SAN FRANCISCO — Steph Curry’s place in NBA Finals’ lore is unmistakable.
“I mean, Steph’s done incredible things in the Finals,” Warirors teammate Klay Thompson said after clinching last week’s Western Conference title. “I’m pretty sure he leads the NBA Finals in three-pointers made. He always brings his best.”
Thompson would know, as he accompanies Curry and the Warriors’ to their sixth NBA Finals appearance in eight years, starting Thursday night at Chase Center against the Boston Celtics.
No one has made more 3-pointers in NBA Finals history than Curry’s 121, which he compiled in 28 previous games over five consecutive series from 2015-2019.
Curry, who became the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers last December, also owns the records for most 3-pointers in a NBA Finals series of any length. (More on that below.)
The single-game record for 3-pointers in an NBA Finals game: Curry, with nine against the Cleveland Cavaliers on June 3, 2018.
Most ever attempted? That would be 17, in the same game, a 122-103 win in Game 2 at Oracle Arena. That was also their last NBA Finals home win, having swept the Cavs that series and then losing all three home games in the 2019 NBA Finals to Toronto.
Overall, Curry is averaging 26.5 points per NBA Finals game (.420 field-goal percentage; .385 on 3-point attempts; .927 free-throw percentage), with 5.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.54 steals and 39.4 minutes per game.
Where, precisely, do Curry, Thompson and other Warriors in the NBA Finals record book? Let’s open it:
Most 3-point field goals made
4-game series
22 — Curry, 2018; 12 — Thompson, 2018
5-game series
19 — Curry, 2017; 18 — Kevin Durant, Warriors, 2017; J.R. Smith, Cleveland, 2017
6-game series
25 — Curry, 2015; 24 — Thompson, 2019
7-game series
32 — Curry, 2016; 27 — Danny Green, San Antonio, 2013
* * *
Most 3-point field goals attempted
4-game series
53 — Curry, 2018; 31— Nick Anderson, Orlando, 1995
5-game series
49 — Curry, 201; 40 — Rashard Lewis, Orlando, 2009; Thompson, 2017
6-game series
67 — Curry, 2019; 65— Curry, 2015
7-game series
80 — Curry, 2016; 60 — Thompson, 2016
* * *
Most three-point field goals, game
9 — Curry, vs. Cleveland, June 3, 2018
* * *
Most three-point field goal attempts, game
17 — Curry, vs. Cleveland, June 3, 2018
15 — Curry, vs. Cleveland, June 7, 2015 (OT); Curry, vs. Cleveland, June 13, 2016; Curry, at Cleveland, June 8, 2018
* * *
Most free throws made, one quarter
10 — Curry, vs. Cleveland, June 4, 2017 (1st); Paul Pierce, Boston at L.A. Lakers, June 15, 2008 (4th)
* * *
Best free-throw percentage, series
1.000 – Nine players, including Curry (2017-18, 14-of-14)
* * *
Here are other NBA Finals records involving Warriors:
Most points in a game
61— Elgin Baylor, L.A. Lakers at Boston, April 14, 1962; 55 — Rick Barry, Warriors vs. Philadelphia, April 18, 1967; Michael Jordan, Chicago vs. Phoenix, June 16, 1993
* * *
Highest scoring average, series
41.0 — Michael Jordan, Chicago vs. Phoenix, 1993 (246/6)
40.8 — Rick Barry, Warriors vs. Philadelphia, 1967 (245/6)
* * *
Most field goals, game
22 — Elgin Baylor, L.A. Lakers at Boston, April 14, 1962
Rick Barry, Warriors vs. Philadelphia, April 18, 1967
* * *
Most field goal attempts, game
48 — Rick Barry, Warriors vs. Philadelphia, April 18, 1967
* * *
Highest field-goal percentage
(Minimum: four made per game)
4-game series
.800 — JaVale McGee, Warriors, 2018
.739 — Derrek Dickey, Warriors, 1975
* * *
Highest free throw percentage
(Minimum: 2 made per game)
4-game series
1.000 — Dennis Scott, Orlando, 1995; Curry, 2018; .963 — Durant, Warriors, 2018
* * *
Most blocked shots
4-game series
11 — George Johnson, Warriors, 1975; Elvin Hayes, Washington, 1975; Julius Erving, Philadelphia, 1983; John Salley, Detroit, 1989; Shaquille O’Neal, L.A. Lakers, 2002
* * *
Most rebounds
5-game series
144 — Bill Russell, Boston, 1961; 138—Wilt Chamberlain, Warriors, 1964
6-game series
171 — Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia, 1967; 160—Nate Thurmond, Warriors, 1967
* * *
Most steals
4-game series
14 — Rick Barry, Warriors, 1975
* * *
Most turnovers
6-game series
30 — Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers, 1980; Draymond Green, Warriors, 2019; 28 — Curry, 2015
7-game series
31 — Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers, 1984; LeBron James, Cleveland, 2016; 30 — Curry, 2016