Top Sharpshooters in the NBA

The top sharpshooters in the NBA today include the most efficient three-point marksmen the league has to offer. 

They are all rarely left open after establishing reputations as long-range threats, but despite being blanketed by defenses on a regular basis, they are able to convert at a staggering rate. 

Each player included on this list plays a different role for his team. Included, for example, are three bench players and two starters—one of whom could be named an All-Star this season. 

Regardless of their respective role, though, they can all knock down shots when afforded the opportunity.

These sharpshooters were ranked according to a combination of three-point field goal percentage, attempts, makes and body of work throughout their careers.

Reputation, from the standpoint of defensive game-planning, was also a factor.

5. Matt Bonner

If you leave Matt Bonner open, he will make you pay.

Despite only making one of his seven attempts from three-point range in his last seven games, Bonner's overall efficiency from long-range has been particularly impressive this season.

The "Red Rocket" has converted almost half of the three-pointers he's attempted this year. He currently leads all qualified players in three-point field goal percentage at 47.4 percent. 

Bonner has attempted only 57 three-pointers, though, ranking him 156th overall in terms of attempts. The smaller sample size this season is the only reason Bonner is not higher on this list.

On attempts from "above the break" specifically, according to NBA.com's shooting analysis, Bonner has made 21 of his 41 threes.

The long-range bomber has also made 668 three-point field goals while shooting 41.7 percent from behind the arc overall for his career.

4. Steve Novak

Steve Novak led the NBA in three-point field goal percentage last season.

He knocked down 47.2 percent of his 282 attempts during the 2011-12 campaign and likely earned a mention on scouting reports across the NBA as a result.

Despite the defensive awareness that opponents now have for Novak's ability, he continues to excel from long range.

Coming off the bench for the New York Knicks in 36 games, Novak ranks third overall from beyond the arc at 44.8 percent. He's making 2.1 three-pointers per game overall to average a respectable 7.5 points every night.

According to NBA.com, Novae has converted 52 percent of the 64 corner threes he's attempted this year. 

The six-year pro is also shooting 43.8 percent from three-point territory overall for his career.

3. Kyle Korver

Kyle Korver has helped his team to the Eastern Conference's sixth-best record while averaging 10.3 points per game as a starter. 

He's averaged those double-figure points this season by being specifically lethal from long range.

Korver currently ranks fifth overall in terms of three-point field goal percentage this season. During the 2011-12 campaign, the Ashton Kutcher look-alike finished the season ranked 10th.

He is also making the fifth-most three-point field goals per game this season at 2.6 per night.

The majority of Korver's scoring comes from distance, but defenses have yet to slow him down. 

He's made 82 three-pointers through Tuesday as compared to only 27 two-point field goals. Fifty-seven of those made threes for Korver, according to NBA.com, have come from above the break.

2. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is the best overall player amongst the NBA's top sharpshooters this season.

Besides being deadly accurate from three-point range, he's also the NBA's eighth-leading scorer as of Tuesday. But make no mistake: the 20.5 points he's averaged have been fueled by 113 made threes.

Curry's connected on 46.1 percent of his attempts from long range this season, which ranks second behind only Matt Bonner.

That number is also an improvement over the remarkable 44.6 percent Curry's averaged from long range for his career.

Including two-point field goals, 34.7 percent of Curry's shots have come from "above the break," according to NBA.com.

From that area on the floor, he's made 92 of his 205 three-point field goal attempts this season.

At this stage in his career, Curry is contested as much as anyone in the league from long range, but he continues to knock down one three after another.

1. Ray Allen

For as long as Ray Allen is wearing an NBA uniform, he will be considered the top sharpshooter in the league. As the best three-point shooter in NBA history, Allen has earned that right.

Especially when he's having a season like he is right now.

At 37 years old, Allen has made 44.2 percent of the 138 three-pointers he's attempted for the Miami Heat.

That number represents Allen's third-best rate from long-range in 17 NBA seasons. It is also good for the fourth-highest percentage in the league overall.

From the corner—Allen's favorite spot on the floor—this season, the 10-time All-Star has converted 54 percent of his threes, according to NBA.com.

From that exact location on the hardwood, Allen also knocked down this bomb to down the Denver Nuggets earlier this year.