NEW YORK — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry set the new standard for long distance shooting, breaking the NBA’s career record for 3-point field goals made on Tuesday.
Curry set a record of 2,974 made 3s against the slumping New York Knicks in front of a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. The two-time MVP needed only two to break Hall of Famer Ray Allen’s career record and got it over with early in the first quarter.
He hit his first 3 less than two minutes into the game, a 29-foot rainbow from the top of the key that hit nothing but nylon. Curry missed his next attempt from downtown, then broke the record, receiving a raucous cheer from the nearly 20,000 in attendance.
Curry finished with five 3-pointers on the night for 2,977 in his career. He shot 5-of-14 from long range for 22 points as the Warriors defeated the Knicks 105-96.
“It was thrilling to see Steph break the NBA’s all-time record for three-pointers,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He has revolutionized the way the game is played and continues to leave fans in awe with his amazing artistry and extraordinary shooting ability. We congratulate him on this historic achievement.”
Curry has a chance to obliterate the mark when all is said and done. Tuesday was Curry’s 789th career game. Allen set the previous mark in 1,300 career games and held the record for 10 seasons.
Among active players, Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden is second with 2,509 3-pointers, and 17 of the top 30 on the all-time list are still playing.
