Warriors’ Curry sets career record for 3-point baskets

Stephen Curry never wanted to say it himself, even if others have been saying it for years.

He refused to call himself the greatest shooter of them all until the numbers said so.

And now?

“I got that baby,” Curry said, raising his arms high in the air.

He struck the same pose hours earlier Tuesday night after shooting his way to the top of the NBA record book with his 2,974th 3-pointer during the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors’ win over the Knicks in New York.

Curry broke the record set by Ray Allen, who held it for 10 years after passing Reggie Miller. They were both at the game and presented Curry with a jersey with a 2,974 on the back.

That number could be 4,000 or more by the time Curry is done playing a game in a way that barely existed before him.

“He has totally changed the game of basketball as we know it,” teammate Draymond Green said.

Curry hit the record shot from the right wing with 7:33 remaining in the first quarter, waving his arms toward the sky, blowing a kiss and pounding his chest as he jogged backward down court. The Warriors then committed a foul and quickly called timeout to let the celebration begin.

Curry went and embraced his father, Dell Curry, who was seated along a baseline, while Bob Mckillop, his coach at Davidson, stood in the stands and beamed alongside Larry Riley, who drafted Curry for the Warriors. Then came a hug from Green, among others and, finally, Curry trotted back across the court for a long embrace and a few congratulatory words from Allen.

Curry already holds two of the top three seasons for 3-pointers — including the only season with 400 3s — and now has the career record.

It came at Madison Square Garden, where Curry had one of his early-career highlights on Feb. 27, 2013, when he made 11 3-pointers and scored 54 points. He’s gone on to win two MVP awards and three championships while becoming one of the biggest, most popular stars in the game.

Fans waited long afterward while he conducted a postgame interview on the court, chanting “MVP! MVP!” when he finished.

“I think fans are attracted to him just because of his humility and his story and how hard he’s had to work, so from that standpoint it transcends sports somewhat,”

Golden State coach Steve Kerr said before the game.

The record came quickly Tuesday. Curry hit from straightaway on his first attempt, and fans around the arena stood as he was dribbling the ball across center court on the next possession. He launched an ugly attempt that missed.

The record-breaker came on his next shot and was vintage Curry. He gave the ball up and eventually raced back to the outside, getting the ball back and seemingly launching it in the same motion before a defender could get to him.

Not an easy shot, but Curry has made it so many times he knew this one was pure.

MARY ALTAFFER/ASSOCIATED PRESS Stephen Curry hugs his father, Dell Curry, after making the record threepoint basket during the first half Tuesday night against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was his 2,974th career 3-pointer, breaking the record held by Ray Allen.