The Three Point Shot Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dan Majerle

"Thunder Dan" was an unheralded rookie out of Central Michigan who was drafted 14th by the Suns in 1988. While he was booed by fans during draft day, he went on to become one of the most famous Suns in history, owing to his tenacious defense, thunderous dunks (which earned him the nickname) and later on, an unbelievable range from downtown. During the 1993 Western Conference finals against the Seattle Supersonics, Majerle hit a record 8 three-pointers to help bury the Sonics en route to their only Finals trip during the 1990s.

Answer: Ray Allen

Ray Allen, the sharpshooting great who played Jesus Shuttlesworth in the movie "He Got Game" (1998), brought his game to Boston at the start of the 2008 season to join forces with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett (who also signed with the Celtics in the offseason).

The Celtics' new big three, together with talented young point guard Rajon Rondo, took the Celtics all the way to the Finals where Allen's 22 total threes made, then a record for most threes in a Finals series, helped bury Kobe Bryant's Lakers in six games, 4-2.

Answer: Donyell Marshall

Marshall, the journeyman forward, had a big shooting night while playing for the Toronto Raptors on March 13, 2005, when he hit 12 out of 19 three-pointers to tie the record for most 3-pointers made in a game, held by Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers (he shot 12 from 18 on January 7, 2003).

Answer: Vince Carter

Vince Carter, nicknamed "Half-Man, Half-Amazing" by the press early in his career because of his aerial exploits, hit an amazing 8 consecutive three-pointers during the first half of a playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers on May 11, 2001. In the same game, "Vinsanity" also tied the record for most 3-pointers in a playoff game with 9.

Answer: John Paxson

Paxson, who retired in 1994, is probably best remembered for the shot he hit against the Suns with 3.9 seconds left and the Bulls down by 2 points. The shot gave them a one-point lead that led to a 99-98 win and a third consecutive title (the first three-peat of the Jordan era). With the exception of that single shot, Paxson otherwise had an unremarkable NBA career with averages of 7.2 points and 35.50% from outside the arc - good for 200th all-time.

Answer: Chris Ford

While most records would say that Ford hit the first-ever three-pointer during a game against the Houston Rockets on October 12, 1979, there are also some who say that Kevin Grevey of the Washington Bullets, who also hit one on the same day, is actually the first one who did. Ford went on to become head coach of the Celtics and four other teams for 14 seasons. To my knowledge, he is not related to Henry Ford of Ford Motors.

Answer: Reggie Miller

In Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Knicks and the Indiana Pacers, where the Pacers trailed the Knicks, 105-99, with only 18.7 seconds left on the clock, Miller hit a 3, stole the inbound pass and hit another 3, grabbed the rebound on a missed Knicks shot, was fouled and hit both free throws, all within 8.9 seconds on the game clock.

The Pacers went on to beat the Knicks, 107-105, and cemented Miller's legacy as one of the best clutch performers in NBA history. As one of the NBA's most prolific 3-point shot makers, however, Miller is conspicuously absent from the record books.

He was the NBA career 3-pointers made record holder when he retired, but he has since been surpassed by Ray Allen.

Answer: Larry Bird

Larry Legend was the inaugural winner of the contest first held during the 1985-86 season. He went on to win the next two editions of the shootout before sitting out the 1988-89 season. A popular sequence often replayed during shootout telecasts is that of Bird holding up his index finger after releasing the shot that clinched the 1988 title. Craig Hodges, runner-up to Bird in 85-86 and to Dale Ellis in 88-89, won three straight shootout titles from 1990 to 1992.

Answer: Bill Laimbeer

Aside from leading the Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" in elbows delivered to opposing players, Laimbeer was also a decent three-point shooter, the first of his kind among centers in the NBA. Because of his ability to hit from long-distance, defending centers had to go out to the perimeter to cover him, leaving Pistons guards Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars with clearer paths to the hoop.

He hit a team-leading 15 3-pointers during the NBA Finals in 1989, when the Pistons won their first title in a 4-0 sweep of the LA Lakers.

Answer: Robert Horry

Robert Horry wasn't called "Big Shot Rob" for nothing, while on his way to becoming a 7-time NBA champion. He first showed his clutch shooting while playing for the Houston Rockets, hitting a three with 14 seconds left to give the Rockets a 3-point lead in Game 3 of the 1995 Finals against the Orlando Magic.

He followed this with another clutch 3-pointer as an LA Laker during Game 3 of the 2001 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, and likewise hitting a game-clinching 3 for the San Antonio Spurs against the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of the 2005 NBA Finals.

He won two rings apiece with the Rockets and the Spurs, and three rings with the Lakers from 2000 to 2002.