Before the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season, Dell Curry signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. The 34-year-old was entering the twilight of his career but ended the season as the NBA’s top 3-point shooter with a career-best 47.6 percentage from behind the arc.
That same campaign, a 23-year-old Ray Allen shot a career-worst 35.6 percent from 3-point range. Still, the Bucks finished as the NBA’s best 3-point shooting team with a collective 37.3 clip. Steph Curry and his brother, Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry, were just in grade school then. But they got a first-hand look at shooting greatness, thanks to Bucks coach George Karl.
Twenty-two years later and Steph is on the brink of breaking Allen’s all-time NBA regular-season 3-point record. Following his 7-for-12 night from distance in Monday’s 126-95 win over the Orlando Magic, Curry reflected on Allen’s impact on his career.
“[Allen] used to show up to the arena three hours early on the court and get shots up when there was nobody in there,” Curry said. “He had a very specific routine that he stuck to. I learned a lot from that. I got to see him in Milwaukee when I was 10 years old and do shootarounds with him and my dad. My brother was out there. The coach would let us be a part of drills and stuff like that. I always got inspired by shooting the ball at a high level, when you see my dad and Ray Allen shooting right in front of you. It’s a pretty cool sight. I try to hold my own, too.”
Curry actually took a backseat to Andrew Wiggins in terms of 3-point shooting prowess Monday night, but Steph will be peerless soon enough. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said it’s fathomable that Curry drains 16 3-pointers in Wednesday’s matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers, which would break Allen’s all-time record (2,973). Steph agreed.
“Anything is possible,” Curry said. “What is it -- 15 [to tie]? That’s funny because I know what that means with Klay’s record and all that too. We will see. … If you’ve seen how I’ve played, especially recently, I’m not shy about shooting the ball. The game will dictate what that looks like. I’m not coming out with that as a true goal of how I’ll play. Crazier things have happened."
As Curry alluded to, Klay Thompson currently holds the NBA’s single-game record of 14 made 3-pointers. So, which record would be more fun to break -- Allen’s or Thompson’s?
“Ray's -- that's a body of work over a career,” Curry said. “Longevity, volume, accuracy. All that stuff that goes into it.”
Curry is currently sitting on 2,958 3-pointers in the regular season, though he broke Allen’s all-time record when including playoff totals earlier this year. The NBA will formally recognize Curry as basketball’s 3-point champ if/when Curry breaks the regular-season mark. The countdown has been on all season and Curry acknowledged he knows what the situation is, but said he won’t let it change how he approaches the game.
“I obviously know I’m closing in, but try not to let it creep in to how you play,” Curry said. “Just enjoy the journey to get there because it does mean a lot to me as I do get close.”
So, what does it mean to be approaching undisputed G.O.A.T. 3-point shooter status in NBA history?
“I’ll talk about it when it happens,” Curry said with a pause. “You’re gonna make me cry up here, bro. Don’t do that.”
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Curry remembers watching the game when Allen passed Reggie Miller to get the record on Feb. 10, 2011, when Miller was at the broadcast table at TD Garden to help celebrate the occasion.
“It was such a dope moment,” Curry said.
If Steph doesn’t explode for 16 3-pointers Wednesday, he will likely surpass Allen on the road, as the Warriors are set to face the Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors on a five-game, East Coast swing. Sure, Curry would like to break the record in front of Warriors fans at Chase Center, but don’t expect him to hold out until the Warriors return on Dec. 20 against the Sacramento Kings.
“It is the weirdest thing to be picky about breaking a record like that,” Curry said. “I have thought about that. Obviously, it would be nice to have the home crowd and feel that energy. I feel like it’ll be special no matter what, because I’ll make it special and it’ll be an amazing experience for me and my teammates and all that.”
