Why didn't Kareem shoot 3 pointers?
Kareem even mentioned that his lone 3-point shot, which happened in 1986, was actually an accident. “And it was an accident. You know, I ran out to the corner to get a rebound, and I was out there all alone. They didn't want to come guard me.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 18 three-point attempts in his career.
The 75-year-old is also the leading scorer in the NBA with 38,387 points. He took 28,307 shots to make those points, out of which only one of 18 of his attempts was a three-pointer. Out of all 18 attempts, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made only a single shot, which remains to be the only three-point conversion of his career.
Types of shots scored by Abdul-Jabbar and James, per game
Abdul-Jabbar scored the only 3-pointer of his career in 1987.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar hit his trademark skyhook in a game against Utah in Las Vegas to surpass Wilt Chamberlain's career total of 31,419 points, becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer as the Lakers defeated the Jazz 129-115. Abdul-Jabbar would go on to score a record 38,387 points in his legendary career.
But you would be surprised to know that there was a time when this scoring move was banned because of a single player. Lew Alcindor, who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, dominated his opponents because he was a master of this move. To limit the player's dominance, the NCAA banned the slam dunk from 1967 to 1976.
Kareem, on the other hand, only made one 3-point shot - ever.
Shaquille O'Neal buried 1 three-pointer in his career.
Shaquille O'Neal drained 1 three-pointer in his career.
With 38 points in a 133-130 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron James eclipsed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 34-year-old NBA career scoring record, officially earning the distinction as the best scorer in NBA history.
How many points does LeBron need to pass Kareem?
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the No. 1 spot on the NBA's all-time regular-season scoring list (38,387 points) on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
Stephen Curry has made the most 3-point field goals in NBA history.

The Night 'Headband Klay' Was Born
One of Thompson's most iconic performances came when the five-time All-Star set an NBA record by knocking down 14 3-pointers in a 149-124 win over the Chicago Bulls.
Thompson holds the NBA record for most 3-pointers made in a regular season game with 14.
NAME | SEASON | 3P% |
---|---|---|
Stephen Curry | 2020-21 | 42.1 |
Stephen Curry | 2021-22 | 38.0 |
Stephen Curry | 2022-23 | 42.7 |
Average | 42.8 |
Kareem's opponents were superior over Shaq's, and Kareem was able to win five championships against them while Shaq only won three. Without question, Kareem's ability to win against the level of competition he did only strengthens his case for the best Lakers center.
Kareem won rings at the age of 40 and 41, but lost in the finals at the age of 42). They actually both lost in the NBA finals in their final seasons. An in-his-prime Wilt would have destroyed Kareem with superior strength, leaping ability, and stamina—not to mention awesome offensive and defensive skills.
So, the ban began. In fact, the decade-long “no dunk rule” is often cited as the “Lew Alcindor Rule.” Some, including its namesake, considered the ban – which never reached the NBA – to have racial motives.
Who made the first dunk in NBA history? The first documented dunk in NBA history was made by Joe Fortenberry of the Harlem Globetrotters during a game against the New York Renaissance on December 5, 1936. However, dunks were not officially counted as a statistic in the NBA until the 1970-71 season.
Who was #1 scorer before Kareem?
Abdul-Jabbar had been atop the career points list since April 5, 1984, when he broke the mark previously held by Wilt Chamberlain. Now James has that record. James came into Tuesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder needing to score 36 points to surpass Abdul-Jabbar's career total of 38,387. He finished with 38.
Would Wilt Chamberlain have been a good 3-point shooter if he played in the modern NBA? He certainly could. In fact, in his books, he said he found it far easier to shoot from distance further away from the basket than he did standing still at the free throw line.
The 3-point shot, at first, wasn't part of the package. The NBA stayed firm in the game's traditions. The league didn't adopt the 3-pointer until 1979--Magic Johnson and Larry Bird's rookie season.
This Day in History: Chris Ford made the first 3-point basket in NBA History (Oct 12, 1979) Chris Ford as a member of the Celtics, knocks down the first 3-point basket in NBA History!
NAME | SEASON | FG% |
---|---|---|
Yao Ming | 2003-04 | 52.2 |
Yao Ming | 2004-05 | 55.2 |
Yao Ming | 2005-06 | 51.9 |
Yao Ming | 2006-07 | 51.6 |
Yao Ming sank 20.0 percent of his threes in his career.
Stephen Curry has made 3,390 shots from beyond the arc in his career.
Here's a startling statistic: Jordan made only 581 3-pointers in his career.
Charles Barkley drained 26.6 percent from downtown in his career.
“Congratulations to LeBron on breaking one of the most hallowed records in all of sports by becoming the NBA's all-time scoring leader,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said via statement.
