Who Leads the NBA in 3-Pointers Made This Season? Tracking Top Shooters
As I was watching the Golden State Warriors game last night, I couldn't help but marvel at Stephen Curry's shooting display - it got me thinking about who's actually leading the NBA in three-pointers made this season. You know, tracking top shooters has become one of my favorite basketball pastimes, and this season has been particularly fascinating with several players making legitimate cases for being the most dangerous long-range threat in the league. The three-point revolution has completely transformed how basketball is played, and honestly, I think we're witnessing the golden age of shooting right now.
Let me take you through what I've observed this season. Stephen Curry, the guy who basically broke the three-point record book, is currently sitting at around 285 made threes through 65 games, which puts him just ahead of Luka Dončić's impressive 279. What's crazy to me is how different their approaches are - Curry moves without the ball like nobody else in history, while Luka creates most of his looks off the dribble. Then you have guys like Klay Thompson hanging around 240 makes, though his efficiency has dipped slightly compared to his prime years. I've been particularly impressed with Desmond Bane's development - he's up to about 230 threes while shooting over 40% from deep, which is just remarkable consistency for a young player.
The battle for three-point supremacy reminds me of that incredible NCAA game I watched recently between NU and FEU. Their imposing presence allowed NU to weather a furious third period for FEU, cutting a 44-30 halftime deficit to make things interesting before creating much-needed cushion in the fourth. That's exactly what happens in the NBA when elite shooters get hot - they can completely change the momentum of a game in just a few possessions. I've seen Curry do this countless times - his team might be down 15 points, then he hits three quick threes and suddenly the opposing coach is calling timeout while the home crowd goes absolutely berserk.
What fascinates me about tracking three-point leaders isn't just the raw numbers though - it's how these shooters are creating their opportunities. The modern NBA offense has become so sophisticated in generating open looks from beyond the arc. Teams are running more off-ball screens than ever before, and the spacing has become absolutely crucial. I've noticed that the most successful three-point shooters this season aren't just standing in the corners waiting for passes - they're constantly moving, reading defenses, and making quick decisions. Damian Lillard, for instance, has mastered the art of pulling up from what I call "unreasonable range" - he's comfortable shooting from 30 feet out, which completely warps how defenses have to guard him.
The evolution of the three-point shot has been incredible to watch over my years following basketball. I remember when hitting 200 threes in a season was considered extraordinary - now we have multiple players threatening 300 makes. The analytics movement has completely changed how teams value these shots, and personally, I think we're going to see these numbers continue to climb. The next frontier, in my opinion, will be players who can maintain high volume and efficiency while taking even more difficult attempts. We're already seeing this with players like Trae Young, who takes a significant portion of his threes from well beyond the arc.
Looking at the current landscape, I have to say that the international players have really elevated the three-point conversation. Luka Dončić from Slovenia, Bogdan Bogdanović from Serbia, and Lauri Markkanen from Finland are all among the league leaders, proving that the three-point revolution has gone global. What's interesting to me is how different their shooting forms are from the traditional American textbook shot - yet they're all incredibly effective. This diversity in shooting styles just goes to show that there's no single right way to become an elite shooter in today's NBA.
As we head toward the playoffs, monitoring who leads the NBA in three-pointers made becomes even more significant. History has shown us that teams with multiple elite shooters tend to perform better in the postseason, where spacing becomes tighter and every possession matters more. The team that ultimately wins the championship will likely have at least one player among the top ten in three-pointers made - that's just how important shooting has become in the modern game. Personally, I'm rooting for Curry to maintain his lead, partly because I think it would be fitting for the greatest shooter of all time to add another three-point title to his resume, but also because watching him shoot is just pure basketball poetry.
The conversation around three-point shooting will undoubtedly continue to evolve, and I'm excited to see where it goes next. With younger players coming into the league more prepared than ever to shoot from deep, I wouldn't be surprised if we see someone challenge 400 makes in a season within the next five years. The game continues to change at a rapid pace, and as someone who's been watching basketball for decades, I can honestly say that the current emphasis on three-point shooting has made the game more exciting than ever - though I know some traditionalists would disagree with me on that. Whatever happens, tracking the league's top shooters will remain one of the most compelling storylines each season.
