Imagine being just a few steps away from surpassing the icon you’ve idolized your entire life. That’s exactly what Klay Thompson is on the verge of with Reggie Miller. It, however, shouldn’t come as a surprise considering Thompson has already stated he models his game after the Indiana Pacers legend. Yet another acceptable reason is the fact that the Dallas Mavericks star is truly deserving of the spot that he’s about to grab from Miller.

The category of record in the discussion is NBA All-Time Leaders in 3-points made. Reggie Miller presently holds the 5th spot on the list with 2,560 three points made in 1,389 games he played. And KT is just behind him at the figure of 2,549 in just 815 games. The fact no one who is above Thompson on the list has a higher three-point shooting percentage except Stephen Curry speaks volumes about why KT deserves a higher spot on the leaderboard, especially when the only player who has a higher three-shooting percentage than him now sits at the top position.

It was just around three years back that Curry had surpassed Miller to grab the second spot on the list. Yep, the only player above the Pacers legend on the list back then was Ray Allen, with his 2,973 three-pointers. Fast forward to 2024, many other names have surpassed Miller, and even Allen is in the third spot now.

As almost every NBA fan would know, James Harden surpassed Ray Allen to grab the second spot among NBA All-Time Leaders in 3-points made. Even Damian Lillard surpassed Miller for 4th spot this year itself. This came when the 8x All-Star star sunk a three in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in a March matchup.

Now it’s to be seen if Thompson can also surpass Reggie Miller this year itself as the gap between the two stars is just 11 three-pointers. But when KT does it, he’ll have nothing but respect for his lifelong idol. “I thought I’d have a chance to pass him in 3s made, so that’d be a cool way to honor someone who paved the way for a shooter like me,” Thompson said in a press meet this year.

Klay Thompson’s heartfelt tribute to his idol Reggie Miller

This year, Thompson not only found a new home with the Dallas Mavericks but also chose a new jersey number, No. 31, as a heartfelt tribute to the Indiana Pacers legend. Why Miller? Thompson explained it best during his introductory press conference.

“I watched so much footage of Reggie coming off screens as a teenager,” he shared. “His ability to make game-winning shots, that’s the most inspiring thing to see as a shooter. He had no fear—whether he made or missed the shot, he was going to live or die by it.”

Think about that for a moment—the fearlessness of taking the big shot, no matter the outcome. That’s the mindset Thompson admires most in Reggie Miller. Thompson even reflected on one of Miller’s most iconic moments—the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals against Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Remember that game-winner? Miller pushed off MJ, curled off the right wing, and drained a cold-blooded three to seal a 96-94 win.

“I still have that image in my head,” Thompson said. “You couldn’t leave Reggie open, and I want to be that same kind of player.” By choosing No. 31, Thompson didn’t just honor a number but paid tribute to a fearless sharpshooter who changed the game. Clearly, it’d most likely mean the world to Thompson to surpass Reggie Miller as the NBA All-Time Leader in 3-points made.