Stephen Curry is one of the best basketball players of our time. The Golden State Warriors point guard recently surpassed Ray Allen’s record for the most points scored from beyond the arc. Curry made his 2,974th three-pointer in the victory over the New York Knicks. Steph will surely solidify his mark, becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the decade before his career ends.
Winner’s award
Curry was congratulated with the landmark record by its previous owner, Ray Allen. He joined Reggie Miller in presenting the starting point guard with a 2974 jersey. The awarding itself took place in a cordial atmosphere: there was not a trace of regret on Allen’s face about the missed achievement.
Remarkably, Stephen Carey surpassed Ray Allen’s record a month ago (November 13). In the game against the Chicago Bulls, the point guard made several three-pointers. His 3,367 total at the end of the game was 3,358, while Allen’s career total was 3,358. But in the NBA, records are compiled for the regular season and don’t include playoff numbers. So we had to wait for the Knicks, where Stephen Curry became the all-time leading long-range player.
A blurred ending
As the milestone achievement approached, Curry’s shooting percentage from beyond the arc began to drop. The basketball player planned to break the record back on December 9 against Portland. Steph said he wouldn’t have a problem hitting the missing 16 threes, but the Trail Blazers’ defense showed grit and shut down the point guard. Curry had 6 of 17 threes at the end of the game, so the achievement carried over to the game against Philadelphia.
“The Sixers didn’t want to go down in history sadly. Matthysse Taibul personally guarded the GSV point guard. In that meeting, Stephen made just 3 of 14 long-range shots. On the road against Indiana, Curry missed his long-awaited breakthrough: He hit just 5-of-15 from beyond the arc, but Allen’s record was just 2 shots from beyond the arc. Curry made two more in the first quarter against the Knicks. After that, Curry continued to hit his steady three-pointers and the coach and players finally had a chance to breathe.
Three straight games with 10+ missed three-pointers is outrageous for a 3-time NBA champion. Curry has long been the model of stability: He’s dragged this team through hopeless seasons. On the other hand, the record was broken at the legendary Madison Square Garden. The arena is recognized as the Mecca of basketball, so there is at least some upside to the protracted pursuit.
What’s on the horizon?
So, Steph is now 33 years old. Given that he’ll play 2-3 seasons consistently, he’ll have a total of 4000+ threes. If you take the playoffs, that number could easily exceed 5,000 (barring injury or force majeure). The emphasis in the NBA today is on long-range shooting, which has helped GSV pull out many games. Curry is the most consistent player in this aspect of basketball, so it’s safe to say his achievement will last decades.
The contenders for a new achievement are tight in the NBA. The closest pursuer, Trey Young of Atlanta, is on Curry’s pace. Gradually, his 3-point stats are only getting worse. Moreover, Young is injury prone, and how long the league has to wait for a new Curry is the mystery of the century. Steph, thanks to his talent and terrific ring flair, has earned the title of the NBA’s and modern day’s best sharpshooter.