The three-point shot, which can make or break a team over the course of a single game, is the most crucial component in contemporary NBA offenses. A team has the best chance of winning games when it makes more threes at a greater percentage than the opposition since three points on the board per possession are significantly more significant than two points. Of course, it also beats wasting time at the foul line to score points.
But which players are considered the greatest shooters of all time when looking at the most threes made in particular games? Stephen Curry has passed Ray Allen for the most threes in NBA history, an incredible feat considering Steph is only 34 years old with plenty of time to continue adding to his outstanding record. But has Curry made the most three-pointers when going through chronological order in numerics? Meaning, which player has the most games where 4 three-pointers, 5 three-pointers, 6 three-pointers, etc., are made?
We expect Stephen Curry to dominate most charts when looking at threes made, but how do other elite stars such as James Harden, Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard, and Klay Thompson fare?
Most Games With 4+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 421 Games
James Harden: 293 Games
Get used to this name appearing on here more than often: Stephen Curry. The 2010s were the start of Curry’s dominance of the NBA because he changed the game with long-range prowess. Alongside arguably the second-best shooter ever in Klay Thompson, Curry made the Golden State Warriors almost unbeatable because no opponent could match up with three points on the board per possession.
James Harden is right behind Steph Curry in terms of having the most number of games with at least 4 three-pointers. The Beard focused his offensive threat on attacking the rim for layups, drawing fouls, or taking threes. The easiest method? Taking threes. The Beard has been adept at using his step-back three-point shot to generate three points, and that won’t change anytime soon.
Most Games With 5+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 306 Games
James Harden: 171 Games
The Golden State Warriors superstar is on point yet again, knocking down 5 three-pointers in over 300 games played. Even when playing with other all-time great shooters and scorers throughout his career, including Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant, Steph is easily the most impactful sharpshooter. Quite frankly, there will never be another shooter like Curry, and that will become known as the list continues.
Again, James Harden is right behind Steph Curry. The Beard is far from the efficient three-point shooter that Curry is, but he has a knack for creating space for himself and draining threes. With 171 games with at least 5 three-pointers made, Harden has made a killing from three over his career, which is why he ranks 3rd all-time in career three-pointers.
Most Games With 6+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 184 Games
James Harden: 95 Games
Guess who? It seems that nobody in the current NBA will ever get close to what Steph has done. The point guard is only 34 years old, so he will likely continue to own the 2020s decade with the most three-pointers every single year. Some players from the younger generation are showcasing their deep-range skills, including Trae Young, Devin Booker, and Zach LaVine. But nobody has had more games with at least 6 three-pointers than Steph.
James Harden is a tremendous volume three-point shooter, which is why he is always willing to attempt long-range shots at all costs. After Steph Curry, there might not be a player with an unlimited green light from deep than James Harden. The Beard has convinced every coach he plays for that his three-point-heavy style offense is the best way for the team to win, which is why the shooting guard has managed 95 games with at least 6 three-pointers made.
Most Games With 7+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 112 Games
James Harden: 42 Games
Making 7 three-pointers in a single game is not easy, but guess who has the most games with this achievement? The greatest shooter of all time. Curry has changed the game for good with the way he takes any three-pointer he wants and is a threat as soon as he steps past half-court. The point guard lulls defenders to sleep and then explodes to receive a pass before swishing a three. His shooting is a gift from the sky, which is why we will never have another Steph Curry.
James Harden has 42 games with at least 7 three-pointers made, a very impressive return for a player who is also tasked with averaging at least 8-10 APG and doing his job on the boards as well. The Beard is certainly a better all-around player than Steph, but he does not have the point guard’s efficiency from deep. Regardless, Harden has over 40 games with 7 three-pointers made, which indicates how willing the shooting guard is to take long-range shots and focus on what he does best. As Harden ages, he won’t be changing his playing style for anybody.
Most Games With 8+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 70 Games
Damian Lillard: 25 Games
Steph Curry, Steph Curry, Steph Curry. The single greatest shooter alive has 70 games with 8 three-pointers made. That is an unbelievable 24 points generated from three-pointers, and seeing how easily he gets shots up, it is almost effortless in Golden State’s system. Head coach Steve Kerr has found the greatest offensive system in the game today that involves player movement and ball-sharing, which gives Curry unlimited looks from deep. The more, the merrier, as the saying goes.
No James Harden this time, as Damian Lillard might be the only player who can realistically challenge Stephen Curry as a very deep-range shooter. Dame has unlimited range, and he also has a tendency to take a bunch of threes and get hot quickly. Lillard is not quite the shooter that Steph Curry or even Klay Thompson is, but he can get just as hot when he is feeling it and is one of the best marksmen in the NBA. No surprise to see him have 25 games with 8 three-pointers made.
