The 10 Best Shooter of All Time in NBA History: Data-Driven Rankings

Critical Consensus: Ranking the Best NBA Shooters

This table displays the ranking of the best NBA shooters of all time, based on ClutchPoints rank and NBA.com Stats rank.

SportsBoom MetaScale: Ranking the NBA Shooting Legends

This table showcases the MetaScale score of each shooter, based on different metrics, specifically:  three-pointers made, three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, and achievement percentage. 

Here, we explore in-depth information about the career journeys, shooting techniques, and achievements of the Legendary NBA Shooters on the MetaScale ranking. 

1. Stephen Curry

Steph Curry, one of the highest paid players in the NBA, is a four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP, and all-time leader in three-pointers (3, 747) and three-point attempts (8,805). He remains the only player in NBA history to achieve more than 400 threes in a single season, having made 402 in the 2015-16 season. Curry’s record surpasses the only two other players, Klay Thompson and James Harden, who have surpassed 300 threes in a single season. 

Curry has dissipated every 3-point shooting record that existed before him, impulsively making him the greatest shooter in NBA history. His unmatched ability to shoot with distance, flair and accuracy has not only transfigured the game of basketball but also changed the shape of grassroots hoops. In essence, Steph Curry has flouted every shooting statistic, particularly in the efficiency domain.

Steph Curry has proved un-guardable; he has maintained this momentum throughout his career. Defenders have explored different strategies to counter Curry’s revolutionary shooting tactics. However, their efforts always proof futile since they only manage to chase him behind the 3-point line.

Before Steph appeared in the NBA scene, the most popular shot was the mid-range jumper. This gave the offensive player leverage on the defender, whose central priority was protecting the basket. Both Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant unleashed this move naturally, rendering it a signature move for every other player. Steph came into the game with an unseen tactic of draining long range threes that caught the opposition by surprise and unprepared to counter. 

2. Ray Allen

Ray Allen was a pure, authentic shooter, renowned for making ‘textbook’ shots that mirrored quick release and unmatched ability to make clutch shots while under intense pressure. The two-time NBA champion and all-time three-pointer posted elite off-ball movements and his shooting mechanics were revolutionary and near-perfect. His consistent shots were made through high release and incredible follow-through.

Allen’s career evolved over the years. At the onset, during his tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics and Milwaukee Bucks, he was merely a primary scorer who majorly relied on his shooting ability and athleticism. As he progressed, he adopted more specialized techniques such as perimeter shooting, particularly during his time with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. 

His most notable and iconic moment was in the 2013 NBA Finals–Allen made a three-pointer, seconds before the game ended. This was the saving grace of the Miami Heat, which was on the verge of elimination, and pushed them to championship. Allen’s versatility and ability to remain dynamic was the highlight of his career as a three-pointer. For almost two decades, he maintained an ever-green shooting legacy. 

3. Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is one of the most explosive shooters that NBA has ever witnessed. The legendary NBA shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks is an embodiment of exceptional shooting abilities, with his follow-through being amongst his most celebrated shooting techniques. He executes it with consistency and fluidity, making his shots to follow the right trajectory and spin. 

Thompson further makes accurate and consistent long-ranges that reflect an elite offensive game. This technique has rendered him one of the most recognized scoring threats in the NBA, particularly the three-point shot. Thompson has made jaw-dropping scoring feats that range from scoring 37 points in a single quarter, recording 14 three-pointers in a single game, to scoring over 50 points in 30 minutes or less. In short, he operates within the confines of a legend when it comes to shooting. 

The four-time NBA champion, two-time All-NBA third team and a five-time NBA All-Star excellently combines shot release, follow-through, footwork and landing, to execute one of his most lethal offensive weapon, the jump shot. 

4. Larry Bird

Larry Bird, a legendary Boston Celtics forward, has a glaring resume, as one of the most outstanding sharpshooters in NBA history. He mastered the three-point shot and executed it effortlessly, at a time when this technique was considered a back-breaker. In the 1980s, he was known for being the most popular clutch player. 

Bird made limitless shots from any position of the court. He even went to extreme measures by scoring over 30 points in a game, using his left hand. In fact, Bird became so accustomed to making shots that he did not know how to miss them. His revolutionary game play was driven by a unique blend of skills, particularly pinpoint passing, exceptional shooting and high basketball IQ. 

This generational talent had an unmatched passing ability that entailed locating teammates with behind-the-back or no-look passes. He unleashed ‘miracle-working’ techniques that could not be replicated. Bird’s clutch performances and competitive drive were ungovernable even in high-pressure situations, hence he was guaranteed to deliver. 

Larry Bird elevated the NBA to greater heights of popularity, and beyond the statistics of winning three NBA championships with the Celtics, scooping three MVP awards in a row and making 12 All-Star selections, Bird’s influence on the game remains immeasurable. 

5. Reggie Miller

Reggie Miller established an 18-year old career with the Indiana Pacers, where he was a shooting guard. He is widely identified as one of the precise shooters in NBA history. Miller’s exceptional ability to execute three-point shooting with accuracy, especially in situations marred by intense pressure, earned him recognition. One of his career highlights was in the game against New York Knicks; he delivered excellent clutch performances that earned him the nickname, “Knick Killer”.

