AJ Green, undrafted in 2022, signed with Milwaukee in 2023.
The 3-point shot has never been as central to the game as it is right now. Teams are pulling up from deep 37.3 times per game this season, which is right in line with last year’s average (37.6) and a continuation of the years-long trend that emphasizes maximizing the three-ball as a core philosophy on offense.
The league is in a golden age of sharpshooters with legends like Stephen Curry and James Harden checking in near the top of the made 3’s leaderboard. Rising stars like Tyrese Maxey and Kon Knueppel also rank in the top five in that category, along with All-NBA First Teamer Donovan Mitchell.
However, this article aims to highlight the players who are not only making a lot of 3s but doing so with elite efficiency. Here’s a look at the most efficient 3-point shooters in the league who are attempting at least six triples per game thus far.
1. A.J. Green, Milwaukee Bucks: 47% 3Pt on 6.5 3pa/g
Green has steadily worked his way into a bigger role with the Bucks over the last few years and is now a regular starter. His contributions from beyond the arc are certainly helping bolster his case to stick there as well. Green is shooting 47 % from deep, which is the best mark in the NBA among players attempting at least six 3s per game. In total, that adds up to 3.1 made 3s per game for the fourth-year guard out of Northern Iowa. It will be difficult for Green to maintain that efficiency throughout the season, considering just one player (Joe Harris, 2021) has shot that well from deep on that type of volume dating back to 2016. Still, there’s reason to believe Green can continue to be an important contributor for the Bucks as one of the best sharpshooters in the game.
2. Norman Powell, Miami Heat: 46.4% on 6.9 3pa/g
Powell has been a tremendous addition to the Heat’s rotation and a big part of their league-leading offense in terms of points per game. The veteran is shooting a crisp 46.4 percent from beyond the arc on significant volume. In his 38-point outing against the Knicks on Nov. 14, Powell drained eight out of 15 attempts from beyond the arc. Powell has a strong track record of efficient shooting from deep, shooting 40 percent or better in five of the last six seasons. He’s currently dealing with a groin strain, but the hope is that he will return shortly to continue what has been his best offensive season to date.
3. Grayson Allen, Phoenix Suns: 44.7% on 8.8 3pa/g
Allen got off to a torrid start to the season from long range, hitting nearly 45 percent of his triples on almost 9.0 attempts per game. He got it started with five treys on 10 attempts against the Nuggets in the season opener and continued that strong pace for nearly a month straight. On Nov. 10 against the Pelicans, Allen sank 10 3s on 15 attempts as the Suns cruised to a 121-98 victory. Allen has missed some time of late with a quadriceps injury, but will be a key part of the Phoenix offense once he returns.
4. Sam Merrill, Cleveland Cavaliers: 44.4% on 8.3 3pa/g
The Cavaliers rank second in made 3s per game this season (15.5), and while Donovan Mitchell and De’Andre Hunter are huge driving factors behind that, Merrill has provided a spark off the bench in that regard. Merrill has made at least 137 3-pointers in each of the last two seasons and is well on his way to making it three straight seasons with impressive production from deep. He’s hit 44 triples in 12 appearances (8 starts) and is doing so at a strong clip (44.4%) considering his shot volume from deep. He, too, has been banged up of late with an injury of his own. Still, Merrill is on track for the best season of his career as a three-point specialist for the contending Cavaliers.
5. Royce O’Neal, Phoenix Suns: 43.9% on 7.3 3pa/g
The ninth-year vet is enjoying a resurgence this season with some of the best numbers of his career across the board. He’s earning 30.1 minutes per game, which is his highest mark since joining the Suns in the 2024 season. The added minutes are paying dividends; O’Neal is attempting a career-high 7.3 3s per game and hitting them at nearly 44%, which is also a personal best. He has made multiple treys in all but two of his 18 games thus far. The Suns are off to a strong start thanks in large part to the three-ball, and O’Neal is chipping in more than his fair share on that front.
Honorable Mention: Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets: 43.8% on 8.5 3pa/g
Knueppel is making a strong case for Kia Rookie of the Year consideration with this impressive start. He is one of 15 players averaging at least 8.0 3pa/g, and his 3p% ranks third among that group of players. The 20-year-old is sinking 3.7 triples per game and just set a new career-high for made 3s on Nov. 23 when he drained seven against the Hawks. The rookie seems to be getting better each night, and it would not be surprising to see him crack the top five of this list before season’s end.
