Ben Simmons, a player known for his exceptional playmaking and defensive skills, finds himself in an unexpected position in the conversation about the 4,000 career three-pointers club. As of now, Simmons is 3,995 threes away from joining Stephen Curry, the undisputed leader of the category. While this statistic may seem comical at first, given Simmons’ well-known struggles with shooting, especially from beyond the arc, it offers an intriguing point of discussion regarding his future and the trajectory of his career.
Simmons, a former first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, has carved out a reputation as one of the NBA’s premier point guards due to his elite passing and defensive prowess. However, throughout his career, one glaring weakness has overshadowed his otherwise well-rounded game: his inability or reluctance to shoot three-pointers. Despite being a gifted player in nearly every aspect of the game, Simmons has largely avoided attempts from beyond the arc, with a career total of just a handful of three-point attempts, and even fewer made. This has been one of the more puzzling aspects of his development, especially considering the modern NBA’s emphasis on spacing the floor and shooting from deep.
In contrast, Stephen Curry has transformed the game with his shooting, particularly from three-point range. Curry, who currently sits atop the NBA’s all-time three-point leaderboard, has revolutionized the game with his incredible range and accuracy, making him a once-in-a-lifetime talent. To put it simply, Curry’s career three-point shooting total stands at a staggering 4,000+ makes, a feat that many thought would be nearly impossible for anyone to match, let alone surpass.
Now, with Simmons so far behind in the three-point department, the conversation of him joining Curry in the “4K club” seems more like a joke than a genuine prospect. Simmons has never shown the consistent shooting ability necessary to reach such a lofty milestone. His focus has always been on facilitating offense, rebounding, and defending, rather than adding the deep-range shooting element that would elevate his game to another level.
However, basketball is a game of evolution, and Simmons is still a young player. While his shooting has yet to improve significantly, the potential for growth is there. If he were ever to develop a reliable three-point shot, it would add a new dimension to his game and force defenders to respect his perimeter scoring, something that could elevate his impact on the court. Even if he never comes close to reaching 4,000 career three-pointers, the evolution of Simmons’ game—much like the evolution of his playmaking and defense—remains an ongoing story. For now, the 3,995 three-pointers he needs to join Curry’s club serves as a reminder of the gap between the two players’ styles and abilities, but also of the potential that exists for unexpected changes in the future.
