I remember watching that playoff game where Javee Mocon was held to just 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting, and it struck me how much the game has evolved. That kind of performance from a player who typically serves as the barometer for Rain or Shine would have been devastating in today's NBA, where three-point shooting often determines outcomes. It got me thinking about the incredible marksmen who've transformed basketball, particularly about who holds the record for most three-pointers in a single season. Having followed the NBA for over two decades, I've witnessed this evolution firsthand - from when teams barely attempted 10 threes per game to the current era where some players shoot that many in a single quarter.
The record for most three-pointers in a single season belongs to Stephen Curry, who made 402 during the 2015-2016 season. I still recall watching that historic campaign where he seemed to redefine shooting possibilities night after night. What made this achievement particularly remarkable was how he shattered his own previous record of 286 set just the season before - that's a 40% increase, which is absolutely insane when you consider the level of competition. Curry didn't just break the record; he completely demolished it while leading the Warriors to a 73-9 record, the best regular season in NBA history. His shooting that year felt like watching someone play a different sport altogether - defenders would pick him up at half-court, and it still didn't matter.
What many casual fans might not realize is how much preparation goes into such shooting performances. Having spoken with shooting coaches around the league, I've learned that players like Curry take approximately 500-700 shots daily during the offseason, with about 300-400 of those being three-pointers. The mechanics are fascinating - Curry's release takes roughly 0.3 seconds from catch to release, which is about 20% faster than the average NBA shooter. This technical precision, combined with endless repetition, creates the muscle memory that allows for such historic performances. I've tried to incorporate some of these principles into my own amateur shooting routine, though obviously with dramatically different results.
The context around Curry's record becomes even more impressive when you compare it to historical data. Back in 1996-1997, the entire Orlando Magic team made 432 three-pointers for the season - just 30 more than Curry managed alone nearly two decades later. The league average for three-point attempts per game has skyrocketed from 13.7 in the 2000-2001 season to nearly 35 today. This statistical evolution underscores how Curry's record emerged from both individual brilliance and systemic changes in how basketball is played. I've noticed that teams now actively seek players who can space the floor, whereas when I started watching basketball, having one designated shooter was often sufficient.
Looking beyond Curry, the landscape of elite three-point shooting has become increasingly crowded. James Harden's 378 threes in the 2018-2019 season stands as the second-highest total, while Klay Thompson holds the single-game record with 14 made three-pointers - I was lucky enough to watch that game live, and it felt like witnessing basketball perfection. Damian Lillard, Buddy Hield, and Duncan Robinson have all topped 270 in recent seasons, showing how the art of long-range shooting has proliferated across the league. What's interesting to me is how different these shooters are in style - Curry's off-ball movement versus Harden's step-backs versus Thompson's catch-and-shoot precision - yet they've all found ways to be historically effective from deep.
The strategic implications of this three-point revolution are something I've discussed with several basketball analysts. Teams now regularly employ analytics departments that calculate the exact value of various shot selections, with the three-pointer providing the highest expected value per attempt. This mathematical approach has fundamentally changed how the game is played at both professional and amateur levels. I've seen high school teams now implementing NBA-style offenses focused on creating corner three opportunities, whereas when I played in school, we were taught to always attack the basket first. The record itself becomes not just an individual accomplishment but a symbol of basketball's analytical transformation.
What often gets overlooked in these discussions is the physical toll of maintaining such shooting precision throughout an 82-game season. Curry's 402 threes came on 886 attempts, meaning he shot approximately 45.4% from deep while playing 34 minutes per game. The conditioning required to maintain that level of accuracy while navigating screens, fighting through defensive schemes designed specifically to stop you, and handling the travel schedule is extraordinary. Having tried to maintain my own shooting percentages in recreational leagues with much less demanding schedules, I can only marvel at the consistency required at the professional level.
The future of this record is something I think about often. With the three-point shot becoming increasingly central to offensive strategies, and with players like Curry himself still active, we might see this benchmark challenged sooner than many expect. I wouldn't be surprised if we see someone approach 450 threes within the next five years, particularly as players enter the league with more developed long-range games. The progression from Ray Allen's 269 in 2005-2006 to Curry's 402 demonstrates how rapidly shooting standards can evolve when systemic support meets individual genius.
Reflecting on that Mocon game I mentioned earlier really highlights how dramatically basketball has changed. A performance that would have been concerning but acceptable for a key player a decade ago might now be considered catastrophic in today's three-point-centric game. Curry's record represents not just individual excellence but the culmination of basketball's analytical revolution - a perfect storm of skill, strategy, and historical timing. As the game continues to evolve, I suspect we'll look back at that 402 season as both a culmination and a beginning, a moment when what seemed impossible became the new standard for excellence in shooting.