I know, I know.
Steph just accomplished history. But it’s been a whole 48 hours and I’m ready to look ahead to the next milestones in Curry’s crosshairs. Following the magical evening at Madison Square Garden Tuesday, we all know the significance of the number 2,974 – as he’s the first person in NBA history to make that many 3-pointers.
As he continues to play like a front-running MVP candidate, Curry is on pace to accomplish a couple more notable 3-point feats this season. Another collection of pretty, round numbers sit on the distant horizon, too.
After watching Curry become the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader, Draymond Green told reporters that Steph could be navigating far into uncharted waters. Curry, 33, only needed 789 games to eclipse Ray Allen’s total that he compiled in 1300 career contests.
“Obviously, the game changed,” Green said.” Ray didn’t shoot as many threes as Steph and all of that. But for him to accomplish that in such a short amount of time and there’s still so much more to go, I think he’ll ultimately end up being him by 1,000 or more. I have no doubt he’ll probably hit 4,000 threes in his career. It’s beautiful to see someone in the prime of their career. I think he’s still getting better, which is scary.”
3,000
Each one is worth 3 points. Curry wears the No. 30. The number 3,000 seems like a nice pearl for round-number enthusiasts and social media graphic designers.
Curry finished Tuesday night’s memorable affair going 5-of-14 from 3-point land and is sitting on 2,977 career threes. Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted the team’s offense was thrown out of whack while Curry closed in on the record, but he’s eager to see his team get back to its usual ball movement and assist-heavy attack.
Steph is averaging 5.6 3-pointers per game this season. If he maintained the same pace and didn’t sit out any games, he would hit the 3,000 mark in five contests – Christmas Day against the Phoenix Suns.
402
Curry has a chance to shatter his single-season 3-point record in the same campaign he becomes the all-time leader. That’d be a very Steph thing to do.
During his ridiculous 2015-16 season, Curry hit an NBA record 402 3-pointers. This season, he leads the NBA with 145 3-pointers, far ahead of second-place Buddy Hield (102). Curry is on pace to make 425 threes this year and could eclipse 402 around the end of March or beginning of April, near the end of the regular season.
Golden State has some marquee matchups to wrap up the regular-season home slate, against the Suns (March 30), Utah Jazz (April 2) and the Los Angeles Lakers (April 7) with an April 3 road date at the Sacramento Kings mixed in.
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4,000
As Draymond said, 4,000 3-pointers seems like a very realistic goal for Curry going forward. If he can sink 350-400 trifectas per season (let’s call it 375) Curry could hit 4K near the end of the 2023-24 season.
I’d liken this to the 4,000-hit plateau in baseball – a realm where only Pete Rose (4,256) and Ty Cobb (4,191) can claim residence. Only Steph would be in a class of his own. James Harden (2,509 3-pointers) will probably break the 3,000 barrier at some point, but I don’t know if he’d get all the way to 4,000.
The 4K club could just be the beginning of Steph’s stratosphere in the NBA record books.
5,000?
This would be the Holy Grail, I think.
Curry said the longevity involved in reaching 2,974 is remarkable enough. He’s in Year 13 of a career that has included two seasons severely cut short due to injuries (2011-12 and 2019-20). Curry will turn 34 on March 14. He remains in elite physical condition and has added bulk throughout his career, reshaping his body completely. Steph is renowned for his conditioning and double days in the weight room, even as one of the game’s biggest stars.
We’ve seen Tom Brady defy the odds of time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, could Curry do the same for basketball?
Steph’s athleticism will diminish eventually, but his shot probably never will. Him and Old Man Klay will probably show up at the 50th anniversary of the 2015 title splashing 3-pointers in 2065.
Let’s say Curry slows down in a couple years and comes down to an average of 300-350 and it took him three more seasons to knock down another 1,000 3-pointers. That would take us to the end of the 2026-2027 season, when he would turn 39. Curry has signed a five-year extension that will keep him with Golden State through 2025-26.
It’s hard to predict anything that far in the future, but these milestones all seem entirely within Curry’s reach if he can stay healthy.
