Ray Allen is looking to make an NBA comeback after two seasons off, and the 41-year-old has made it clear he would only return for a chance to win a third championship. But is Allen also motivated by his most impressive personal feat?
With 2,973 three-pointers converted in his career, Allen is the NBA’s all-time leader in three-point shooting. Stephen Curry, who, having made 1,593 three-pointers in his career, is more than halfway to breaking Allen’s record after just seven NBA seasons. Allen has played 18.
According to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Allen wants to hold onto his record. In an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich Show” Tuesday, Washburn speculated that distancing himself from Curry is one of the driving forces behind Allen’s desire to play another season.
“Ray wants to play again. I’m sure about that,” Washburn said, as transcribed by Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk. “I don’t think he particularly enjoys watching Stephen Curry rain threes and challenge his record and be called the best shooter in the world. I think that bothers him. I know Ray wants to extend his all-time three-point record.”
If Curry can remain healthy and his skills don’t decline dramatically, he should surpass Allen in about six more seasons. If Allen returns for another NBA season (presumably in a limited role), he might be able to add another season to that.
While Curry is likely to break Allen’s record at some point, we can’t assume he’ll be the same Steph Curry at age 34. Any three-pointers Allen hits at this point are basically a bonus, though it seems like that is not his top priority based on the teams he is hoping to join.
