NBA HISTORY: STATISTICS ABOUT THE MOST EFFICIENT 3-PT FIELD GOAL % SCORERS IN THE REGULAR SEASON.

Most impressive records in NBA history about efficient scorers in regular season: the best 3-PT Field Goal % scorers.

This is the fourth part of a series of articles about historical records on the major statistics in NBA history (points, assists, rebounds…) while looking at which current player could eventually challenge these records along  his career.

In the three previous articles we looked at the most global efficient scorers and records in points in the NBA history. We saw that Steve Nash was the current leader in term of global efficiency (2Pt %, 3Pt % & FT%) while Kevin Durant was in a position to challenge some records over his career as well as in terms of global efficiency (see the article) as in points (see the article). Finally, regarding the most efficient players in term of 2 points field goal % (link to the article), we found some of the most powerful and best ever players of the NBA history (Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lebron James; see the articles about the G.O.A.T).

Today, we continue to focus on the most efficient scorers: the best 3-PT Field Goal Pct shooters (available since the 1979-80 season in the NBA).

A. RECORDS IN SCORING EFFICIENCY.

Firstly, I looked at the most absolute efficient players in 3 points field goal % during a season (with a minimum of 82 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts per season; or 1 per game).

In the history of the NBA, only 6 players have reached at least (a) 50% in term of 3 Pt % over a season. Steve Kerr is the leader with 3 seasons.

a. In the regular season; from 1946-47 to 2013-14; requiring 3-Pt Field Goal Pct >= 0.5 and 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts >= 82; sorted by most seasons matching criteria.

Rk	Player	From	To	Count
1	Steve Kerr	1990	1996	3
2	Jason Kapono	2007	2007	1
2	Kyle Korver	2010	2010	1
2	Tim Legler	1996	1996	1
2	Detlef Schrempf	1995	1995	1
2	Jon Sundvold	1989	1989	1

Secondly, I looked at the most regular efficient players in 3 points field goal % per season with at least 40% (always with a minimum of 82 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts per season; or 1 per game). 
It’s no surprise to find two categories of players within this screening (b). On the one hand, we can find among the best all-around and well known excellent shooters/players (Steve Nash is the leader with 13 seasons, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Peja Stojakovic, John Stockton, Larry Bird and Chris Mullin). On the other hand, there are players whose job is/was only to take 3Pt: Mike Miller, Brent Barry, Kyle Korver, Matt Bonner and Steve Kerr.

b. In the regular season; from 1946-47 to 2013-14; requiring 3-Pt Field Goal Pct >= 0.4 and 3-Pt Field Goal Attempts >= 82; sorted by most seasons matching criteria. (the full statistic with this link).

Rk	Player	From	To	Count
1	Steve Nash	1998	2013	13
2	Reggie Miller	1989	2004	10
3	Dell Curry	1992	2001	9
4	Mike Miller	2001	2014	9
5	Ray Allen	2000	2013	8
6	Dana Barros	1992	2001	8
7	Brent Barry	1996	2008	8
8	Hubert Davis	1994	2002	8
9	Dale Ellis	1988	1999	8
10	Kyle Korver	2005	2014	8
11	Wesley Person	1995	2005	8
12	Peja Stojakovic	2001	2011	8
13	Matt Bonner	2005	2014	7
14	Ben Gordon	2005	2012	7
15	Jeff Hornacek	1990	2000	7
16	John Stockton	1990	2001	7
17	Larry Bird	1980	1992	6
18	Hersey Hawkins	1989	1998	6
19	Steve Kerr	1990	1998	6
20	Chris Mullin	1993	2000	6
21	Terry Porter	1991	2002	6
22	Wally Szczerbiak	2002	2009	6

B. RECORDS.

Here all the records about 3 points in NBA history during the regular season. 
Among active players, Stephen Curry and Kyle Korver are two players that could challenge some records in these categories over their career.

