I tuned into Michael Cooper's Showtime w/ Coop podcast the other day, and Klay Thompson dropped a list that had me nodding, laughing, and yelling at my screen all at once. The Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter was asked to name his top five three-point shooters in NBA history. He gave the usual suspects their flowers, but he also shouted out Larry Bird and—respectfully—put himself on the Mount Rushmore. As a hoops junkie, I had to break it down.
Klay didn't give a rigid ranking, but reading the tea leaves, here's how I heard his top five:
| Rank | Player | The Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stephen Curry | The undisputed GOAT shooter. No cap. |
| 2 | Ray Allen | The pre-Curry standard. Smooth as butter. |
| 3 | Reggie Miller | The original movement sniper. Knicks fans still mad. |
| 4 | Larry Bird | Cold-blooded legend. Three-point contest king. |
| 5 | Klay Thompson | Himself. And honestly? He's got a case. |
Now, let me expand on that.
Klay Thompson: The Most Explosive Shooter Ever?
I'll be honest: I pumped my fist when Klay put himself on the list. The man has four NBA championships, five All-Star nods, and at the time of the podcast, 2,697 career three-pointers—fifth on the all-time list. He led the league in threes in 2022-23 with 301. But the numbers don't tell the whole story. Klay's heater is different. He dropped 14 threes against the Chicago Bulls in 2018 in just 27 minutes. He scored 37 points in a single quarter. He dropped 60 points on 11 dribbles. And his Game 6 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals? That was legendary. When Klay gets cooking, he's hotter than fish grease. Even Curry can't match that specific kind of explosion.
Larry Bird: The Original Cold-Blooded Killer
Klay made sure to honor Larry Legend, and I love that. Bird played in an era when the three-pointer was an afterthought. He only made 649 career threes, which isn't even top 250. But volume ain't everything. Bird won three straight Three-Point Contests, and in 1988 he allegedly walked into the locker room and asked, 'Which one of you is finishing second?' Then he went out and won the whole thing. That's not just shooting—that's psychological warfare. Bird was a killer, plain and simple.
Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Ray Allen: The Standard Before Curry
Before Steph, Ray Allen was the guy. He retired in 2014 as the all-time leader with 2,973 threes. He's now third behind Curry and James Harden. Allen had a beautiful, high-elevation jumper with a lightning-quick release. He was deadly off screens, pindowns, and catch-and-shoots. And who can forget his corner three in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals? That shot saved the Miami Heat's season and is arguably the biggest three in NBA history. Ray was a movement sniper before that term was cool.
Reggie Miller: Ahead of His Time
Before Ray, there was Reggie. The Indiana Pacers icon was one of the first stars to use the three-pointer as a primary weapon. He was 6-foot-7 and 185 pounds soaking wet, but he was an absolute killer. Miller ran defenders ragged, came off screens, and knocked down daggers. New York Knicks fans still wake up in cold sweats thinking about him. He retired in 2005 with 2,560 threes, which now ranks sixth. Klay passed him in 2024-25, but Miller's place on the shooter's Mount Rushmore is secure. 'Miller Time' was real.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry stands next to guard Klay Thompson. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Stephen Curry: The Greatest Ever, Period
It would have been a scandal if Curry wasn't No. 1. Steph is the greatest shooter the game has ever seen. Nobody combines volume, efficiency, and off-the-dribble wizardry like him. He broke Ray Allen's record in December 2021, then became the first player to eclipse 4,000 career threes in 2024-25. At the time of the podcast, he had 4,058. He also owns the single-season record with 402 threes, the most games with 10+ threes (26), and the longest streak of consecutive games with a made three (268). As we roll through 2026, Curry is still padding that lead. To call him the GOAT shooter is almost selling him short—he's making a real run at Magic Johnson's title as the greatest point guard ever.
My Final Take
Klay's list is rock solid. I love that he gave Larry Bird his flowers instead of just defaulting to modern volume shooters. I love that he included himself, because confidence is part of being a great shooter. And I love that he put Curry first, because that's just facts. The Splash Brothers changed basketball forever, and in 2026, we're still living in their world. Whether you agree with Klay or not, you have to respect a guy who knows exactly who he is and what he's accomplished. That's no cap. 🏀🔥
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