New York, Dec. 15 (BUS): Stephen Curry smashed his way to the top of the NBA record with three-pointers.
Curry hit 2,974 3-pointers Tuesday night in the Golden State Warriors’ first-quarter game against the New York Knicks, breaking Ray Allen’s record, The Associated Press reports.
Curry hit the shot off the right wing with 7:33 remaining, waving his arms skyward as he ran back down the court. Then the warriors made a mistake and quickly called a deadline to start the celebration.
Curry went and hugged his dad, Del Curry, who was seated along the baseline, while Davidson’s coach Bob McKillop stood in the stands and walked away alongside Larry Riley, who drafted Curry for the Warriors. Then came a hug from fellow Warriors Draymond Green among others, and finally, Curry came back across the field for a long hug and some words of congratulations from Allen.
Curry is often considered the greatest shooter in the league, and the numbers back him up. Already owning two of the first three seasons of the Triple Points — including the only season to have a 3,400 — and now holds the record held by Allen since passing Reggie Miller in 2011.
The record came at Madison Square Garden, where Curry achieved one of his most notable early career achievements on February 27, 2013, when he made 11 three-pointers and scored 54 points. He won two Player of the Year awards and three championships while becoming one of the biggest and most recognizable stars in the game.
“I think fans are just drawn to him because of his humbleness and his story and how hard he works, so in that sense he’s a bit beyond the sport,” Golden State coach Steve Kerr said before the game.
Curry was far from his best after the arc to start this wild ride, going 3 for 14 in Philadelphia and then 5 for 15 in Indiana. But with his ability to go from declining to rising quickly, Kerr expected a breakout to be soon.
Came quickly on Tuesday. Curry hit off the spot on his first attempt, and fans stood around the arena as he dribble the ball across center court on the next possession. He fired an ugly attempt he missed.
The record-breaker came in with his next shot and it was a vintage curry. He gave the ball and eventually raced outside, seemingly recovering the ball and shooting it in the same motion before the defender could reach him.
It’s that quick shot – both when caught and while dribbling – and the ability to shoot so far behind the arc that makes him a shooter unlike anyone before him.
“He’s the best shooter I’ve ever seen, and I think he’s obviously the best player to catch the ball and hit it,” said former Dallas star Dirk Nowitzki. “But where he’s so good, the dribbling is off, and I think that’s something he added, which is a quick 3 of dribbling. It’s one move and his shot is gone.”
None of Curry’s stardom was assured when he entered the league in 2009 as Davidson’s No. 7 player, far from one of the strongest players in basketball that usually produces the best players.
But with an unparalleled combination of dribbling and shooting accuracy, he led a far-reaching revolution that turned the Third Pointer from an afterthought in NBA offenses into a weapon. He has led the league by three throws six times and is on his way to seventh for a rookie Warriors team that once again has the best record in the league.
And Curry could put the record out of reach at his current pace: He’s entered the night making 5.4 three-pointers per game this season, the best of his career.
Curry, 33, is in his 789th game, with perhaps a few more seasons at the top. At the same point in his career, Allen had a 1918 3-s.