
In todayâs NBA, the three-point shot isnât just a weaponâitâs a revolution. Over the past two decades, the game has evolved dramatically, and the deep ball has become the great equalizer, the momentum shifter, and often the game-winner. From role players to superstars, everyone is pulling up from beyond the arcâand itâs rewriting the record books in real time.
This season has been a perfect reflection of that trend, as teams and players continue to make history from deep. đŻ
A League Transformed
It wasnât that long ago when a team taking 20 threes in a game was considered bold. Now, itâs standard. In the 2024-25 season, the average NBA team is attempting over 36 threes per game. The math is simple: three is more than two, and the efficiency of the modern shooter has made it the most valuable shot in the game.
But beyond the numbers, thereâs the art of the deep ballâlogo shots, clutch daggers, heat checks, and momentum-shifting bombs. Weâre not just witnessing a strategy shift. Weâre witnessing a cultural transformation.
Individual Greatness from Distance
The headline story this season? Stephen Curry continues to redefine whatâs possible. At 37, the two-time MVP is still launchingâand makingâthrees at a historic rate. Earlier this season, he became the first player in NBA history to hit 4,500 career three-pointers, a mark that seemed unfathomable even a decade ago.
Curryâs impact on the game is undeniable. His limitless range opened the door for an entire generation of players to shoot deeper, faster, and with more confidence. He made the âbad shotâ a good shot. Now, whether itâs Damian Lillard pulling up from 35 feet, or Trae Young crossing halfcourt and letting it fly, the influence is everywhere.
But itâs not just guards. Bigs are getting in on the act too.
Karl-Anthony Towns, often referred to as the best shooting big man of all time, recently broke the record for most threes made by a center in a single season. His ability to stretch the floor has changed how defenses operateâand itâs not just finesse. Heâs hitting them in volume, with efficiency, and in key moments.
Team Records Falling Fast
Itâs not just players rewriting historyâitâs entire teams. The Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks have both set new franchise records for three-pointers made in a single season. Just this year, the Pacers had a game where they hit 28 threes, the second-most in NBA history.
Even traditional powerhouses like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, once known more for their defense and inside play, have fully embraced the long-range revolution. With shooters like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Khris Middleton, and Malik Beasley spacing the floor, teams are hunting threes the way they used to hunt post mismatches.
And letâs not forget the Oklahoma City Thunderâone of the youngest teams in the league, yet leading the league in three-point percentage. Their rise is just another reminder that shooting wins in todayâs NBA.
The Deep Ball in the Playoffs
In the postseason, the three-ball becomes even more crucial. Games slow down. Defenses tighten up. And the ability to create and hit from deep can decide a series. Just ask the 2016 Warriors, the 2019 Raptors, or the 2021 Bucks. Championship teams today need at least three to four reliable shootersâand a willingness to let it fly under pressure.
Already in this yearâs playoffs, weâve seen epic performances from deep. Tyrese Haliburton hit eight threes in a statement Game 1 win. Klay Thompson, known for his playoff sharpshooting, reminded everyone why heâs still one of the most dangerous catch-and-shoot players in NBA history.
A Shot That Changed the Game
âHistory from deepâ isnât just a catchy phraseâitâs a summary of the modern era. This isnât the same NBA our parents watched. This is a game where the arc defines the action, and the players behind that line are often the ones making the headlines.
From Curryâs legacy to the rookies launching with confidence, the deep ball has reshaped what it means to dominate in basketball. Itâs no longer about who controls the paintâitâs about who controls the perimeter.
And every night, someone new steps up to make history from deep. đŻ