DEBATE: Is Steph Curry the Greatest Shooter in Sports History — Not Just Basketball?

NEW YORK — Stephen Curry has made 3,973 three-pointers in his NBA career — 1,218 more than the second-place player. He shoots 43.1% from three over his career on more attempts than anyone in history. He is, by every measure, the most accurate volume long-range shooter in the history of professional basketball.

But qivsy is asking a bigger question: Is Steph Curry the greatest shooter in the history of any professional sport?

The Case For

• In basketball, he has permanently altered the physical geometry of the game. Teams now shoot three times as many three-pointers as they did before Curry entered the league — because he proved it was possible at his efficiency level, and everyone is trying to replicate it.
• At his range — 30+ feet — his accuracy is 41.2%. No professional shooter in any sport has demonstrated comparable accuracy at this distance in a live competition setting.
• Comparison to other sports’ greatest shooters: Tiger Woods at his peak hit 68% of fairways — remarkable but not as statistically dominant over peers. Wayne Gretzky scored at a per-game rate no hockey player has approached — comparable dominance. Tom Brady completed 63.8% of passes over his career — remarkable efficiency but within a statistical range other QBs have approached.

“What Curry does doesn’t have a comparison. In any sport. He makes shots at a distance and volume that no one believed was possible at his accuracy rate — and he’s been doing it for 15 years. That’s not a hot streak. That’s a revision of what human beings can do.” — Sports science professor, Stanford University, speaking to qivsy

The Counter-Argument

His two rings without Durant came in 2015 and 2022 — competitive years but not the most competitive eras. Archie Griffin won two Heisman Trophies. Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slams with a dominance index (margin over #2 player) that may exceed Curry’s over peers. The debate has genuine complexity.

TRC Verdict: By the specific metric of long-range shooting accuracy at volume, Curry has no competitor — in any sport, in any era of professional athletics. The greatest shooter in sports history is playing right now.

Agree or disagree? Make your case in the comments.

— Analysis by James Calloway, qivsy Sports Editor, New York