NBA basketball has changed into a long-range spectacle that Stephen Curry couldn’t have imagined at the time he entered the league. The all-time 3-point king still holds the record for most triples in NBA history, yet a new generation of marksmen keeps narrowing the gap.
Curry stands 13th in NBA history with an impressive 42.4% career 3-point percentage. This cements his legacy as basketball’s greatest shooter. His dominance showed through five straight seasons from 2012-2017 as he led the league in 3-point makes, and he achieved this feat three more times after that.
The 2024-25 season revealed that Curry no longer stands alone at the summit. Anthony Edwards led the league with 320 three-pointers, and Curry landed in third place with 311. Elite shooters like Klay Thompson, who owns the single-game record with 14 threes, and Damian Lillard, fourth on the all-time 3-pointers list, continue to expand shooting excellence.
My analysis of stats and countless games has led to this list of eight shooters who make Curry nervous once they heat up. These players bring more than volume shooting – they blend efficiency, clutch performance, and range that stretches beyond the arc. Each sharpshooter brings something unique to today’s three-point dominated NBA.
Stephen Curry
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Stephen Curry stands alone as basketball’s greatest shooter. He keeps pushing the boundaries of what players can do beyond the arc. New stars keep emerging, but Curry’s game-changing influence and stellar performance put him at the top of shooting elite.
Curry’s shooting dominance
No NBA player has mastered three-point shooting like Stephen Curry. He became the first and only player to sink 300+ three-pointers in six different seasons. This feat puts him miles ahead of other shooting legends like Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and James Harden. All but one of these stars reached this milestone just once.
Curry’s shooting brilliance peaked during the 2015-16 season. He broke records with an incredible 402 three-pointers. This record still stands in the NBA, showing his unique blend of quantity and precision.
March 2025 saw Curry hit another milestone. He became the first NBA player to score 4,000 career three-pointers. This achievement proves he’s the best shooter basketball has seen. His excellence spans almost a decade. He first crossed the 300-three mark in 2015-16 and still shoots at historic rates in 2024-25.
Numbers tell only part of the story. Curry’s influence has changed how basketball works. His range makes defenders guard him far beyond the three-point line. This creates space that has changed offensive strategies league-wide. Teams now want shooters at every position. Three-pointers are no longer just an option – they’re the core of modern offenses.
Curry’s 2024-25 season stats
At 37, Curry still puts up elite numbers in 2024-25. He made 311 three-pointers while shooting 39.7% from beyond the arc. His consistency ranks him third in the league for total threes.
Curry’s complete offensive game shines through his stats:
- 24.5 points per game (11th in NBA)
- 6.0 assists per game (20th in NBA)
- 93.3% free-throw percentage (league-leading)
- 44.8% field goal percentage
His efficiency stands out more than raw numbers. A true shooting percentage of 61.8% shows his scoring prowess despite constant defensive pressure. He averaged 4.4 three-pointers per game in 2024-25, staying basketball’s most lethal perimeter threat.
These numbers come from just 32.2 minutes per game, showing amazing efficiency in limited time. April 2025 was particularly special. He averaged 29.1 points on 47.8% shooting and 42.3% from three-point range.
Why Curry still leads the league
New challengers keep coming, but Curry remains basketball’s best shooter for good reasons. His mix of volume and efficiency stands alone. Look at this stat – only three NBA players have hit 300+ threes in one season: Curry (six times), James Harden (once), and Klay Thompson (once).
Curry leads the NBA with 4.5 three-pointers per game in his 16th season. His shot creation sets him apart from other great shooters. He doesn’t just make tough shots – he creates them through expert ballhandling, footwork, and movement without the ball.
Unlike pure shooters, Curry changes games in many ways. His playmaking skills show in his 6.0 assists per game. He sees the court well and plays better defense than most think. His presence draws defenders far from the basket, creating chances for teammates.
Curry’s shooting versatility makes him special. He excels at catch-and-shoot threes, pull-up jumpers, floaters, and rim finishes with both hands. No single defensive plan can stop this complete offensive arsenal.
His playoff performance adds to his legacy. He averaged 29.0 points on 52.6% shooting and 45.2% from three in the 2025 postseason. These clutch performances under pressure prove he’s still basketball’s ultimate shooter.
