Breaking Down the NBA 3 Pointers Made This Season: Key Statistics and Trends

2025-11-15 15:01

As I was watching the Golden State Warriors game last night, I couldn't help but marvel at how Steph Curry casually sank eight three-pointers like he was ordering coffee. It got me thinking about just how much the NBA's relationship with the three-point shot has evolved this season. We're witnessing something truly remarkable - teams aren't just taking more threes, they're building entire offensive systems around them. I remember when hitting seven threes in a game was headline news, but now it feels almost routine for certain players.

The numbers this season are absolutely staggering. Through the first half of the season, teams are averaging about 35 three-point attempts per game, which is nearly double what we saw just a decade ago. What's fascinating to me is how this shift isn't just about superstars like Curry or Damian Lillard - it's permeating through entire rosters. I was analyzing the Celtics' recent games and noticed they had four different players hit at least three threes in a single game. That kind of distributed shooting threat completely changes how defenses have to operate.

There's this beautiful strategic dance happening in modern basketball that reminds me of that incredible NU-FEU game I watched last month. Their imposing presence allowed NU to weather a furious third period for FEU, cutting a 44-30 halftime deficit to make things interesting before creating much-needed cushion in the fourth. What stood out to me was how NU used the three-pointer strategically - not just as a weapon, but as a psychological tool. When FEU was mounting their comeback, NU hit two crucial threes that not only added six points to the board but completely shifted the momentum. That's the hidden value of the three-ball that doesn't always show up in traditional stats.

What I find particularly compelling is how different teams approach the three-point line. The analytics-driven teams like the Rockets and Mavericks will happily take 45+ threes in a game, while more traditional squads might stick to 25-30 attempts. Personally, I love watching teams that find the sweet spot - enough volume to pressure defenses but not so much that they become predictable. The Warriors' championship teams mastered this balance, using the threat of the three to open up their entire offense rather than relying on it exclusively.

The evolution of the corner three has been especially fascinating to track. Teams are generating about 18% of their three-point attempts from the corners this season, and the efficiency numbers there are noticeably higher - we're talking about 38-42% compared to 34-36% from above the break. I've noticed coaches designing specific actions to create these higher-value looks, often using drive-and-kick sequences that collapse defenses. When you watch Luka Dončić operate, you see him deliberately attacking the paint not necessarily to score, but to draw help defenders and find open shooters in the corners.

What surprises me most is how quickly young players are adapting. Rookies coming into the league now have been practicing three-pointers since middle school, and it shows in their shooting mechanics and confidence. I was watching Paolo Banchero the other night, and for a 6'10" forward to comfortably pull up from deep with such smooth form - that would have been unheard of twenty years ago. The skill development at all levels of basketball has accelerated dramatically, and we're seeing the results in these shooting percentages.

There's an interesting debate happening about whether we've reached "peak three-pointer" or if the trend will continue. Personally, I think we'll see some regression toward mid-range game eventually, but not anytime soon. The math simply favors the three-pointer too strongly - 35% from deep equals 52.5% from two-point range in terms of points per possession. Until defenses find better ways to contest these shots without giving up easy layups, the three-point revolution is here to stay.

What often gets overlooked in these discussions is how the three-point shot has changed late-game strategy. I was crunching some numbers from close games this season and found that teams down by 3 points in the final minute now attempt a three-pointer approximately 68% of the time, compared to just 42% five years ago. The calculus has shifted - coaches would rather take their chances with a potential game-winner from deep than risk overtime with a quick two. It makes for incredibly dramatic finishes, though I sometimes miss the strategic diversity we used to see in crunch time.

The international influence on three-point shooting can't be overstated either. Watching players like Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis, who grew up in European systems that emphasized spacing and shooting, you see how naturally they read closeouts and make the extra pass to open shooters. The global game has fundamentally shaped how NBA offenses operate, and I think we're better off for it. The beautiful ball movement we see from teams like the Spurs and Heat often results in those wide-open threes that feel almost inevitable before they even leave the shooter's hand.

As we move deeper into the season, I'm particularly curious to see how the three-point trends hold up through the playoffs. History suggests that defenses tighten up and shooting percentages typically dip, but the volume generally remains high. What's different this year is the depth of shooting across rosters - when your seventh or eighth man can confidently knock down threes, it becomes much harder for defenses to focus their attention. I suspect we'll see some record-breaking three-point performances come playoff time, and I for one can't wait to watch it unfold.