter
Are you judging three-point shooting, every kind of jump shot, or one attempt with a game on the line? A career total measures one part of the answer. A fair comparison should also explain which shots you value and how much weight you give volume versus accuracy. Avoid quietly switching from best shooter to best overall player.
Curry’s milestone sets the challenge
Stephen Curry became the first NBA player to reach 4,000 regular-season three-pointers in March 2025. That dated milestone gives the debate a concrete anchor without pretending an active player’s total has stopped changing. His case asks you to consider how a shooter changes defensive decisions, including possessions when the ball never reaches his hands.
Give the earlier eras a fair hearing
Reggie Miller and Ray Allen belong in the conversation about long-range excellence. Miller finished his career with 2,560 three-pointers; Allen later raised the career benchmark before Curry passed it. Use those historical markers as context. Comparing players across eras also means asking how opportunity and offensive priorities shaped the shots available to them.
Make your comparison repeatable
Choose a mix of volume, accuracy, difficulty, and off-ball value. Then apply it to every candidate. Would your choice stay the same if you needed someone to create a shot off the dribble rather than finish a pass? Vote in the shooter ranking and see where other fans place the legends.