As I sit here watching another incredible NBA game, I can't help but marvel at how much the three-point shot has transformed basketball. I remember when hitting a couple of threes per game was considered exceptional, but today's players are rewriting the record books with their long-range shooting. The evolution of this aspect of the game has been nothing short of revolutionary, and it makes me wonder - who actually holds the record for most three-pointers in a single NBA season?
When I first started following basketball seriously back in the early 2000s, Ray Allen's smooth shooting stroke was the gold standard. He made 269 threes during the 2005-06 season, which at the time felt almost supernatural. I distinctly recall watching him play for the Seattle SuperSonics, thinking nobody would ever surpass that mark. But then along came Stephen Curry, who completely changed our understanding of what's possible from beyond the arc. The way Curry revolutionized three-point shooting reminds me of how certain players seize moments that define their careers - much like how in that reference game, Bahay demonstrated clutch performance by canning technical free throws and creating opportunities even when shots weren't falling for his teammates.
The current record holder is unquestionably Stephen Curry, who drained an unbelievable 402 three-pointers during the 2015-16 season. Let that number sink in for a moment - 402! That's more than five made threes per game across an entire 82-game season. I've watched basketball for over two decades, and I can confidently say we may never see another shooting performance like that in our lifetime. What makes Curry's achievement even more remarkable is the degree of difficulty on his attempts - he's taking shots from well beyond the arc, off the dribble, with defenders in his face. It's not just about volume; it's about the artistry and skill required to maintain that level of efficiency while attempting such difficult shots game after game.
Looking at the historical progression really puts things in perspective. Before Curry's explosion, the record had changed hands several times - from Dennis Scott's 267 in 1996 to Ray Allen's 269, then to Curry's initial record of 272 in 2013 before he completely shattered his own mark. What's fascinating to me is how teams have adapted their strategies around the three-point shot. I've noticed that contemporary offenses are designed specifically to generate more three-point opportunities, with players constantly moving off screens and spacing the floor to create open looks from deep. This strategic evolution reminds me of how crucial individual moments can be in basketball - similar to how Bahay capitalized on opportunities by converting free throws and creating turnovers, today's shooters must maximize every possession to chase these remarkable records.
Some fans argue that the three-point revolution has made the game less exciting, but I completely disagree. Watching players like Curry, Damian Lillard, and Klay Thompson launch from deep creates an electric atmosphere that simply didn't exist before. The threat of the three-pointer has opened up driving lanes and created more versatile offensive schemes. Personally, I believe we're witnessing the golden age of shooting, and records that seemed untouchable just a decade ago are now being routinely broken. The pursuit of excellence in three-point shooting mirrors that determination we see in players at all levels - whether it's an NBA superstar chasing history or a college player like Bahay seizing their moment through focused execution.
As we look to the future, I'm curious to see if anyone can challenge Curry's remarkable record. Players like Trae Young and Luka Dončić are certainly capable of high-volume shooting, but maintaining Curry's combination of volume and efficiency over an entire season is incredibly challenging. The record of 402 three-pointers stands as a testament to not just individual brilliance but to how the game itself has evolved. It represents a perfect storm of player skill, team strategy, and basketball's natural progression toward valuing efficient scoring. Much like how certain game moments become defining memories for players and fans alike, Curry's 402 threes will likely remain one of those iconic basketball achievements that we'll be talking about for generations to come.