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Our readers weigh in on the effect of Stephen Curry's 3-point revolution
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- Our readers weigh in on the effect of Stephen Curry's 3-point revolution
When Stephen Curry finally calls it a career, he will go down in NBA history as one of the best to ever do it. The Golden State Warriors superstar is a four-time champion, two-time MVP, 11-time All-Star and All-NBA member, the all-time leader in 3-pointers and a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Beyond the accolades, however, Curry is also widely recognized as a guy who changed the game of basketball. In a sport that favored those with size and strength, the diminutive guard dominates by utilizing speed, skill and unmatched shooting abilities from beyond the arc.
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But whether that change is for better or worse — that's where the debate begins.
Our readers weighed in on Curry's revolutionary style of play and whether or not it made the game better or worse. The responses came back split almost right down the middle.
As of the time of writing, there have been 631 responses to the poll, with 38 percent stating that the league has changed for the worse, while 34 percent believe it has changed for the better. On the other hand, 28 percent say they're neutral.
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The Stephen Curry effect
According to Basketball Reference , when Curry came into the league during the 2009-10 season, NBA teams were averaging just 6.4 made 3-pointers on 18.1 attempts per game. During the 2014-15 season, Curry's first MVP year, those averages went up to 7.8 3-point makes on 22.4 attempts.
In the last decade, those numbers have increased even further, which speaks to the significant influence Curry has had on the NBA. Last season, the league average was at 13.5 3-pointers made on 37.6 attempts.
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This phenomenon isn't just happening in the NBA; it's also spreading to lower levels.
"You go to AAU games and these kids are jacking up shots from halfcourt," Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said in an interview in 2022. "Shooting gets better around our league each year. You see that. That's his impact. That's what Steph is doing for basketball."
And while Curry may be the face behind the 3-point revolution, he's had quite a bit of help from a number of sharpshooters who have also set nets ablaze from long distance.
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Curry enters the 2025-26 season with 4058 total 3-pointers in his career. Ray Allen , whom the Warriors superstar surpassed as the all-time leader in 3-pointers in December 2021, is now third on the list behind Curry and James Harden. Rounding out the top five are Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson , with guys like LeBron James , Kyle Korver and Paul George further down the list.
Thanks to Curry, the 3-point shot is no longer just part of a team's offensive arsenal; it's now the go-to weapon for the majority of the league.
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Curry's role in the emergence of the stretch bigs
Curry's 3-point revolution has become a league-wide reality that has also transcended position.
While it's true that there have been sweet-shooting big men even before Curry came into the league ( Dirk Nowitzki , for example), they weren't as prevalent as they are in today's NBA. These days, almost every team in the league can field a stretch big man that can dominate in the paint but also connect from long range.
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Some notable stretch bigs in the league today include Nikola Jokic , Kristaps Porzingis , Karl-Anthony Towns , Myles Turner , Brook Lopez , Joel Embiid , Anthony Davis , Nikola Vucevic , Julius Randle , Al Horford and so on.
It's undeniable that the landscape of the NBA, and basketball as a whole, has changed, and it's thanks to Curry and his superhuman shooting ability. But not everyone is a fan of it.
Related: Our readers decide whether Michael Jordan was overrated as a defender
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
