"The whole place stood up and cheered" - Kyle Korver reveals the most memorable 3-point shots of his career

The Philadelphia 76ers were shooting 31% from three-point territory when Kyle Korver joined the team's roster in 2003. As a three-point marksman, Korver's main task was evidently to unload it from deep. To this day, Kyle still vividly remembers how he captivated the Sixers fans with one of his very first three-point shot attempts.

According to "Threezus," he is certain he missed the shot, but the energy and excitement in the arena were incredible. As far back as he can remember, the crowd erupted as soon as the ball left his fingertips, soaring through the air toward the hoop.

Over time, Korver realized how thrilling it was for the Sixers faithful to have a three-point shooter on the team. Looking back, he now understood why that shot meant a lot.

"I don’t remember it. I do remember my first 3-point attempt. I missed it. In Philly, they had just come off the Larry Brown years [as coach], and they hadn’t shot a lot of threes. I came in and shot one really quick, like in a few seconds. I missed it, but the whole place stood up and cheered. It was like, someone had come along to shoot some threes for them," Korver told NBA.com in 2018.

The toughest 3-point shot Kyle has ever made

For a sharpshooter who had made 2,450 three-pointers, it would be impossible to recall, let alone pick the most memorable one of them all. Somehow, Korver managed to remember the best three-point shot he has ever made in his career.

Kyle said it happened during one of his early seasons in Philly. The Sixers visited the New Orleans Hornets and the game had come down to its final possession. With 0.4 seconds left on the game clock, the Sixers were down by three, 87-84.

The Sixers were inbounding from the commentary table, and Korver popped out of the left corner, caught the ball, and fired away as fast as he could. The next they saw was the red light on the backboard and the ball inside the rim.

"The toughest one I ever hit, I don’t even know if they have footage of it, it was so long ago. There were [0.4] seconds left in the game at New Orleans, and on an out-of-bounds play, I was running toward the corner when I caught it and shot it. Made it to force overtime. That’s my memory, the hardest one I ever shot and made, and it tied the game at the buzzer," Korver recounted.

Kyle didn't care about who's the best three-point shooter of all time

Throughout his career, Korver has consistently been among the top three-point shooters in the league. Over the years, "Threezus" racked up those treys and became one of the all-time leaders in career three-point shots made.

Despite the impressive feat, Korver, unlike others, stayed focused on his own performance rather than comparing himself to the league's other top shooters. Even when faced with younger and upcoming three-point sharpshooters surpassing him in the coveted category, Kyle unbelievably remained steadfast in his commitment to continuous improvement.

"I’ve purposely tried not to go down that path that much. I don’t want to take away my focus. So, I haven’t given it any time. I try to see what’s in front of me and keep on going forward, know that there are guys coming up quickly behind me [laughs]," Korver confided.

Kyle's shooting form was nearly perfect

Apart from Korver's dedication to maintaining his impeccable shooting abilities, another factor that made him a highly effective three-point shooter was his form. In Larry Bird's eyes, this aspect of Kyle's technique set him apart from his counterparts in the NBA.

For Bird, Korver's nearly perfect shooting form allowed him to execute shots with precision and accuracy, even in high-pressure game situations.

"When I think of shooting, I think of the elbow, and the release point, the follow-through," Bird once assessed . "Both of [Korver's] his look like they are set in a perfect position. Mine was always over to the side, but I could control it a lot better over there and I could see a lot better. I think, when you're watching it, he shoots the same shot all the time. His elbow is never sticking out, and it's never too far out. It's always in the same position. He's going to have consistency with the form that he has."

Indeed, Korver's shooting technique was a sight to behold throughout his 17 years in the league. His quick release and deadly accuracy from beyond the arc made him a valuable asset to every NBA team he played for.

The widespread recognition from fans and fellow players alike solidified Kyle's status as a premier three-point shooter. And though he may never remember some of the best three-pointers he has ever drilled, Korver will always be remembered as one of the greatest three-point shooters the game has ever seen.

Related: "I cannot state how important that was for me as a young player" - Kyle Korver credits Allen Iverson for giving him the confidence he needed