I still remember watching that 2016 Warriors game where Stephen Curry sank his 402nd three-pointer of the season. The arena erupted, but what struck me most was how casual he made it look - just another day at the office for the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen. That record-breaking moment cemented something we'd been witnessing all season: the game was fundamentally changing before our eyes.
When we talk about three-point shooting in the modern NBA, we're really discussing an evolutionary leap in how basketball is played and coached. Having covered the league for over a decade, I've watched this transformation unfold in real time. Teams that once treated the three-pointer as a supplementary weapon now build entire offensive systems around it. The math simply makes too much sense - three points will always be worth more than two, and when you have shooters who can consistently convert at high percentages, the geometry of the court changes completely. Defenses have to stretch beyond their comfort zones, creating driving lanes and opening up offensive possibilities that simply didn't exist in previous eras.
What makes Curry's 402 threes in the 2015-2016 season so remarkable isn't just the sheer volume - it's the efficiency with which he achieved it. He shot 45.4% from beyond the arc that year, which is frankly absurd when you consider he was taking nearly 11 attempts per game. To put that in perspective, many excellent three-point shooters would be thrilled to hit 45% on wide-open catch-and-shoot opportunities alone. Curry was doing this off the dribble, from well beyond the arc, with defenders draped all over him. I've had coaches tell me they'd be happy if their teams shot 45% from two-point range, let alone from three.
The contrast with earlier eras couldn't be more stark. When I look back at game footage from the 1990s, the three-point line might as well have been a decoration for how little some teams utilized it. The game was played in the paint, through physical post play and mid-range jumpers. The three-pointer was often treated as a bail-out option rather than a primary weapon. Even when great shooters like Reggie Miller and Ray Allen came along, they weren't launching 10+ attempts per game. The coaching philosophy and offensive systems simply didn't prioritize the three-ball to the extent they do today.
This brings me to an interesting comparison from international basketball that highlights how shooting efficiency can vary dramatically across different leagues and playing styles. I recently watched a game where Nocum was held to just 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting for Rain or Shine. Now, that's not exactly the kind of performance you want from a player who serves as the barometer for his team's success. When your primary scorer is struggling to that degree, it puts tremendous pressure on the entire offensive system. This kind of inefficient shooting night reminds me that not every player can maintain Curry-level consistency, and it underscores just how remarkable that 402-three-pointer season truly was.
The evolution of three-point shooting has fundamentally changed how we evaluate player talent and team construction. Front offices now prioritize spacing and shooting above almost everything else. I've spoken with scouts who tell me they'd rather take a player who shoots 38% from three than one who shoots 48% from mid-range, because the math simply works out better over the course of a season. This analytical approach has filtered down to every level of basketball - from NBA front offices to college programs to even high school teams.
What often gets lost in discussions about three-point records is the physical and mental toll of maintaining that level of shooting excellence. Having spoken with shooting coaches around the league, they emphasize that great shooters aren't born - they're made through thousands of repetitions and meticulous attention to mechanics. Curry's pre-game routine is legendary, involving everything from weighted-ball drills to shooting from unusual angles and distances. The muscle memory required to consistently replicate that shooting motion through an 82-game season, through fatigue and defensive pressure, is something that can't be overstated.
Looking forward, I'm often asked if Curry's record will ever be broken. My honest opinion? Probably, but not anytime soon. We've seen players like James Harden and Damian Lillard make serious runs at it, but they've fallen well short of that 402 mark. The physical and strategic landscape would need to shift significantly for someone to challenge it. Maybe if the NBA introduces a four-point line (which I personally think would be gimmicky but entertaining), or if a team fully commits to a system built around one historic shooter taking 15+ attempts per game. But as the game stands today, 402 threes represents the absolute pinnacle of volume shooting combined with elite efficiency.
The beauty of records like this is that they capture a specific moment in basketball's evolution while simultaneously challenging future generations to push the boundaries of what's possible. Every time I see a young player launching threes from the logo in warm-ups, I'm reminded of how Curry's influence has trickled down to the next generation. The game continues to evolve, but some records stand as monuments to revolutionary talent. Curry's 402 threes isn't just a number - it's a statement about how far shooting can take you when combined with unprecedented skill, confidence, and a willingness to redefine what's possible on a basketball court.
