Steph Curry has hit a total of 4,233 three-pointers, good for the all-time top spot in the NBA. And he’s still going. His nearest threat is James Harden, also still active. And here’s the clincher that highlights the importance of the three in modern basketball: the top 50 list is entirely made up of players who have suited up this century.
The reason why the three-pointer dominates both play and discourse in basketball is data analytics. Teams realized that games are not won by the sheer talent and willpower of players like Michael Jordan or Kevin Durant, but by the collective application of the numbers on individual players.
This approach isn’t just for the professionals. Scaled down, the data can be applied to college programs, high school teams, or even players looking to improve their pick-up game. By using individualized performance metrics, player output can be maximized. Yes, even if you’re an awful three-point shooter.
Training for Positions
Old-fashioned practice used to be 5 on 5, full court, no holds barred. Kobe Bryant was notorious for his approach during training sessions. Training as a collective is useful, but should only be part of the recipe.
Now, teams tend to focus more on individualized practice for different basketball positions. It isn’t about having a rigid approach to an individual’s role on a team, but ensuring distinct aspects of a player’s game are focused on for development and improvement. Data shows this works far more effectively than a simple cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all training approach.
For example, you wouldn’t give the same training program to Wemby and Yuki Kawamura (the tallest player vs. the shortest in the NBA). And Steph Curry wouldn’t really benefit from a three-pointer clinic, but perhaps Alperen Şengün needs to spend a little more time hooping beyond the arc.
But players also need to learn to be versatile. The small-ball five trains differently from a more traditional setup. Bigs now not only need to dominate the paint, but they should also be proficient at setting screens and having a serviceable jump shot.
Turning Thousands of Reps into Smarter Choices
Winning a basketball game is about volume. Simply put, the more threes you take in the NBA, the better. Scoring has gone up compared to the ’90s vintage style of kicking it to the post-up. Instead, inspired by the majestic Steph Curry three-pointer, players should work on their long-distance game.
But data can inform the type of three that will likely help you succeed. Just chucking it won’t work. For example, if you’re a shorter player, you’ll need to think about the quick release. Curry is just 6’2, but taller players can’t get near him before he gets the shot off.
You should also focus on mastering the corner three, because it’s the most efficient shot in basketball. The distance from the basket is just 22 feet in the NBA, compared to 23 feet 9 inches at the break; data shows that players hit the corner three at a far higher clip than anywhere else on the court.
Since 1997-98, Michael Jordan’s last season with the Chicago Bulls, corner threes have taken a huge upswing. In the late 90s, only 3% of all shots were from that spot. Now, almost a fifth of all jump shots are from the corner. The reason is clear: it works, the shot is far more efficient.
More Than Just Threes
The NBA has been obsessed with the three-pointer. It’s a point of discourse with fans and the media, with many objecting to the quality of the entertainment product. If teams are just carbon copies of each other, just chucking jump shots beyond the arc, it’s arguably a lesser spectacle compared to what we got from Clyde Drexler and Michael Jordan.
Moreyball, the style focused on threes, launched by now-Sixers GM Daryl Morey, would say: who cares? The three is the most efficient shot in basketball, the data is clear.
But what happens when that shot stops falling, like when the Celtics had a historically bad stint during last year’s playoffs? That’s when we need to be a little more nuanced in our training approach.
The modern basketball player not only needs to be proficient with the three, but they also need to be adaptable. If the shot isn’t working, there needs to be a Plan B.
The Celtics didn’t have one. Once their league-leading three-pointers stopped working (they set the record for most threes in a season, with 1,364), they didn’t have anything else to offer the New York Knicks. They were promptly knocked out of contention.
Follow the Data, But Work on Your Overall Game
Good basketball players will figure it out. Michael Jordan didn’t take many threes, but you can bet he would have adapted for 2025. Hakeem Olajuwon played with his back to the basket, but his touch was sublime, and his passing would have allowed him to play in Joker-esque fashion.
The data tells the modern player that the three-pointer is the dominant skill of the era, but also that adaptability is key to success. That’s why players mustn’t just focus on a single skillset; you need to work on your overall game, too.
