Stephen Curry is the best shooter in NBA history, because no other player combines three-point range, movement shooting, free-throw accuracy, efficiency, volume, and championship impact at the same level.
TLDR: Curry ranks No. 1 because he changed shot selection across the league while making more than 4,000 regular-season threes at elite efficiency. Ray Allen and Reggie Miller follow because they built the modern off-ball shooting model before spacing was friendly. For example, Curry shooting around 42% from three on huge volume is far more valuable than a specialist shooting 43% on half the attempts.
How This Ranking Was Built
Honestly, it feels lazy when rankings treat every made three as the whole argument. Shooting is broader than that. A real ranking must weigh three-point shooting, mid-range accuracy, free throws, shot difficulty, volume, efficiency, and career achievements.
Peak matters. Longevity matters. Playoff translation matters even more. A shooter who bends defenses in May and June deserves extra credit.
1. Stephen Curry
Curry is the clear No. 1. He owns the NBA record for career three-pointers and did not get there by standing still in the corner. He shoots off the dribble, off screens, in transition, from 30 feet, and under heavy pressure.
His career three-point percentage sits around 42%, despite taking shots that would get most players benched. He is also one of the greatest free-throw shooters ever, above 90% for his career. Add four championships, two MVPs, and a Finals MVP, and the case is not close.
Best argument: Curry changed how basketball is played.
2. Ray Allen
Ray Allen had textbook mechanics, elite conditioning, and rare calm under pressure. He finished his career with 2,973 made threes, which stood as the all-time record before Curry passed him.
Allen was not just a catch-and-shoot player. In Milwaukee and Seattle, he created more off the bounce. In Boston and Miami, he mastered movement shooting. His corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals remains one of the most famous shots ever.
Best argument: He combined pure form, long career value, and historic playoff moments.
3. Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller played in an era that did not fully reward his gift. That matters. He made 2,560 threes when teams attempted far fewer threes than they do now.
Miller’s off-ball movement was brutal to guard. He ran defenders through screens, drew fouls, and punished any inch of space. His free-throw shooting, near 89%, added to his value late in games.
His playoff scoring against the Knicks still carries weight because those defenses were physical. He did not have modern spacing. He had contact, hand-checking, and very little room.
Best argument: His shooting was ahead of its era.
4. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is not always framed as a shooting specialist, but he belongs high on this list. At nearly seven feet tall, he can shoot over almost anyone. That makes his mid-range game one of the most reliable weapons in NBA history.
Durant is a career 38% three-point shooter and an 88% free-throw shooter. Those numbers are excellent. The real separator is his shot profile. He takes hard pull-ups, contested jumpers, and late-clock shots that most players avoid.
His playoff résumé helps too: two championships, two Finals MVPs, and years of elite scoring efficiency.
Best argument: He may be the greatest tall shot-maker ever.
5. Larry Bird
Larry Bird’s numbers need context. His career three-point percentage was 37.6%, but he played when the three-point line was still treated like a novelty. Teams did not build offenses around it.
Bird was a brilliant mid-range shooter, a great free-throw shooter, and a fearless late-game scorer. He won three straight Three-Point Contests and backed up the talk in real games. He also won three MVPs and three championships.
Bird’s shooting value was not just accuracy. It was pressure. Defenders believed every jumper was going in. Often, they were right.
Best argument: He had elite touch, confidence, and shot-making before analytics caught up.
6. Steve Nash
Steve Nash is one of the most efficient shooters ever. He is a member of the rare 50-40-90 club, reaching that mark multiple times. His career free-throw percentage, above 90%, ranks among the best in league history.
The only reason Nash is not higher is volume. He could have shot more. It drives fans a little crazy now, because his skill set would fit perfectly in the modern NBA. Give him today’s green light, and his scoring profile would look very different.
Best argument: If this were based only on touch and efficiency, Nash would be near the top.
7. Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson is one of the greatest catch-and-shoot players ever. His release is compact. His balance is clean. His confidence is absurd.
His peak included a 37-point quarter, a 60-point game on only 11 dribbles, and a 14-three game that set the single-game record at the time. He also helped build a Warriors dynasty with four championships.
Klay is not the same off-the-dribble threat as Curry, Durant, or Nash. That limits his ranking. But as a movement shooter with size, he is close to perfect.
Best argument: His hottest nights are as scary as anyone’s.
8. Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki redefined shooting for big men. His one-legged fadeaway became one of the most respected shots in basketball history. It was simple, repeatable, and nearly impossible to block.
Dirk made more than 1,900 threes, shot close to 38% from deep, and hit around 88% at the line. His 2011 championship run adds serious weight. He beat elite defenses with mid-range shooting, spacing, and late-game poise.
Best argument: He changed what teams expected from power forwards.
9. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard earns his place through range, volume, and pressure shooting. He is one of the few players who can cross half court and instantly become a threat.
Lillard has made more than 2,600 threes and has built a career on deep pull-ups. His series-winning shots against Houston and Oklahoma City are part of NBA history. His career three-point percentage is not as high as some specialists, but his difficulty level is extreme.
Best argument: His range forces defenses to pick him up absurdly early.
10. Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver was a specialist, but he was an all-time specialist. He shot nearly 43% from three for his career and led the league in three-point percentage four times.
Korver’s value came from movement, spacing, and instant decision-making. He did not need the ball long. A half-step was enough. His lack of self-created offense keeps him behind the stars above him, but pure shooting belongs in the discussion.
Best argument: Few players turned small windows into points as cleanly.
Honorable Mentions
- James Harden: Huge three-point volume and elite step-back creation, though his overall shooting accuracy trails the top tier.
- Peja Stojakovic: A brilliant forward shooter with deep range and elite free-throw touch.
- Mark Price: One of the cleanest shooters ever, with elite free throws and strong three-point accuracy.
- Chris Mullin: Great left-handed touch, strong mid-range work, and efficient scoring.
- J.J. Redick: Outstanding movement shooter with a long career built on precision.
Final Ranking
- Stephen Curry
- Ray Allen
- Reggie Miller
- Kevin Durant
- Larry Bird
- Steve Nash
- Klay Thompson
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Damian Lillard
- Kyle Korver
The top spot belongs to Curry because his shooting changed defenses, rosters, and youth basketball habits. Allen and Miller remain the standard for off-ball greatness. Durant, Bird, Nash, Klay, Dirk, Lillard, and Korver each add a different version of elite shooting: size, touch, range, movement, or ruthless efficiency.
The best shooter is not only the player with the prettiest form. It is the player whose shot bends the sport. By that measure, Curry stands alone.