Home Basketball Why Buddy Hield could be the one to break Stephen Curry’s career 3-point record

Why Buddy Hield could be the one to break Stephen Curry’s career 3-point record

Basketball — 08/31/2023


Two years ago, Stephen Curry accomplished a remarkable feat by breaking the NBA record for career made 3-pointers, and his tally of successful 3-point shots has continued to rise steadily since then. There’s a strong sense that Curry has the potential to extend his playing career well into his 40s, which could amount to at least another five years, including the upcoming season. If he manages to do so, he will almost certainly surpass 4,000 made 3-pointers over the course of his career.

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This number is undeniably substantial, and the prevailing assumption is that Curry’s record will likely remain unbroken, or at the very least, it won’t be surpassed for a considerable amount of time, and certainly not by a current player. However, this assumption might need a second look. Surprisingly, there is indeed a current player who could realistically challenge Curry’s record if he maintains his current pace. This player’s name might not immediately come to mind, but it’s worth considering.

Contrary to expectations, it’s not James Harden, even though he is poised to move into the second spot on the all-time list this season. It’s not Luka Doncic either, although he could potentially exceed 3,000 made 3-pointers in his career, reaching 4,000 would necessitate a significant improvement in his shooting percentage compared to his current performance. It’s also not Damian Lillard or Paul George, both of whom have a strong chance of finishing in the top five all-time for made 3-pointers. Nor is it Stephen Curry’s own teammate, Klay Thompson, who, despite his impressive shooting skills, is hindered by his age (34) and the challenge of returning to action after missing two complete seasons.

The player to keep an eye on is Buddy Hield.

Over the last five seasons, Buddy Hield has consistently ranked second in terms of total made 3-pointers four times, and he secured the fourth position in the remaining season. Since the 2017-18 season, nobody—not even Stephen Curry—has made more 3-pointers than Buddy Hield, who has recorded an impressive 1,557 successful 3-point shots.