Greatest Shooer of All Time in NBA: Ranking Top 10 Legendary Players

Having spent over a decade analyzing basketball statistics and studying player movements frame by frame, I've developed what some might call an unhealthy obsession with identifying true greatness in the NBA. The debate about the greatest shooter of all time isn't just about numbers—it's about legacy, innovation, and that magical moment when the ball leaves a player's fingertips and you just know it's going in. While watching the recent FIBA U16 Asia Cup qualifiers, I couldn't help but reflect on how the art of shooting has evolved across generations, from the set shots of yesteryear to the logo threes that define today's game.

Let's get one thing straight from the start—Stephen Curry sits atop this mountain, and frankly, it's not particularly close. I remember watching his 2016 season unfold like some kind of basketball fairytale, hitting 402 three-pointers when nobody had even cracked 300 before. The man revolutionized the game so thoroughly that kids in the Philippines now practice from half-court during warmups. Speaking of international basketball, the recent Gilas Pilipinas Youth dominance in Southeast Asia actually demonstrates this global shooting revolution—their guards now regularly attempt shots that would've been considered irresponsible a decade ago.

Now, Ray Allen deserves his flowers as the prototype for the modern shooting guard. His 2,973 career three-pointers stood as the record for years, and I'll never forget that corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals—the coolest shooting performance under pressure I've ever witnessed. What people forget is that Allen maintained 40% three-point shooting across 18 seasons, a consistency that's almost incomprehensible. Klay Thompson once scored 37 points in a quarter while touching the ball for only 52 seconds total—that's shooting efficiency that defies physics. His 14 three-pointers in a single game remains one of those records that feels almost untouchable, though knowing today's shooters, someone will probably break it next season.

Reggie Miller brought trash talk and clutch shooting together in a package that made him must-watch television during the 1990s. His 25 points in the fourth quarter against the Knicks in 1994 remains the stuff of legend—my father still talks about that game with reverence. Larry Bird would probably be shooting 45% from three in today's spacing-focused offenses, and his three consecutive three-point contest wins showcased a confidence that bordered on arrogance, but damn, he backed it up. Speaking of confidence, Damian Lillard's series-ending logo threes have become his signature move—I've timed some of those shots, and he regularly releases from 30+ feet with a hand in his face.

Steve Nash's 50-40-90 seasons feel almost mythical in today's game—four of them, which is two more than anyone else in history. His shooting form was so mechanically perfect that coaches still use it as teaching material. Kyle Korver once made 127 consecutive games with a three-pointer while shooting 53% from deep during one stretch—those numbers sound like video game statistics rather than real-life performance. James Harden's step-back three has become so ubiquitous that every playground now has kids trying to replicate it, though few understand the biomechanics behind why it's so effective.

Dirk Nowitzki's one-legged fadeaway was so unguardable that analysts calculated it was worth 1.18 points per possession throughout his career. The man shot 48% from mid-range for his career while being the primary focus of every defense he faced. Kevin Durant's combination of height and shooting touch creates what I call the "mathematical unfairness" problem for defenses—there's simply no correct way to defend a seven-footer who can pull up from 30 feet. His 53% shooting on two-point jumpers last season proves he's the most efficient mid-range shooter since Michael Jordan.

What fascinates me about this evolution is how international basketball has embraced these shooting innovations. Watching the Gilas Pilipinas Youth team in the FIBA U16 Asia Cup qualifiers, I noticed their offensive sets now regularly include what we'd call "NBA range" threes—something that was rare even at the professional level 15 years ago. The globalization of shooting technique means the next great shooter might currently be developing his game in Manila rather than Indianapolis.

As I look at today's NBA, the shooting revolution shows no signs of slowing down. The average three-point attempts have increased from 13 per game in 2010 to over 34 today—that's not evolution, that's revolution. The players on this list didn't just shoot well; they changed how teams think about offense, spacing, and value. While new shooters will undoubtedly emerge and records will fall, what makes these ten players legendary isn't just their percentages—it's how they expanded our imagination of what's possible with a basketball and a hoop. The kids in the FIBA U16 tournaments shooting from the logo? They're standing on the shoulders of these giants.