Anthony Edwards
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Anthony Edwards has grown faster from an explosive athletic force into one of the best shooters in the NBA right now. At just 23, he’s challenging Stephen Curry’s throne with his remarkable shooting progress over four seasons.
Anthony Edwards’ shooting evolution
Edwards faced criticism about his shooting touch when he first joined the league. “When I came in the league, the main thing was, ‘He could get downhill, but he can’t shoot,'” Edwards admitted earlier in his career. This view made sense—he shot under 30% from three-point range during his only season at Georgia.
In spite of that, Edwards’ drive to improve has shown amazing results. His career three-point percentage stands at 36.4%, but these numbers don’t tell the whole story. We watched his perimeter game reach new heights—his catch-and-shoot threes jumped to 50% this season from 38.7%, while his off-the-dribble threes improved to 37.1% from 33.2%.
Edwards learned from watching the game’s stars. He tried different footwork approaches until he found inspiration from an unexpected source: “I watched Dame, and I start doing Dame’s shot, and it’s been working for me. I think watching Dame helped me a lot on being able to catch and shoot”.
His hard work paid off. He now creates shots nobody thought possible. One analysis puts it perfectly: “we’re talking about a guy who’s off-the-dribble three-point shooting rivals that of a prime Steph Curry and a peak Damian Lillard”.
Anthony Edwards’ 3-point stats this season
The 2024-25 season saw Edwards rise to elite shooting status. His 320 three-pointers led the league, making him the first player besides Curry to hit the 300-triple mark. This achievement ranks seventh on the all-time single-season list.
Edwards now averages 27.6 points per game (4th in NBA). He shoots 44.7% from the field and hits 39.5% from beyond the arc. These numbers look even better considering he takes 10.3 three-pointers per game.
Edwards made history early this season. He joined Curry as the only players to sink 50 three-pointers in their first nine games. He shot an incredible 46.1% from distance during this stretch, showing just how consistent he’d become.
His playoff game stayed strong too. He dropped 43 points on the Lakers, hitting 5-of-10 from deep. Throughout the playoffs, Edwards kept his shooting touch sharp while setting up his teammates.
Why Curry should watch out for Edwards
Edwards brings something rare to the game. He mixes elite shooting with incredible athleticism, which leaves defenders guessing. Unlike most pure shooters, he can power through to the rim, forcing impossible defensive choices.
His age suggests we haven’t seen his best yet. Being 14 years younger than Curry gives Edwards plenty of time to perfect his shooting and possibly break current records. Basketball fans watch a player who might one day challenge Curry’s shooting legacy.
Edwards backs up his skills with supreme confidence. During Team USA training, he showed off his shooting next to Curry. Observers noted how his shots went “through the rim like a splash”.
Curry sees the next generation of shooting stars in Edwards. As one analyst said, “If Edwards maintains this level of performance, he could solidify himself as one of the NBA’s elite scorers”. Looking at his growth, Curry’s spot as basketball’s top shooter faces real competition from Minnesota’s rising superstar.
Malik Beasley
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Malik Beasley has carved out one of the most prolific shooting seasons in basketball history, despite being overshadowed by the NBA’s biggest names. The Detroit Pistons guard ranks among the best shooters in the NBA right now, setting records with both volume and efficiency that even Stephen Curry can’t ignore.
Malik Beasley’s 3-point volume
Beasley’s 2024-25 season stands as a historic achievement. His 319 three-pointers set a new Pistons franchise record, surpassing Saddiq Bey’s previous mark of 211. This impressive total puts him eighth on the all-time single-season list, alongside elite company like Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Klay Thompson.
Many doubted Beasley after he signed a modest one-year, $6 million deal, but he proved to be exactly what Detroit needed. He joined an exclusive club with Curry and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, becoming just the fifth player in NBA history to sink 300+ three-pointers in a regular season.
His numbers become even more impressive considering he came off the bench. He stayed neck-and-neck with Anthony Edwards for total three-pointers made, despite playing fewer minutes (27.8 per game) than most volume shooters. At one point, Beasley had outshot Curry by 17 threes, showcasing his incredible output.
