Golden State Warriors: Will anyone ever catch Stephen Curry for the 3-point record?

Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry cut into the heart of the Utah Jazz defense, surrounded in the lane by a towering forest of defenders. He slung the ball back out to the perimeter to Draymond Green. Years of playing together with the Warriors have created a mind-meld of sorts between the two players. Green, knowing his superstar teammate, barely caught the ball before flinging it towards the corner, where Curry had relocated and was ready to shoot.

Swish. For the 2,561st time, Wardell Stephen Curry saw a 3-pointer go through the net in an NBA game, one more than the great Reggie Miller and second all-time to Ray Allen. At his current pace, Curry will pass Allen sometime next season, far earlier in his career than any player in league history.

Simply put, Curry is the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history. He has redefined the game of basketball, stretched the court and shattered defensive schemes. He has been the long-range flamethrower of one of NBA history’s greatest dynasties in the form of the Golden State Warriors.

The question is not whether, barring catastrophic injury, he will pass Allen. He will. It’s not whether he will go down in history as the best shooter in NBA history. He already is. The question is whether any player will ever catch him.

Can Steph Curry be caught?

Curry may have passed Miller and Allen had he played in a different era, but there is no denying that the increase of the 3-point shot in the modern NBA has created an environment for Curry to thrive in. It has also driven other outside shooters to launch more frequently. On the list of players who have attempted the most 3-pointers per game, the entire top ten is made up of active players. On the list of most 3-point makes, active players make up the top 14 and 23 of the top 25.

What would have seemed incredible just ten years ago — 250 3-pointers in a season — is now commonplace. Three players hit that mark prior to the 2012-13 NBA season; 18 players have done it in the eight years since, including four last season alone. The arrow is still trending up, which means the stage is set for a player to make a run at Steph Curry’s still-growing throne.

Let’s look at three categories of players who could conceive of a reality where they catch up to Stephen Curry. First his sharpshooting peers, then young gunners staking their claim, and finally go prospecting among rookies and college players who could help redefine outside shooting for a new generation.