Golden State Warriors Trio Makes History with 779 Threes in One Season: The Greatest Shooting Era in NBA Basketball Ever

Golden State Warriors Trio Makes History with 779 Threes in One Season: The Greatest Shooting Era in NBA Basketball Ever

The 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors season is remembered for many things — the unprecedented 73-9 regular-season record, Stephen Curry’s unanimous MVP season, their heartbreaking NBA Finals loss to the Cavaliers after being up 3-1 — but above all, for those who deeply appreciate the beauty and evolution of basketball, it was the purest expression of the long-range revolution. At the center of it all was the Warriors’ iconic backcourt duo of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, with Draymond Green often acting as the offensive engine in transition. Together, this trio buried a record-breaking 779 three-pointers over the course of the regular season — the most ever by any trio in a single NBA season. That achievement not only stands as a statistical marvel but also as a cultural watermark. It was the ultimate expression of a new basketball philosophy that transformed not just the Warriors but the NBA itself.

What made this trio so deadly wasn’t just their volume of three-point shots, but the way in which they created those shots. Stephen Curry, the ringleader of the three-point revolution, was operating at a transcendent level during the 2015-2016 season. He alone hit 402 three-pointers, obliterating his own previous record and setting a benchmark that felt surreal. Curry wasn’t just a great shooter that season — he was a living cheat code. Pull-ups from 30 feet, step-backs, off-the-dribble floaters from the hash mark — nothing was off limits. The geometry of the game bent in his hands. Defenses had to pick him up at half court, yet it hardly mattered. He could still rise and fire, and more often than not, it splashed through the net.

Klay Thompson, the quieter of the two Splash Brothers, brought a different but equally devastating style. He was the master of the catch-and-shoot, capable of going inferno-hot in the blink of an eye. That season, he hit 276 threes — more than most NBA teams managed as a whole just a decade earlier. His release was lightning quick, his shooting motion flawless and repeatable under pressure. Perhaps the defining moment of his season came when he dropped 37 points in a single quarter, a flurry of pure, unconscious shooting that seemed to bend time and reality. Klay didn’t dribble much. He didn’t need to. His game was about movement, finding space, and letting it fly — and he did so with an almost machine-like consistency.

Draymond Green, often labeled the heart and soul of the Warriors, played a different role but was equally essential in the 779 three-pointers made. While he accounted for 101 threes that season — a solid figure for a power forward — his real contribution was in the creation and facilitation of open looks for his teammates. As a point-forward with exceptional court vision, Green ran the offense at times, initiating pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs with Curry and Thompson. His ability to read defenses, make the right pass, and screen with intelligence unlocked many of the trio’s open looks. When defenders blitzed Curry, it was often Green who received the short roll pass and made the next decisive play. If they sagged off Draymond, he hit just enough threes to punish them — often in critical moments.

Together, the trio operated with a symbiotic rhythm. Defenses faced an impossible choice — trap Curry and leave Klay open, or focus on Thompson and allow Curry room to dance. Either way, they were forced into a losing proposition. Throw in Draymond’s playmaking and the Warriors’ frenetic pace, and it was clear why this team — and specifically this trio — redefined the rules of engagement in professional basketball.

Their 779 threes weren’t just a number; they were the outcome of a philosophical shift that emphasized pace, space, and positional fluidity. Unlike previous NBA dynasties that were built around dominant big men or isolation-heavy superstars, the Warriors’ attack was democratic, unselfish, and heavily reliant on ball movement and spacing. Their offense was kinetic, beautiful, and brutal in its precision. It resembled jazz — chaotic yet ordered, unpredictable but fundamentally structured.

The trio’s shooting barrage wasn’t just a product of volume. It was also about efficiency. Curry shot a blistering 45.4% from three that season, while Thompson connected at a 42.5% clip. Green, though less prolific, still managed to hit 38.8% of his attempts. When you stretch defenses that far out, it opens up lanes, unlocks passing angles, and turns role players into valuable assets. The gravity that Curry and Thompson generated allowed even modest scorers to thrive. The court, quite literally, became larger when they were on it.

Beyond the numbers, the emotional resonance of that trio’s run was enormous. Every Warriors game during that season felt like a show — a sold-out concert with pyrotechnics from beyond the arc. Fans tuned in not just to see if they would win, but how spectacularly they would do it. Would Curry hit another 40-footer? Would Klay erupt for 25 in a quarter? Would Draymond toss a behind-the-back dime in transition? The anticipation and joy that trio inspired is unmatched in modern basketball. For Warriors fans, this was more than winning. It was witnessing a revolution, played out night after night.

That season, the Warriors attempted over 31 threes per game — a figure that was then among the league leaders but has since become commonplace. Yet the key difference was the purpose and poise behind every shot. Their attempts came within the flow of an offense that emphasized decision-making, unselfishness, and trust. It was not “hero ball.” It was system-based, team-first, and scientifically ruthless. The 779 threes were a byproduct of that precision — and of three players who perfectly embodied that style.

Of course, the season did not end with a championship. After going 73-9, the Warriors came within five points of sealing their second straight title before the Cavaliers, led by LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, completed an epic comeback in the Finals. But even that loss doesn’t overshadow what the trio accomplished. If anything, it adds a layer of complexity to their legacy. The pain of defeat, the burden of expectations, and the weight of history only amplify the brilliance of their regular season dominance.

For many Warriors fans, the 2015-2016 team — and specifically this trio’s unmatched three-point synergy — represents the pinnacle of the franchise’s basketball identity. Later teams, including those with Kevin Durant, were arguably more talented and ultimately more successful in the playoffs. But there was something raw, beautiful, and revolutionary about the original trio operating at the peak of their powers. It was a basketball utopia. The unselfishness, the trust, the joy — it was palpable, and it changed the way basketball is played around the world.

Today, as the NBA continues to evolve, the ripple effects of that season are everywhere. Teams build around shooting and spacing. Big men practice threes like guards. Kids at every level pull up from deep, emulating Curry’s audacity. The Warriors’ trio didn’t just make shots — they made history. They didn’t just change games — they changed the game.

The 779 threes made by Curry, Thompson, and Green are etched into the record books, but more importantly, they’re etched into the hearts of fans who lived through that unforgettable era. It wasn’t just about points. It was about expression, confidence, and revolution. For those who watched, that season was not just an era. It was a feeling — and that feeling was golden.

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