Dillon Brooks’ transformation from defensive menace to one of the NBA’s top 25 three-point shooters is one of the season’s most remarkable storylines. The man who once famously declared “I don’t respect anyone until they come and give me 40” now finds himself in the record books, surpassing Canadian legend Steve Nash for the most three-pointers made in a single NBA season by a Canadian.
The journey to this record seemed unlikely after Brooks’ disastrous 2023 playoff performance with Memphis. After calling LeBron James “old” and poking the proverbial bear, Brooks shot a miserable 10-for-42 (23.8%) from three-point range as the Grizzlies were eliminated by the Lakers in six games.
That summer, Brooks was traded to Houston on July 8th, 2023 – a move many viewed as Memphis cutting ties with a defensive specialist whose offensive limitations and trash talking had become too glaring to ignore.
But Brooks had other plans. He spent his offseason in Toronto at the Kerr Hall Gymnasium at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), completely reworking his unorthodox shooting form. The transformation began with adjusting his stance to a much wider base and a one-hand release point.
The results were immediate and spectacular on the international stage. Brooks shot a blistering 20-for-34 (58.8%) from three-point range at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, including a stunning 7-of-8 (87.5%) performance against Team USA en route to 39 points, helping Canada secure its first-ever World Cup bronze medal.
The six-foo-six guard carried that momentum into the Paris Olympics, where he connected on 6-of-13 (46.1%) from beyond the arc, establishing himself as a legitimate outside threat.
In Houston, Brooks has found the ideal environment for his evolution. Far from the volume shooter of his Memphis days, Brooks has become an efficient catch-and-shoot specialist for the rising Rockets. According to NBA advanced stats, he’s taking 43% of his three-pointers as catch-and-shoot opportunities – the highest rate of his career.
Brooks is shooting a career-high 39.4% (181-459) from three-point range this season. While he occasionally takes a questionable shot, the majority of his looks now come within the flow of the offense, particularly as a floor spacer alongside Houston’s emerging stars.
Most made three-pointers by a Canadian in an NBA single-season
Brooks came into Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz needing just two three-pointers to surpass Steve Nash’s Canadian record of 179 triples in a season. He connected on 3-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc, finishing with 21 points as the Rockets demolished the Jazz 143-105, improving to an impressive 50-27 on the season.
What makes Brooks’ achievement particularly impressive is how quickly he reached it compared to Nash. The Canadian basketball legend needed 81 games and 2,780 minutes to hit 179 three-pointers during the 2007-08 season. Brooks surpassed that mark in just 73 games and 2,256 minutes.
While Nash was more efficient—shooting an incredible 46% (179-of-381)—it’s worth noting that today’s NBA emphasizes three-point shooting far more than during Nash’s era. Brooks’ 459 attempts reflect the modern game’s evolution as much as his own transformation.
Brooks’ record is part of a broader trend in Canadian basketball shooting excellence. According to the 2024-25 BasketballBuzz Canadian NBA stats tracker, Canadian players have made an all-time high of over 1,800 three-pointers on more than 5,000 attempts this season—shattering the previous record of 1,595 makes on 4,599 attempts set during the 2022–23 season.
The Mississauga, Ontario native has made history in other ways this season as well. He became the first Canadian to hit double-digit three-pointers in a single game when he connected on 10 of 15 three-pointers during a 36-point outburst against the defending champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
With 887 career three-pointers across 480 games in his eight-year career, Brooks now sits fourth on the all-time Canadian list. He still trails Nash (1,685 in 1,217 games), Jamal Murray (1,144), Andrew Wiggins (1,140), and Kelly Olynyk (920).
With less than ten games remaining in the regular season and the Rockets battling to secure the second seed in the Western Conference, Brooks has a chance to push his single-season record toward the 200 three-pointer mark – potentially becoming the first Canadian to reach that historic benchmark in NBA history.
The record-breaking performance against the Jazz also included his 16th technical foul of the season, proving that, despite his offensive evolution, Brooks’ fiery personality remains intact. His evolution from an inefficient volume shooter to an elite marksman has reshaped his reputation—solidifying his place in Canadian basketball history and beyond.
