On This Day in Sports: March 18, 2001
On March 18, 2001, Reggie Miller became the first player in NBA history to make 2,000 career three-point field goals. The Indiana Pacers guard reached the milestone in an era when teams attempted far fewer threes than they do today. His total therefore reflected more than longevity; it showed how one shooter had made the perimeter shot a dependable primary weapon before the league fully reorganized offenses around it.
Miller created chances through constant movement. He sprinted around screens, stopped abruptly and released the ball with little space, forcing defenders to chase even when he never touched it. That gravity opened driving lanes and post entries for teammates. In late-game situations, his quick release and comfort under pressure made small deficits feel temporary, especially during a series of memorable playoff performances against New York.
The three-point line had existed in the NBA only since 1979, so Miller’s career covered the shot’s transition from novelty to essential skill. Coaches initially limited attempts and often reserved them for specialists or comeback situations. Miller demonstrated that a high-volume shooter could remain efficient, create tactical pressure throughout a possession and serve as the central scoring threat for a perennial playoff team.
He retired in 2005 with 2,560 made threes, then the league record. Ray Allen and later Stephen Curry surpassed that total as pace and attempts rose, but both followed a path Miller helped establish. The 2,000th make remains a milestone in the evolution of basketball strategy: the moment one player first accumulated a number that once appeared unreachable and later became a target for a new generation.
Miller was the first NBA player with 2,000 made threes.
He created shots by sprinting through screens without the ball.
His quick release made him especially dangerous late in games.
The NBA adopted the three-point line in 1979.
Miller retired with a then-record 2,560 three-pointers.
Later record holders built on the perimeter game he helped normalize.
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