Stephen Curry, widely regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history, has made another piece of history, becoming the first player in league history to hit 4,000 career three-pointers.
Curry entered the Golden State Warriors’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night just two triples away from the milestone.
His first came midway through the first quarter when Jonathan Kuminga found him wide open, and Curry effortlessly knocked down the shot, bringing him to career three No. 3,999, giving the Warriors a 14-6 lead.
Less than a minute later, Curry attempted another three, but missed.
With the Chase Center crowd on edge, Curry wouldn’t get another chance from beyond the arc until late in the second quarter. His shot fell short with just under four minutes remaining.
Before the game, Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was seen visibly uncomfortable, with TNT’s broadcast reporting tightness in his back. Cameras later showed him on the bench during the game, with the area wrapped and a heat pad applied.
Though it didn’t happen until the third quarter, Curry finally reached the historic milestone with just over eight minutes remaining. The crafty guard sidestepped his defender and drained a deep three-pointer, prompting loud “MVP” chants and a standing ovation from the Warriors’ crowd.
The Warriors celebrated Curry’s historic achievement during the next timeout by airing a tribute video featuring both current and former Golden State players. Curry watched the video, waved at the crowd, and acknowledged their support before play resumed.
Curry finished with 11 points as the Warriors cruised to a 130-104 victory over the Kings, improving their record to 38-28 for the season.
The two-time NBA MVP called achieving the milestone in front of his home crowd a “special moment.”
“To do it in front of my home fans— it was a strange game, I didn’t get many attempts, but to finally hit it in the third quarter, I really felt the energy. It was special,” Curry said in an interview with TNT after the game.
Curry surpassed Ray Allen to become the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers in 2021. Since then, Allen has dropped to third place, with Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden moving into second.
When asked about reaching 5,000 career three-pointers, Curry quickly said he was “living in the moment.”
“Blessed to keep doing this,” Curry added. “2,974 felt like an eternity ago. To hit this fresh milestone now feels pretty cool. Who knows? … I’m staying in the present for now.”
Before the game, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr admitted he “never could’ve imagined” Curry reaching such a milestone but praised the four-time champion for his incredible longevity.
“He was obviously a great three-point shooter, but something like that requires incredible longevity—and here we are, a decade later,” Kerr said.
The Warriors have been on a hot streak since acquiring six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline.
“Right now, it’s just about appreciating the challenge of putting together a good run down the stretch,” Curry told CNN during the All-Star break. “We’re taking it in small increments. We haven’t been consistent all year, so we’re trying to string together a few wins, get into the playoffs, because that’s all we want—a fighting chance to be a threat in the postseason.”
Since the All-Star break, the Warriors have been on a roll, winning nine of their last 10 games and boasting a 12-1 record with Jimmy Butler in the lineup. Their strong play has propelled them up the Western Conference standings, climbing from 10th to 6th place over the last 14 games since acquiring the star forward.
Curry has been one of the major beneficiaries of Butler’s addition, averaging 30.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in that span.
As the regular season winds down, Curry is confident that his Warriors team is poised for a deep playoff run and a chance to capture a fifth championship.
“Absolutely. That’s why we’re excited to be in this position,” Curry said on 95.7 The Game on Wednesday.
He added, “I love the confidence we have knowing that on any given night, we can beat anyone.”
With his 37th birthday on Friday, Curry is enjoying an exceptional season. He recently became the 26th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points, was named All-Star Game MVP in the Bay Area, and won his first gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
