Breaking Barriers: Celtics Shatter NBA's Single-Season 3-Point Record

In an era defined by the three-point revolution, the Boston Celtics have officially claimed their place at the summit of long-range shooting excellence.

During Friday night's showdown with the Phoenix Suns, reserve guard Payton Pritchard connected on a second-quarter three-pointer that etched the 2024-25 Celtics into the NBA history books. The shot represented Boston's 1,364th made three-pointer of the season, surpassing the previous record of 1,363 set by the 2022-23 Golden State Warriors.

A Record Foretold

This historic achievement didn't happen overnight. The Celtics have been methodically building toward this milestone since head coach Joe Mazzulla took the reins of the franchise. Boston narrowly missed breaking the record during the 2023-24 campaign when they finished with 1,351 three-pointers, just 12 shy of Golden State's mark.

"We never specifically targeted the record," Mazzulla explained after Friday's game. "But our philosophy has always been clear – create quality three-point opportunities and trust our players to make them. When you have this many elite shooters, the numbers take care of themselves."

That approach has certainly paid dividends. The Celtics now hold three spots in the top five for most three-pointers made in a single season:

• 2024-25 Celtics: 1,364* (and counting)

• 2022-23 Warriors: 1,363

• 2023-24 Celtics: 1,351

• 2018-19 Rockets: 1,323

• 2022-23 Celtics: 1,315

*As of April 4, 2025

The Mazzulla Method

Perhaps most impressive is Coach Mazzulla's fingerprints on all three of Boston's record-setting teams. His offensive system prioritizes spacing, ball movement, and three-point shooting to an extent that's unprecedented in league history.

The numbers tell the story. This season, Boston leads the NBA with a staggering 48.4 three-point attempts per game. To put that volume in perspective, the gap between the Celtics and second-place Warriors (5.9 attempts) is equivalent to the distance between Golden State and the Milwaukee Bucks, who rank 18th in the league in three-point frequency.

"Joe has completely transformed our offensive identity," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum. "When he first started emphasizing this level of three-point shooting, there were skeptics. Now everyone can see the results – a championship last year and another record this season."

A Team-Wide Approach

What makes Boston's achievement particularly remarkable is the distributed nature of their three-point assault. All five starters average at least five three-point attempts per game, creating a spacing nightmare for opposing defenses. Meanwhile, sharpshooters Pritchard and Sam Hauser provide relentless firepower off the bench, combining for 13.4 attempts per game.

"That's what makes us so difficult to guard," explained veteran Al Horford. "On any given night, any one of eight different guys might hit five or six threes. You can't focus your defense on just one or two shooters."

The strategy has translated to elite offensive efficiency. Boston currently sports a 119.6 offensive rating, ranking second in the NBA according to NBA.com's advanced stats. Their balanced attack, anchored by the three-point barrage, has kept them firmly in position as favorites to defend their 2024 NBA championship.

Building on History

With five regular-season games remaining, the Celtics have ample opportunity to extend their new record and set an even higher bar for future teams to chase.

"Records are meant to be broken," reflected Pritchard, whose shot secured the historic mark. "The Warriors pushed basketball in a new direction, and we've been fortunate enough to take it even further. Who knows where the ceiling is?"

As the playoffs approach, Boston's historic three-point proficiency will be put to its ultimate test. Critics have long questioned whether a team so reliant on perimeter shooting can maintain their efficiency throughout the postseason grind.

The Celtics answered those doubts emphatically last year with their championship run. Now, armed with an even more prolific shooting attack and a place in the record books, they look poised to prove once again that in today's NBA, the three-point shot reigns supreme.

Whether this record stands for years or is broken again soon, the 2024-25 Boston Celtics have cemented their legacy as one of the greatest shooting teams in basketball history – a fitting achievement for a franchise that continues to blend innovation with championship tradition.