Which NBA Player Holds the Record for Most 3-Pointers Made in a Single Game?
As I sat watching Golden State's Steph Curry sink yet another three-pointer last night, I found myself wondering - which NBA player actually holds the record for most three-pointers made in a single game? This question seems simple enough, but the answer reveals so much about how basketball has evolved over the decades. Having followed the NBA since the 90s, I've witnessed firsthand the transformation of the three-point shot from occasional weapon to central strategy. The record itself has changed hands multiple times throughout league history, reflecting the game's shifting priorities and the emergence of specialized shooters who've perfected this particular skill.
The current record stands at 14 three-pointers in a single game, achieved by none other than the Chicago Bulls' sharp-shooter Klay Thompson during their October 2018 matchup against the Bulls. I remember watching that game live, and what struck me wasn't just the number but how effortless Thompson made it look - each shot seemed to flow naturally into the next, creating this incredible rhythm that the defense simply couldn't disrupt. He finished 14-of-24 from beyond the arc that night, which is particularly impressive when you consider that the entire Bulls team only made 5 three-pointers collectively. Thompson's record-breaking performance surpassed his teammate Steph Curry's previous record of 13, set just a year earlier against New Orleans.
What's fascinating about tracking this particular record is how recently most of these historic performances have occurred. Before Curry and Thompson started rewriting the record books, the single-game three-point record had stood at 12 for nearly twenty years, shared by Kobe Bryant (2003) and Donyell Marshall (2005). Going back even further, the record was just 11 throughout the 90s, held by players like Dennis Scott. This progression timeline perfectly illustrates the NBA's three-point revolution - each era pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible from long range.
The evolution of three-point shooting reminds me of something I heard from a professional basketball player recently. "But as we kinda ramped up things for myself on the court, we will just continue to assess the situation, continue to assess how my body is feeling, try not to rush into anything that is too soon," said Heading after Converge's win over Terrafirma. This approach perfectly captures how modern shooters develop their craft - it's not about forcing shots but rather finding rhythm and assessing opportunities as they present themselves throughout the game. The greatest shooters understand that consistency comes from working within their capabilities while gradually expanding their range and volume.
Looking at Thompson's record-setting game more closely, what often gets overlooked is that he didn't just hit 14 three-pointers - he did it in just three quarters of play, sitting out the entire fourth quarter because the game was already decided. This detail blows my mind every time I think about it. Had he played the fourth quarter, we might be looking at an even more unreachable record, perhaps 18 or even 20 three-pointers. The efficiency was remarkable too - he needed only 27 minutes of playing time to set the record, meaning he averaged roughly one three-pointer every two minutes he was on the court.
From my perspective as someone who's played basketball at amateur levels, what separates record-setters like Thompson from other good shooters is their movement without the ball and their ability to maintain perfect form even when fatigued. I've tried to emulate this in my own shooting practice, and let me tell you - it's incredibly difficult to maintain that textbook shooting form after running through multiple screens and playing heavy minutes. The conditioning required for modern NBA shooters is something we casual players often underestimate.
The strategic implications of the three-point revolution are worth considering too. Teams now actively scheme to create three-point opportunities for their best shooters in ways that simply didn't happen twenty years ago. When Thompson set his record, the Warriors ran several set plays specifically designed to free him up beyond the arc, recognizing early that he had that special rhythm going. This intentionality marks a significant shift from earlier eras when three-point shooting was more opportunistic than systematic.
Personally, I believe we'll see this record broken again within the next five years. The combination of increased volume, improved shooting technique, and defensive rules that favor offensive players creates perfect conditions for another historic performance. Players like Damian Lillard, Trae Young, or perhaps an emerging shooter we haven't fully appreciated yet could potentially have that magical night where everything falls. The question isn't if the record will be broken, but by how much - could we eventually see someone hit 16 or even 17 three-pointers in a game?
What makes this particular record so compelling is that it represents the perfect storm of individual talent, team strategy, and historical context coming together for one incredible performance. Thompson's record of 14 three-pointers in a single game stands as a testament to how far shooting has evolved in the NBA, but I have a strong feeling it's not the final chapter in this ongoing story. The continued emphasis on three-point shooting across all levels of basketball suggests we're likely to witness even more extraordinary shooting displays in the years to come.