How close is LeBron to Kareem's record?
With his 26-point effort against the Pacers on Thursday night, LeBron James now has 38,325 regular-season points for his career, putting him a mere 62 behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time NBA record of 38,387.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the greatest player in NBA history, and this, his story, is why he is the best of our 10 Greatest Players In NBA History and part of the 5 greatest centers in NBA history.
Wilt Chamberlain scored 70-plus points in a game twice over a 13-day span in 1962. Chamberlain has accounted for six of the NBA's 13 70-plus point games, including his single-game record of 100 points.
Take a look back at the memorable moment from March 3, 2014 — in a game between the Miami Heat and Charlotte Bobcats.
# | PLAYER | GP |
---|---|---|
1 | LeBron James | 282 |
2 | Michael Jordan | 179 |
3 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | 237 |
4 | Kobe Bryant | 220 |
Steph Curry
Three-pointers made: 3,390. Steph Curry is the greatest three-point shooter of all time. He comes from a long lineage of NBA snipers. His dad, Dell Curry, was a sharpshooter during the '90s and retired as the Hornets' all-time leading scorer, a record that Kemba Walker broke.
Steve Kerr has the highest career three-point percentage, at 45.4 percent.
Larry Bird hit 37.6 percent of his threes in his career.
Most 3s Without a Miss: Ben Gordon (April 14, 2006/March 21, 2012) and Latrell Sprewell (Feb. 4, 2003), 9.
Steph Curry's career-high of 62 points also marked the first game of 60-or-more points by a Warriors player in over four years.
Who made the longest 3-pointer?
Baron Davis, 89-feet, 2001.
One of the most dominant NBA centers of all time -- Shaquille O'Neal -- attempted just 22 three-pointers in his 19-season career and made just one of them. NBA has changed a lot since those days as the league has gone through a three-point revolution with big men making the shots from deep.
The Houston Rockets have the most three-point attempts by a team in a game, with 70 attempts against the Nets on January 16, 2019.
- Kyrie Irving, Mavericks (Preseason: 31)
- Paul George, Clippers (Preseason: 11) ...
- Zion Williamson, Pelicans (Preseason: 17) ...
- Devin Booker, Suns (Preseason: 15) ...
- De'Aaron Fox, Kings (Preseason: 57) ...
NAME | GP | 3P MISS |
---|---|---|
James Harden | 1000 | 4,840 |
Stephen Curry | 882 | 4,539 |
Ray Allen | 1300 | 4,456 |
LeBron James | 1421 | 4,302 |
Kobe Bryant – 14,41 missed shots
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant played all of his seasons with the franchise, bringing five championships to the team. But this success didn't come in the easy path as he endured 14,481 missed shots throughout his career, the most in league history.
76ers and Knicks Set NBA Record with 53 Missed 3-Point Attempts in 1 Game | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors | Bleacher Report.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a three-point percentage of 5.6 in his career.
- Josh Smith, 28.5%
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, 28.7% ...
- Ron Harper, 28.9% ...
- Isiah Thomas, 29.0% ...
- DeMar DeRozan, 29.1% ...
- Dwyane Wade, 29.3% ...
- Derrick Coleman, 29.5% ...
- Reggie Williams, 29.8% ...
- Kareem broke his hand here and didn't make the all-star team. The only time he missed it in his 20 year career. - He was fined $5,000.
What player has the most missed 3 pointers in a game?
James Harden and Damon Stoudamire are tied for missing the most three-pointers in a game with 16 misses.
LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for NBA career scoring record. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the No. 1 spot on the NBA's all-time regular-season scoring list (38,387 points) on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
Shaquille O'Neal drained 1 three-pointer in his career.
50 players are tied for the fewest career threes, with 0 three-pointers. The first three are Kendall Brown, Michael Foster and Jalen Duren.
Allen Iverson: 885
Iverson will never be remembered as a good 3-point shooter. Though he shot only 30.9% from deep in his career with the Sixers, he put up enough attempts to be Philadelphia's all-time leader in 3-pointers made. Fans remember him for being an explosive scorer rather than a shooter.
With only seven shutouts in All-Star history, it's no surprise that there have been no no-hitters since the tradition began in 1933.
The number of rookie players in the All-Star Game has dwindled drastically over the years. The last rookie to be voted an All-Star was Blake Griffin in 2011 with the Los Angeles Clippers as there have only been 10 rookies to make the game since 1985.
Fred Lynn in 1983 hit what remains the only grand slam in All-Star game history. 21. The most earned runs allowed by a pitcher in a single All-Star game is seven by Atlee Hammaker, who in 1983 gave up the grand slam to Fred Lynn.
How many 3s has Steph Curry missed?
Stephen Curry has 4,539 missed threes in his career.
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