Beasley’s shooting percentage and consistency
Beasley stands out from other high-volume shooters because of his pinpoint accuracy. He shot 41.6% from three-point range this season, edging out Curry’s 39.7%. His elite accuracy combined with high volume (9.3 attempts per game) puts him in rare company.
His success stems from a unique training approach. Last summer, he changed his practice routine by shooting against seven-footers. “I work on hard contested shots because I know at this point in my career I’m known as a 3-point shooter,” Beasley said. This makes actual games “very easy” in comparison.
Consistency marks Beasley’s career. In the last seven seasons, he’s maintained a 39% shooting rate on seven attempts per game, proving this isn’t just a lucky streak. He’s deadly accurate from the corners, where he shoots 52%.
Beasley’s role in Detroit’s offense
Detroit’s historic turnaround owes much to Beasley. The Pistons jumped from a franchise-worst 14 wins last season to 44 wins and a playoff spot in 2024-25. His shooting gave Detroit’s offense the spacing it desperately needed.
“Cade is a type of player where teams are wanting to double him — but without shooting, there’s no spacing,” Beasley said. “Now though you got guys like Tim and Tobias and of course myself, and we’re making teams pay.”
Cade Cunningham felt the difference immediately. “That’s one of my first memories from training camp: Just Cade saying to us, ‘Damn. I didn’t realize the open shots I’d be getting.’ I loved hearing that”.
As a catch-and-shoot specialist, Beasley hits 46% of his six attempts per game. Defenses must track him constantly, which creates driving lanes for his teammates. Coach Williams observed, “Teams know what Beas is going to do and how important he is to our second unit, so they put a ton of bodies on him”.
Detroit fans love his energy and his signature “Shimmy” celebration after big shots. Beasley captures the team’s spirit perfectly: “It’s these young dudes bringing their young energy, it’s us vets bringing our vet knowledge, and it’s a feeling like we’re just getting started”.
Klay Thompson
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Klay Thompson’s story stands out as one of basketball’s most incredible comebacks. He ranks among the best shooters in the NBA right now, even after facing career-threatening injuries that would end most careers.
Klay Thompson’s comeback story
The road back to basketball excellence reads like a medical nightmare for Thompson. His ACL tear in the 2019 NBA Finals led to another setback – a torn Achilles during rehabilitation. These injuries kept him away from competitive basketball for more than two and a half years. His return on January 9, 2022, became one of basketball’s most emotional moments as he scored 17 points in 20 minutes against Cleveland.
Thompson’s resilience proved more than just inspiring – it became historically significant. His shooting touch came back quickly. He scored a season-high 41 points in the final regular-season game, helping Golden State secure the third seed. The playoff run showed Thompson’s true impact as he passed Ray Allen for third place on the NBA playoffs all-time three-pointers list. The season ended up with him winning his fourth championship ring.
Klay Thompson’s 3-point shooting in 2024-25
A new chapter started in Thompson’s remarkable career as he joined the Dallas Mavericks in July 2024 after 13 seasons with Golden State. His shooting excellence continued with averages of 14.0 points and 39.1% from three-point range across 72 games.
Thompson reached another milestone on March 29, 2025, making his 200th three-pointer of the season against Chicago. This achievement put him alongside Stephen Curry as the only players in NBA history with 10 or more seasons of 200+ three-pointers made.
Thompson’s shooting prowess shined through several notable performances during the season:
- He scored 29 points with 7 three-pointers in a 143-133 win against his former team
- The Boston game saw him score twenty-five points with 3 three-pointers
- He lit up Memphis with 26 points and 8 threes in a 120-110 victory
Klay vs Curry: Splash Brothers rivalry
The legendary “Splash Brothers” split created one of basketball’s most compelling stories in 2024-25. Curry reflected on their first matchup: “Even from July, when Klay decided to go to Dallas, to us showing up for training camp and him not being here, there was kind of a slow build to this night for everybody because it was such a different look for us, Klay in a new uniform”.
Thompson’s legendary shooting still earns high praise from his former teammate. Curry has called Thompson’s jumper “the prettiest he’s ever seen”. He even suggests that newcomers should learn from Thompson’s form: “If I was going to take somebody who has never shot a ball before and put it in their hand, I would put you in Klay Thompson’s position”.
