The three-point shot has become the NBA’s ultimate equalizer. Once just a new strategy, it is now fueling some of the most explosive offenses in the league. In recent years, teams have taken the deep ball to new heights, using it as a deadly weapon that can change games in seconds. No longer just a requirement for a specialist, it is now a fundamental part of how teams build and maintain their scoring firepower.

After the Boston Celtics did their best to completely break the mathematical equation on historic levels of three-point shooting en route to a championship last season, it’s clear that the long ball is here to stay.

The math just makes sense. A three-point shot is worth 150 percent of a two-point shot, so if you can make them at a high enough pace, it’s that simple. It can also be quite volatile, inspiring the old saying, “you live by the three, you die by the three.” But teams become so skilled with it, and it distorts the geometry of the floor so effectively, that the gamble is worth it if you have the personnel and strategic discipline to get them up with a good look at the basket.

We’re still early in the season, so it will take a few more weeks for the situation to stabilize, but there are a few teams that have stood out in their skill so far.

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For context, the league leader in three-point percentage last season was the Oklahoma City Thunder at 38.9 percent, and the Philadelphia 76ers led the league the year before at 38.7 percent. So far there are three teams that exceed the 40 percent mark. It’s a tall order, but can a team cross that threshold for the entire season? It’s not unheard of, but hasn’t happened since the shortened 2020-21 season, when the LA Clippers finished at 41.1 percent this year.

For all the fuss about the new shape of his jersey, Mikal Bridges is shooting 38.7 percent on 3s for a Knicks team that leads the league in this category. This is largely driven by torrid shooting from Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, who are each converting over 50 percent so far.

The Cavaliers, Warriors, Hornets and Timberwolves currently round out the top five with a 3-point percentage. The Warriors shouldn’t be a surprise, as Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield are shooting over 40 percent on nine-plus attempts per game, but the others might be a bit of a surprise.

Cleveland converts at a high clip, largely because their volume is limited to their best shooters. They’re actually below league average in attempt percentage, but their highest volume players – Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Sam Merrill – are all shooting 40 percent from three. A similar story can be seen in New York.

Minnesota and Charlotte, on the other hand, shoot quite well and quite often. In particular, Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball are each shooting over 15 threes per 100 possessions and hitting over 40 percent, which are crazy numbers. As their teams’ leading ball handlers, they are leading a renewed focus on shooting as much as possible from deep, whether you like it or not.

On the other end of the spectrum, teams should probably be a little concerned that the Thunder, who are undefeated at 6-0, are doing so while making three-pointers at a rate near the bottom of the league. After taking the lead in the league last season, you might expect it to improve over time, which is a scary thought.

In a data point that won’t shock anyone, the Celtics are at the top of the league in 3-point attempts per 100 possessions (49.8). With their attempt rate and success rate in the top ten in the league, it’s no wonder they boast the league’s top attack.

The rest of the top five and bottom five in attempt frequency are:

Rank 2 – 5: Hornets (44.7), Warriors (42.0), Timberwolves (41.8), Bulls (41.3)

Rank 26 – 30: Grizzlies (32.0), Pacers (31.6), Lakers (30.1), Nuggets (29.6), Raptors (29.5)

The Pacers have fallen far down the ranks since last season and could feel the effects of the departure of Buddy Hield, who was crucial to that part of their offense.

Conversely, with the departure of DeMar DeRozan from Chicago, the Bulls are streaking and converting at rates that are both in the top ten in the league, which could be a reason for their surprisingly competent start to the season. But be careful, because despite this shooting, the Bulls rank 29th in the league in offensive rating according to NBA.com. There is clearly more to efficient scoring in this competition than just hitting from the center.

For a more complete picture, let’s look at where each team in the league has fallen in efficiency versus frequency on 3-pointers so far this season:

The Lakers made a big stink about increasing the number of three-point attempts in training camp, but haven’t made it happen yet. The Suns, who made similar statements, have essentially put their money where their mouth is, ranking sixth in 3-point percentage at the tenth highest frequency.

The much-discussed addition of Karl-Anthony Towns as a stretch five for the Knicks hasn’t exactly resulted in a higher overall three-point attempt percentage. While he and his teammates can hit them quite well, it appears that Julius Randle’s playmaking in finding shooters, as well as Donte DiVincenzo’s insane number of attempts, may have been more important in generating these shots than initially thought.

As mentioned, we’re still not far enough into the season to have a sample size that inspires too much confidence, but some of these trends will inevitably continue. The average team attempt rate increased by two attempts per 100 possessions last season, perhaps indicating that we will continue to see an upward trend across the league. Rest assured, the focus won’t be going away anytime soon and it will be fascinating to see how things develop over the rest of the season.