Most seasons leading league, 3-pt field goal percentage

2	Craig Hodges
2	Jason Kapono
2	Steve Kerr

 

Most consecutive seasons leading league, 3-pt field goal percentage

2

Jason Kapono

2006-07—2007-08

 

Highest 3-pt field goal percentage, career

.4540	Steve Kerr
.4463	Stephen Curry
.4409	Hubert Davis

 

Highest 3-pt field goal percentage, season

.5364	Kyle Korver	2009-10
.5235	Steve Kerr	1994-95
.5224	Tim Legler	1995-96

 

Highest 3-pt field goal percentage, rookie, season

.4674	Anthony Morrow	2008-09
.4595	Drazen Petrovic	1989-90
.4390	D.J. Augustin	2008-09

 

Most 3-point field goals made, no misses, game

9	Latrell Sprewell	Feb 4, 2003
9	Ben Gordon	Apr 14, 2006
9	Ben Gordon	Mar 21, 2012

 

Most 3-point field goal attempts, none made, game

11	Antoine Walker	Dec 17, 2001
10	George McCloud	Mar 10, 1996
10	Antoine Walker	Dec 21, 2002
10	Baron Davis	Dec 8, 2003
10	Ray Allen	Dec 11, 2004
10	Raja Bell	Apr 6, 2007
10	James Harden	Nov 22, 2009
10	Kevin Durant	Nov 3, 2010

 

Most seasons leading league, 3-pt field goals

3	Ray Allen
2	Larry Bird
2	Dan Majerle
2	Michael Adams
2	Vernon Maxwell
2	Darrell Griffith
2	Reggie Miller

 

Most consecutive seasons leading league, 3-pt field goals

2	Darrell Griffith	1983-84—1984-85
2	Larry Bird	1985-86—1986-87
2	Michael Adams	1988-89—1989-90
2	Vernon Maxwell	1990-91—1991-92
2	Dan Majerle	1992-93—1993-94
2	Ray Allen	2001-02—2002-03

 

Most 3-pt field goals, career

2857	Ray Allen
2560	Reggie Miller
1988	Jason Kidd

 

Most 3-pt field goals, season

272	Stephen Curry	2012-13
269	Ray Allen	2005-06
267	Dennis Scott	1995-96

 

Most 3-pt field goals, rookie, season

185	Damian Lillard	2012-13
166	Stephen Curry	2009-10
159	Rudy Fernandez	2008-09

 

Most 3-pt field goals, game

12	Kobe Bryant	Jan 7, 2003
12	Donyell Marshall	Mar 13, 2005
11	Dennis Scott	Apr 18, 1996
11	J.R. Smith	Apr 13, 2009
11	Stephen Curry	Feb 27, 2013
11	Deron Williams	Mar 8, 2013

 

Most consecutive games, 3-point field goal made

89	Dana Barros	Dec 23, 1994—Jan 10, 1996
79	Michael Adams	Jan 28, 1988—Jan 23, 1989
78	Dennis Scott	Apr 17, 1995—Apr 4, 1996

 

Most 3-point field goals, one half

9	Deron Williams	Mar 8, 2013	1st Half
8	Tim Thomas	Jan 5, 2001	2nd Half
8	Michael Redd	Feb 20, 2002	2nd Half
8	Ray Allen	Apr 14, 2002	2nd Half
8	Kobe Bryant	Mar 28, 2003	1st Half
8	Tracy McGrady	Jan 26, 2004	1st Half
8	J.R. Smith	Feb 22, 2008	2nd Half
8	J.R. Smith	Mar 12, 2011	2nd Half
8	Jason Richardson	Feb 11, 2012	2nd Half
8	Kyle Korver	Jan 25, 2013	2nd Half

 

Most 3-point field goals, one quarter

8	Michael Redd	Feb 20, 2002	4th Qtr.
7	John Roche	Jan 9, 1982
7	Steve Smith	Mar 14, 1997
7	Henry James	Apr 15, 1997
7	J.R. Smith	Feb 22, 2008	4th Qtr.
7	J.R. Smith	Mar 24, 2008	4th Qtr.
7	J.R. Smith	Mar 12, 2011	4th Qtr.
7	Ty Lawson	Apr 9, 2011	3rd Qtr.
7	Ben Gordon	Apr 26, 2012	2nd Qtr.
7	Deron Williams	Mar 8, 2013	1st Qtr.

           

Source: www.basketball-reference.com.

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