The numbers tell the story of Thompson’s shooting excellence. He sits at 10th all-time in career three-pointers, despite playing fewer games than anyone else in the top 10. His career three-point percentage stands at an impressive 41.6%. Thompson holds several NBA records, including most threes in a game (14) and most points in a quarter (37).
This new rivalry adds excitement to basketball’s greatest shooting partnership, now competing on opposite sides of the court.
Kevin Durant
Image Source: Kevin Durant | Forward | Phoenix Suns | NBA.com
Kevin Durant’s towering presence on the court masks a shooting touch so refined that Stephen Curry calls it extraordinary, making him one of the best shooters in the NBA right now.
Durant’s midrange and 3-point efficiency
Durant’s shooting efficiency defies logic for someone nearly 7 feet tall. The 2024-25 season saw him shoot an impressive 52.7% from the field and hit 43.0% of his three-point attempts. These numbers aren’t just a flash in the pan – he’s managed to keep career averages of 50.2% from the field and 39.0% from three-point range.
The midrange game shows Durant at his absolute best. His 57.1% success rate on midrange shots in 2022-23 topped the list among roughly 1,700 players who took 250+ midrange shots over 25 seasons. Durant breaks mathematical models with his shot selection. He ranks 100th in shot quality yet sits 11th in overall jump shooting efficiency.
His excellence earned him multiple entries into the prestigious 50-40-90 shooting club (50% FG, 40% 3PT, 90% FT). Only Larry Bird and Steve Nash share this rare achievement. Durant’s career numbers come close to these marks with lifetime averages of 49.9% FG, 38.5% 3PT, and 88.6% FT.
Durant’s shooting under pressure
His 50.6% shooting percentage in clutch situations shows how reliable he stays when games hang in the balance.
His teammates point to his mastery of the midpost area at the elbow. He can turn around over both shoulders and nail the one-legged fadeaway. This diverse arsenal lets him score efficiently even against perfect defense.
Defenders panic when Durant finds even a sliver of space, especially in big moments. His pull-up jumper draws comparisons to Kareem’s Skyhook – by shooting over defenders, Durant has changed what players consider an “open” shot.
Durant’s place among elite shooters
Durant’s unique physical gifts put him in rare air among NBA’s greatest shooters. Standing around 7 feet tall with guard-like handles, he creates shots others can only dream about.
NBA stars can’t help but praise his shooting:
- Stephen Curry: “Pure talent and work ethic… He can see over pretty much most defenders… You have to worry about all three levels”
- Klay Thompson: “His midrange is the best I’ve ever seen”
- Draymond Green: “There’s no bad shot for him… If you’re a little behind, he’s 7-feet so it don’t affect his shot”
At 36, Durant keeps putting up elite numbers. His shooting excellence from all three levels – at the rim, midrange, and beyond the arc – makes him maybe the most complete shooter in basketball. Devin Booker said it best: “We’ve never seen it before… he’s just a one-of-a-kind type player and the greatest scorer to ever live”.
Damian Lillard
Image Source: Damian Lillard | Guard | Milwaukee Bucks | NBA.com
The ball reaches Damian Lillard’s hands near half-court as the shot clock winds down, and opposing defenses panic. Among the best shooters in the NBA right now, Lillard stands out with his unique blend of unlimited range and ice-cold clutch performances.
Lillard’s deep-range threat
Numbers tell an impressive story. In the last decade, Lillard has been the league’s most accurate volume shooter from beyond 30 feet, hitting 31.9% of his attempts. He has drilled 240 shots from that distance, surpassing Curry’s 179. Lillard’s career three-point percentage sits at 37.1%, but his readiness to shoot from anywhere sets him apart.
His shooting technique looks unconventional yet proves devastating. The ball rests on his palm before he flicks it off his fingertips. This distinct approach creates consistency – his release time has stayed steady at 0.37-0.38 seconds for five straight seasons.
Lillard’s clutch 3-point moments
Lillard’s incredible shots shine brightest during crucial moments. His two most memorable plays came during series-clinching playoff games. He eliminated Houston with a buzzer-beating three in 2014. Five years later, he waved goodbye to Oklahoma City after sinking a 37-footer over Paul George.