Other than making elusive three pointers and game changing shots, Miller was a well-equipped offensive player. He was un-guardable, owing to his quick release and off screen shots. The ability to make clutch shots rendered one of the most feared threats of his time. 

The five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection, all-time leading scorer for Indiana Pacers, and All-time 3-point leader was inducted in the 2012 Hall of Fame. He revolutionized the game through a combination of clutch performance, shooting prowess, and longevity, making him a dominant influential player in NBA history. 

6. Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard and Stephen Curry//Getty Images

Damian Lillard is a prolific point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks. He is a refined scorer and clutch performer whose has built an enviable career on exceptional long-range shooting and crucial point production. Since joining the league in 2012, Lillard has established himself as an electrifying and dependable player.

As one of the best point guards of his era, Lillard has generated recognition through a combined showcase of leadership, scoring prowess, and clutch performances. He has legendary scoring ability, given his career average of 25 points per game and uncountable 50-point performances. 

Damian has adopted a personalized play style that entails quick release, exceptional shooting and establishment of creative shots. He is equally skilled in ball-handling and passing and has a knack for locating open teammates when defense enclose him, leading to excellent performance in pick-and-roll situations. Lillard has shaped an elite-level career, as mirrored by six All-Star selections and six All-NBA selections. 

7. Kyle Korver

Kyle Kover was an elite catch-and-shooter who projected unique efficiency in shooting. He employed unmatched techniques such as quick release and high-arc shots that rendered him a reliable three-point shooter. All through his career, Korver was among the leading league leaders in three-point shots. He was skilled in finding open spots whenever he moved with the ball, matching Reggie Miller and Ray Allen’s abilities. 

The 2015 All-Star triggered defensive attention on the floor since he had an unpredictable ability to make shots from any angle. Although Kover never won a championship, he maintained a premium, long-standing career and remains one of the most consistent and noble shooter in NBA history. 

8. Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant is a generational talent, currently playing for the Phoenix Suns as a small forward/power forward. He embodies a combination of skill, size and scoring prowess. The two-time NBA champion, Finals MVP, and Four-time NBA scoring champion has redefined the game of basketball through his elite scoring ability.

Durant’s un-guardable seven-foot frame makes it hard to crack his shooting techniques. He uses high release and smooth stroke to get past defense and with his versatility and efficiency, it is impossible to overturn his perimeter shots. Although Durant is not a conventional three-point expert; it is nearly impossible to block his mid-range jumper. 

Kevin Durant can make shots from any section of the court, be it catch-and-shoot, pull ups, step-backs, or fadeaways. His 50-40-90 multiple-season shooting splits show case his efficiency in making high volume shots. As one of the legendary offensive players in NBA history, Durant’s shooting ability is deeply intertwined to his legacy. His efficiency and incredible shooting game has earned him elite 12 All-Star selections and 10 All-NBA selections. 

9. Steve Nash

Steve Nash was an elite NBA player who made it in eight All-Star selections and was a seven-time All-NBA team player. Besides being one of the most recognized playmakers in the league, Nash established himself as one of the most efficient shooters in the NBA. Unlike Steph Curry or Ray Allen, Nash wasn’t a high-volume three-pointer but he had refined skills in mid-range, deep, and free-throw line shots. For a record four times, the highest in NBA history, he was part of the 50/40/90 club. 

Nash had threatening shooting ability and combined with his dynamic, pass-first point guard skill, he released ground-breaking moves. In pick-and-roll situations, Nash executed perfect off-the-dribble shots, step-back threes and pull-up jumpers. While in Phoenix Suns, particularly in his peak seasons, he had become an automatic shooter who even avoided open shots. 

Nash was a versatile, unpredictable shooter, whose off-balance shots and one-legged floaters and runners made his shooting ability unmatched. His impact on the game extends to today’s fast-paced, three-point shooting since he played at a time when point guards scored more and he comfortably surpassed the expectations. 

10. James Harden

James Harden, a point guard for the Los Angeles Clippers is regarded as one of the most elite shooting guards and scorers in the NBA. When he engages his step-back three-pointer signature move, his perimeter scoring becomes ungovernable. He engages off-the-dribble shots to keep defenders at bay, showcasing his noble ball-handling. When exposed to immense defensive pressure, Harden makes off-balance shots with efficiency and accuracy, pointing to his unique shooting ability. 

Harden’s ability to make excellent-three pointers has triggered comparisons to legendary shooters like Steph Curry, although they employ different approaches. Curry capitalizes on quick releases and ball movement, while Harden thrives on dribble moves to draw separation from defenders, before engaging step-backs. He is equally an elite shooter on the free-throw line, which comes with a smooth ability of drawing fouls. 

Harden is one of the players who has matched Wilt Chamberlain’s milestone of scoring over 30 points in a 32 games in a row. Clearly, his dominance in free throws and perimeter shooting is not an aspect of contention. The seven-time All-NBA First Team selection led the NBA in scoring between 2018 and 2020.