The incomparable Steph Curry could be on his way to setting an unbreakable NBA record
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It’s a fact that so many NBA fans are aware of, but one that is still awe-inspiring.
In his 1,300 career NBA games, Hall of Famer Ray Allen hit 2,973 three-pointers, setting the mark for most all-time.
Steph Curry is just nine threes away from breaking that record … and he’s played in just 786 career games.
It’s absurd. And it feels like we’re so far from seeing Curry stop what he’s doing, particularly in a season in which he’s 33 years old and might win an MVP this year.
Which brings me to a thought I had this morning as I looked at the numbers: We could be watching a player who will set an unbreakable record.
Eventually, we’ll see Curry decline. The player who darts around seemingly with ease, finding space where there usually isn’t any or fooling defenders with his twitchy style — that has to slow down at some point.
But until then, he’s going to keep hitting threes at an unprecedented rate. This year, he’s hitting 5.5 treys per game, a career high. Last season it was 5.3.
And let’s say he does turn into a sub-20 ppg scorer who isn’t as mobile. Well, then he’ll become late-career Allen, a player who won a title with Miami at age 37 by being the fourth guy behind LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and just shooting all day.
So I could still see a distant future in which Curry keeps hitting from distance, perhaps into his early 40s. The result? A threes made record that will never be broken. And we’re witnessing that! Right now!
Sure, there must be a group of future stars who are spending each night shooting a thousand threes, whispering “Curry!” when they splash them. Maybe one of them comes into the league immediately ready to do some of what Curry’s doing.
But I think those future stars will be staring down an unbreakable record.
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(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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