These weren’t just game-winners – they became part of NBA history. Paul George called the OKC shot “a bad shot” at first but later praised its brilliance. The NBA world recognized his clutch gene by giving him his own time zone: “Dame Time”.
Lillard’s 3-point contest wins
Lillard’s shooting excellence shines in competitions too. He won back-to-back Three-Point Contest championships in 2023 and 2024, becoming the first repeat champion since Jason Kapono (2007-2008).
His 2024 victory came with drama as he sank his final shot to win. This achievement put him alongside legends like Larry Bird, Craig Hodges, Mark Price, and Peja Stojakovic as multi-time winners. He ended up completing a rare double feat by winning both the Three-Point Contest and All-Star Game MVP in 2024.
Buddy Hield
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Buddy Hield ranks among the best shooters in the NBA right now. His shooting stroke is so pure that calling him “Buddy Buckets” doesn’t do justice to his game.
Buddy Hield’s 3-point shooting consistency
Hield has proven himself as one of basketball’s deadliest shooters from beyond the arc. He made more three-pointers than anyone else in the NBA over a five-year span. Each season, he knocked down over 260 threes. His shooting form works because he’s obsessed with practice. His coaches say he never stops: “He’ll be in the gym all by himself, just shooting, running and grabbing the rebound and coming back, flipping it back and shooting again”.
The 2024-25 season with Golden State saw Hield average 11.1 points on 37.0% shooting from three-point range. He’s most dangerous when he catches and shoots – hitting 43.2% of these shots compared to 30.6% after dribbling.
Hield’s career 3P% and volume
The numbers tell an amazing story about Hield’s career. His 39.7% career mark from three-point range puts him among basketball’s greatest shooters. He became the second-fastest player ever to reach 1,500 career three-pointers, with only Stephen Curry ahead of him.
Hield has drained 1,924 threes in his career, good for 22nd all-time. Next season, he’ll likely pass legends like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd. He leads all players from the 2016 NBA Draft class with 8,807 points through 2022-23.
Why Hield is a modern-day sniper
Hield excels in today’s game because he knows how to thrive in offenses built around three-point shooting. The Warriors brought him in to fill Klay Thompson’s shoes, and he merged naturally into Steve Kerr’s movement-heavy system.
Give Hield space, and he’ll make you pay – he hits 44.1% of his threes when defenders stay six feet away. He’s unstoppable in transition, scoring 1.7 points per possession (96th percentile).
Basketball experts point to Hield’s work ethic as the key to his success. One coach put it simply: “He lives for running around and getting open shots and trying to knock ’em in”. Hield has earned his spot as one of basketball’s elite shooters, catching even Stephen Curry’s attention.
Jayson Tatum
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Jayson Tatum stands among the best shooters in the NBA right now. His place among the elite comes not just from scoring volume but from his dedication to refine shooting mechanics even after winning a championship.
Tatum’s improved shooting mechanics
The 2024 playoffs exposed flaws in Tatum’s shooting form as he shot a disappointing 27.4% on pull-up threes. A championship victory didn’t slow him down. He teamed up with long-time trainer Drew Hanlen to get back to work.
The duo targeted a noticeable hitch in Tatum’s shot. His old habit involved catching the ball and dropping it below his belt buckle before shooting, which created inconsistency. They adjusted his pickup points, hand placement and kept his shoulders forward while staying lower.
Basketball purists noticed remarkable results from these subtle changes. His shot flows smoother and faster now. The ball travels less distance from catch to release—shaving precious fractions of a second that matter against NBA defenders.
Tatum’s 3-point stats this season
The 2024-25 season saw Tatum average 3.5 three-pointers made per game on 10.1 attempts per contest. His 34.3% shooting percentage from deep didn’t tell the whole story. The sheer volume of shots put him among the league’s deadliest three-point threats.
Tatum’s offensive arsenal goes beyond shooting. His regular season averages of 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and a career-high 6.0 assists per game showcase his evolution into a complete player.
Tatum’s playoff shooting impact
Tatum lifts his game in crucial moments despite occasional shooting woes. His playoff career boasts a true shooting percentage of 56.5%, showing his clutch efficiency.
Some nights the shots don’t fall, but Tatum’s playoff performances remain unforgettable. He has racked up more 40+ point playoff games than Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving, and Damian Lillard. This stat proves his scoring ceiling stands unmatched.
