When it comes to naming the greatest shooters in NBA history, everyone has their own preferences. However, some names—like Reggie Miller‘s—are universally acknowledged. Recently, the Indiana Pacers legend revealed his personal list of top shooters, and it stirred conversation due to some surprising omissions, including statistically dominant players.
Appearing on the podcast All The Smoke, Miller shared his top six shooters of all time. True to form, he excluded himself from the list but raised eyebrows by leaving out Dallas Mavericks star Klay Thompson.
“Present company included, I’m going to say: Larry Legend (Bird), Stephen (Curry), Ray (Allen), Mark Price, and I’ll tell you who could shoot it—Peja Stojakovic/Drazen Petrovich. Both of those [itches] in there,” Miller stated.
Miller’s picks leaned heavily toward players from previous generations, except for Stephen Curry, whose inclusion is nearly inevitable as the NBA’s all-time leader in three-pointers made.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates a three-point basket against during the Emirates NBA Cup against the Houston Rockets. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The exclusion of Thompson is particularly surprising, considering his close association with Curry and his record-setting 14 three-pointers in a single game. Other noticeable absences include Damian Lillard and James Harden. Both players rank ahead of Miller—and Thompson—on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list.
Thompson’s tribute to Miller after surpassing him in career threes
Klay Thompson surpassed Miller on the NBA’s all-time three-point scoring list during a Christmas Day matchup, where the Mavericks fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Following the milestone, Thompson didn’t shy away from expressing his admiration for Miller. “To pass such an icon like Reggie is super surreal for me,” Thompson said. “Especially as a ’90s baby, I watched him hit so many game-winners, battle against the best to ever play, and leave it all on the floor”.
Thompson also credited Miller for shaping his game. “Ever since I was a teenager, I studied the way he moved off the ball,” he explained. “He’s had a huge impact on my game. Salute to the greatest to ever shoot it, Reggie Miller! Thanks for the blueprint, OG,” Thompson shared on Instagram.