Curry Sets Record: First to Achieve 4,000 Career 3-Pointers as Warriors Defeat Kings

Stephen Curry has etched his name further into NBA lore, becoming the first player in league history to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers. The milestone arrived amidst a dominant 130-104 victory for the Golden State Warriors over the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center, a day before Curry's 37th birthday.

The historic shot, a testament to Curry's unparalleled range and accuracy, came with 8:19 remaining in the third quarter. Under pressure on the right wing, Curry pump-faked a defender, creating just enough space to launch and sink his fourth attempt of the night, assisted by Moses Moody.

The Chase Center erupted as the ball swished through the net, fans rising to their feet in celebration. A subsequent timeout saw a tribute video play on the big screen, featuring a congratulatory message from former Warriors center Andris Biedrins, who assisted on Curry's very first NBA three-pointer.

"I actually had, I'd call it, an emotional moment on the bench when I saw him," Curry said. "They didn’t tell me that they found him and got a video message from him. That was my vet when I was here my rookie year... Really cool to kind of think back how far I’ve come from the first one to 4,000, which is crazy."

Curry finished the game with 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting, as the Warriors secured their sixth consecutive win and their 11th in the last 12 games.

The journey to 4,000 began with a 3-pointer from the left wing in the first quarter. Despite a few near misses, the anticipation in the arena was palpable. "I could feel the energy and the buzz from the beginning of the game after I made my first 3," Curry said. "When that second one went in I knew there was a lot of game left so I tried to not get too ahead of myself. But it was a special moment to feel that energy and allow them to enjoy that milestone and accomplishment with me."

Warriors coach Steve Kerr, when asked about how the team might celebrate Curry's milestone and birthday, jokingly suggested, "What do you get for the guy who has everything? Maybe I’ll give him a day off." Every player received a special black T-shirt commemorating the achievement.

Curry's first career 3-pointer came on October 30, 2009, against the Phoenix Suns. He surpassed Ray Allen's then-record of 2,973 in December 2021.

Kings coach Doug Christie, reflecting on the achievement, compared it to Reggie Miller’s previous record, stating, "It was (2,560) with Reggie Miller and it was like, ‘Whoa, that’s out of control.’" He praised Curry, saying, "He’s changed the game in so many different ways... A lot of credit to him. That’s an incredible story."

Curry, in his 16th NBA season, continues to defy expectations, recently surpassing 25,000 career points. Kerr aptly summarized the achievement, stating, "I’m desensitized to the 3s because they just come flooding through game after game, 4,000 is just an insane number."

While James Harden and Damian Lillard trail Curry in career 3-pointers, the Warriors' star has set a new benchmark, leaving many to wonder what's next. When asked by Kerr about his next goal, Curry responded, “I like a challenge.” Perhaps 8,000 is not out of the question.