Tatum’s game-changing ability shines even on off-shooting nights. Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals saw him shoot just 3-of-17, yet he created 35 points through a career-high 13 assists. This versatility makes him a playoff nightmare that defenses can’t predict.
Comparison Table
| Player | 2024-25 3PM | 2024-25 3P% | Career 3P% | Notable Shooting Achievement | Current Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | 311 | 39.7% | 42.4% | NBA history’s first player to score 4,000 three-pointers | Warriors |
| Anthony Edwards | 320 | 39.5% | 36.4% | League leader in three-pointers during 2024-25 season | Timberwolves |
| Malik Beasley | 319 | 41.6% | 39.0% | Broke Pistons’ all-time record for three-pointers in one season | Pistons |
| Klay Thompson | 200+ | 39.1% | 41.6% | NBA record holder with 14 three-pointers in a single game | Mavericks |
| Kevin Durant | N/A | 43.0% | 38.5% | Achieved multiple 50-40-90 shooting seasons | Suns |
| Damian Lillard | N/A | N/A | 37.1% | Won Three-Point Contest championships in 2023 and 2024 | Bucks |
| Buddy Hield | N/A | 37.0% | 39.7% | Reached 1,500 career three-pointers second fastest | Warriors |
| Jayson Tatum | N/A | 34.3% | N/A | Makes 3.5 three-pointers per game in 2024-25 | Celtics |
Conclusion
Basketball has changed a lot in the last decade. The game is now a shooter’s paradise where range matters more than ever. Stephen Curry still rules as the king of long-range shooting, but this new generation of marksmen is catching up with amazing skill and confidence.
These elite shooters each bring their own magic to the court. Anthony Edwards mixes explosive athleticism with shooting mechanics that get better faster. Malik Beasley quietly puts up historic three-point numbers from the bench. Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant show how shooting excellence can exceed age and injury.
Damian Lillard’s unlimited range and Buddy Hield’s machine-like consistency show different ways to achieve shooting greatness. On top of that, Jayson Tatum shows how elite shooters keep working on their craft, even after winning championships.
This era shines especially when you have shooters who manage to keep their efficiency despite heavy defensive pressure. These eight shooters have changed what we call a “good shot” in today’s NBA. They stretch defenses until they break.
Basketball fans who love shooting excellence can look forward to a bright future. Young stars like Edwards are ready to lead the way, while veteran players expand what we once thought impossible. Curry might still be the best, but his court now has worthy challengers who turn every game into a shooting showcase.
Watch these elite marksmen’s unique shooting forms, footwork, and release points next time you tune in. Their artistry makes today’s NBA even more fun to watch.
FAQs
Q1. Who is considered the second-best 3-point shooter in the NBA currently?
While opinions vary, players like Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, and Desmond Bane are often mentioned as elite shooters behind Stephen Curry. Factors like shooting percentage, volume, and degree of difficulty are all considered when evaluating top shooters.
Q2. How does Luka Doncic compare to other top NBA shooters?
Luka Doncic has emerged as an elite shooter, especially off the dribble. In the 2024-25 season, he shot 38.2% on 10.6 three-point attempts per game, with most being self-generated shots. This puts him in the conversation among the league’s best shooters.
Q3. What makes Damian Lillard such a feared shooter?
Lillard is known for his exceptional range, often making shots from well beyond the 3-point line. He combines high volume (averaging over 3 made threes per game) with the ability to create his own shots off the dribble. Lillard is also a clutch performer, hitting many game-winning shots throughout his career.
Q4. How has Buddy Hield established himself as an elite shooter?
Buddy Hield has consistently been one of the league’s top 3-point shooters in terms of both volume and efficiency. Over a recent five-year span, he made more three-pointers than any other player in the NBA. His quick release and ability to shoot off screens make him a constant threat from beyond the arc.
Q5. What shooting improvements has Anthony Edwards made?
Anthony Edwards has significantly improved his 3-point shooting since entering the league. In the 2024-25 season, he led the NBA with 320 made three-pointers, becoming only the fifth player in history to hit 300+ threes in a season. His improvement in both catch-and-shoot and off-the-dribble threes has elevated him to elite shooter status.
