Phoenix Suns team 3-point stats climb, but player record has stood for 20 years

The Phoenix Suns under new head coach Jordan Ott are further emphasizing the 3-point shot.

In the early stages of the season, Phoenix is on pace to shatter the franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a season — a mark set last year.

All told, 14 NBA teams including the Suns set franchise records for 3-point makes during the 2024-25 campaign. That’s not exactly a huge shock, provided the increase of 3-point shooting league-wide in recent years. In fact, only one team in the league — the Houston Rockets — has a franchise record for 3-pointers made in a season set prior to the 2020-21 season.

All teams are making 3-point shooting a priority, but the Suns’ individual record for 3-point hits in a season remains elusive.

Despite the increase in 3-point attempts — and the Suns setting, and pacing to set, new records in that department year-over-year — the individual record holder set his mark two decades ago.

Who is the Suns leader in 3-pointers made in a season?

You have to go back to the 2004-05 season to find the Suns’ record holder for 3-point makes in a season. That was none other than Quentin “Q” Richardson.

In his lone season spent as a Phoenix Sun, Q-Rich helped define the organization’s “Run and Gun” identity along with head coach Mike D’Antoni and MVP Steve Nash.

That squad went 62-20, at the time matching a franchise-best mark set previously by the 1992-93 Suns who made an NBA Finals run. The 2021-22 Suns bested that mark by finishing 64-18.

During that magical 2004-05 season, Richardson connected on 226 3-pointers. That still stands as the best individual mark for a season in Suns history 20 years later.

Raja Bell made 205 shots from long range during the 2006-07 season. Current Suns sharpshooter Grayson Allen matched that in 2023-24. But Richardson still holds the record by a pretty comfortable margin.

So, as the Suns continue to set team records for 3-point makes, is there a chance an individual could overtake Q’s mark?

Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale could challenge Quentin Richardson’s Suns franchise record from beyond the arc

Through games played Nov. 13, Allen leads both the Suns and the league in 3-pointers made with 51.

O’Neale is right on his heels with 44 makes, which ties him for second in the NBA along with Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As it stands, both Suns sharpshooters are on pace to beat Richardson’s franchise record of 226 makes in a single season.

Allen is on pace to make a whopping 321 triples, while O’Neale is pacing for 277 treys.

Of course, both of those figures assume each guy will keep their current pace and play in all 82 games. That’s something O’Neale has only done once (back in 2018-19 primarily as a reserve for the Utah Jazz), and a feat Allen has never accomplished as a pro (his high for games played in a season is 75).

“Q” laced up his sneakers for 79 of a possible 82 games when he set the record, so let’s adjust for that first.

Allen would still be on pace to break the record with 309 makes, while O’Neale would reach 267.

Record pace stays true even if you limit both guys to 75 games played (Allen’s previous high for a season).

Richardson’s single-season Suns record has stood for 20 years, but if Allen and O’Neale manage to stay healthy, they could both threaten that mark by season’s end.

It’s possible one or both of those guys could be traded by Phoenix ahead of this year’s trade deadline, which would make these projections a moot point.

Nonetheless, Allen and O’Neale are both having career seasons under coach Ott. If they stay healthy and in a Suns uniform through Game 82, they might well set a new franchise record, dethroning Richardson.