Most Games With 9+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 38 Games
Damian Lillard: 11 Games
Again, making a ton of three-pointers in a single game is not an easy thing to do. For one, defenses will play tighter when a player makes shots, and secondly, it is hard to throw a ball into a basket from so far! But Stephen Curry has almost 40 games with 9 three-pointers made, and that number could continue to rise as he continues playing in his career. The point guard can flick his wrist, and the ball will normally go into the basket. With 27 points generated so easily, it is no wonder why Curry is often praised and heralded among the NBA community for his insane offense.
Damian Lillard appears again with 11 games having 9 three-pointers made. Again, Lillard is not a better shooter than Steph or Klay Thompson, but he is just as good of a scorer, if not better, when he is in the mood. The point guard has more explosiveness than Steph and can finish at the rim, but his three-point shooting is deadly as he finds ways to create space for himself. Just like Curry, Lillard has an unlimited range which is why he is right behind the Golden State Warriors star here.
Most Games With 10+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 22 Games
Klay Thompson: 6 Games
Making 10 three-pointers in a single game is simply ludicrous because that is 30 points generated from one style of offense. Curry again ranks first in that regard with 22 games with 30 points generated from three points. The Golden State Warriors star can have 2 or 3 three-pointers in a minute, so no surprise to see him ranked so high. Curry does not need an invitation to let loose from deep, and as mentioned before, the ultimate green light belongs to him.
Klay Thompson is right behind his Hall of Fame teammate in terms of having 10 three-pointers made. Klay has to be the second-greatest shooter ever when looking at his efficiency, stroke, and resume. The talented two-way perimeter star does not always get the credit he deserves, but Klay is a Hall of Famer who has the tendency to get as hot or hotter than Steph at times. Thompson has 6 games with at least 10 threes made, and if he is the first option on offense, that number might have been higher.
Most Games With 11+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 12 Games
Damian Lillard: 3 Games
Stephen Curry has 12 games with at least 11 three-pointers made. That is absolutely insane for a point guard who has to bring the ball up the floor and has the bulk of the defensive attention on him. We will never see another player like Steph again, and you can go ahead and book that. Rising stars such as Trae Young have unlimited range, but they aren’t as gifted as Steph is when it comes to creating his own three-point looks.
Damian Lillard is back again with 3 games of at least 11 three-pointers made. The explosive point guard might have an all-around better offensive game than Steph, but he can’t shoot with the type of efficiency that the Warriors star can. Regardless, Lillard has 9 games less than Steph when it comes to making 11 three-pointers. Generating 33 points on just threes is insane, and these two stars are the best at it historically.
Most Games With 12+ Three-Pointers Made
Stephen Curry: 2 Games
Kobe Bryant, Klay Thompson, Zach LaVine, Donyell Marshall: 1 Game
Making at least 12 three-pointers in a single game is unbelievable and almost inhuman, which is why even Stephen Curry only managed it twice. The first came on February 27, 2016, when he made 12 three-pointers against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Curry ended up with 46 points on the night, with 36 of them coming from beyond. As expected, the Warriors won. The second time happened in the same calendar year, on November 7, 2016, when Steph made 13 three-pointers against the New Orleans Pelicans and finished with 46 points on the night as well. No doubt, Curry is the greatest shooter ever, and that is final.
There have been 4 players who managed at least 12 three-pointers made in a single game. The first is Kobe Bean Bryant, arguably the second-greatest scorer ever behind Michael Jordan. The Black Mamba managed 12 three-pointers in a 45-point performance against the Seattle SuperSonics in 2003. As expected, Kobe’s shooting led the Lakers to a convincing victory. The second time a player made 12 threes in a game was when Donyell Marshall surprisingly made 12 attempts for the Toronto Raptors against the Philadelphia 76ers for a 38-point night.
The third time a player made 12 attempts was when Klay Thompson shattered the all-time record of threes made in a single game when he swished an unbelievable 14 three-pointers against the Chicago Bulls en route to a 52-point night. We might never see a player make 14 threes in a game again, but considering how the game has changed, it is still possible. Finally, Zach LaVine managed to make 12 three-pointers as a member of the Bulls when he scored 49 points against the Charlotte Hornets in 2019. With 4 players having at least a game with 12 threes made, they are all behind the greatest shooter ever in Stephen Curry.
Source: https://fadeawayworld.net
