Mavericks’ Klay Thompson moves into the Top 5 on the NBA’s all-time 3s made list

On By Littum

DALLAS – Klay Thompson wore no. 11 in his 13-year run with the Golden State Warriors. After a sign-and-trade sent him from California to Texas last summer, Thompson moved to No. 31.

No. 31 was important to Thompson for a couple of reasons. A Dallas Maverick hadn’t worn it since Jason Terry, the kick-ass scoring guard who helped the franchise win a championship in 2011.

Another reason Thompson made the change: Reggie Miller, a player Thompson idolized as a child, wore No. 31 in his nearly two decades with the Indiana Pacers.

On Wednesday, Thompson passed Miller for fifth on the NBA’s all-time 3-pointer list. Thompson entered Dallas’ Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves needing three 3s to pass Miller. Thompson connected for his third triple of the game in the fourth quarter.

“I saw so much footage of Reggie coming off screens as a teenager,” Thompson said at Mavericks media day in September. “Especially his ability to make game-winning shots. It is the most inspiring thing to watch as a shooter. He was not afraid whether he made or missed the shot. He would die from it.”

With his third 3-pointer Wednesday, Thompson now has 2,561 3-pointers made across 14 NBA seasons. Three of the four names ahead of him on the all-time 3-pointers list are still playing.

Steph Curry, Thompson’s former teammate, is first on the list, where he will stay for a long time. Curry (3,841) is more than 800 3-pointers ahead of second-place James Harden (3,022). Ray Allen (2,973) is third. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (2,683) is fourth.

Thompson entered Wednesday’s game shooting 39.1 percent from 3 on nearly eight attempts per. match. He has made multiple 3s in eight consecutive games.

(Top photo: Cary Edmondson / Imagn Images)