Stephen Curry, widely regarded as the greatest shooter in NBA history, has set another record, becoming the first player in league history to hit 4,000 career three-pointers.
Curry entered the Golden State Warriors’ Thursday night matchup against the Sacramento Kings needing just two more three-pointers to reach the milestone. His first came midway through the first quarter when Jonathan Kuminga found him wide open, and Curry drained the shot, bringing his career total to 3,999, helping the Warriors to a 14-6 lead. Less than a minute later, he missed another attempt from beyond the arc.
Despite some discomfort before the game, with tightness in his back that was visible during the match, Curry’s determination remained evident. He did not have another opportunity to attempt a three-pointer until late in the second quarter, where he missed again. After a brief break, Curry finally reached the historic mark in the third quarter, sidestepping his defender and hitting a deep three-pointer with just over eight minutes left in the game. The Chase Center erupted in celebration, with loud “MVP” chants and a standing ovation for the Warriors star.
The team celebrated the milestone with a tribute video featuring current and former Golden State players. Curry waved to the crowd before the game continued.
Curry finished with 11 points in the Warriors’ dominant 130-104 victory over the Kings, improving their record to 38-28 for the season. After the game, Curry described the moment as “special” and shared how meaningful it was to achieve the feat in front of his home fans.
“To do it in front of my home fans – it was a weird game, I didn’t get many attempts but to finally get it in the third (quarter), I felt the energy. It was special,” Curry told the TNT broadcast.
Curry surpassed Ray Allen to become the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made in 2021. Since then, Allen has fallen to third place behind Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden. When asked about his potential to reach 5,000 career three-pointers, Curry focused on the present moment. “Blessed to keep doing this thing… Being out here with this fresh milestone is pretty cool,” he said.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who has worked with Curry for most of his career, expressed his awe at the achievement, saying, “I never could’ve imagined Curry reaching this feat, but he’s shown incredible longevity.”
The Warriors are currently riding a hot streak, winning nine of their last 10 games since acquiring six-time All-Star Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat at the trade deadline. With Butler’s addition, Golden State has climbed from 10th to 6th in the Western Conference standings.
Curry has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Butler’s presence, averaging 30.9 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.4 rebounds since the trade. As the regular season nears its end, Curry is confident that the Warriors can make a deep playoff run and capture a fifth championship ring.
“Absolutely. That’s why we’re juiced to be in this position,” Curry said in a recent interview. “I like the idea that we can confidently say on any given night we can beat anybody.”
Curry, who celebrates his 37th birthday on Friday, has had a standout season. He recently became the 26th player in NBA history to reach 25,000 career points, earned All-Star Game MVP honors in the Bay Area, and secured his first gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
