I am pretty sure you have heard many times already that we are currently in a new era of basketball. It is the era of pace-and-space. Or simply, the era of three-point shooting.
Leading the way is Stephen Curry who has been unbelievable with his shooting performances in the NBA. In the list of players who knocked 9 or more three-pointers in an NBA game, Stephen appeared 27 times. Yes, for 27 games, Stephen managed to make 9 or more three-pointers! That is incredible!
In the Philippines, there is a guy that has been synonymous with three-point shooting. He is no other than, Allan Caidic. His shooting prowess has not only impressed Filipinos and Asian people but also ex-NBA players.
One of them was Glen Rice. Glen Rice is a 3x NBA All-Star and twice appeared in an NBA Mythical team. Glen told Tiebreakertimes that in terms of three-point shooting, he will put Allan at the top of the class. He said that he is up there with any shooter. Yes, including Stephen Curry and Larry Bird.
At this point, this is just a subjective question. We cannot really determine it in a factual way because Caidic never played in the NBA.
What I can do for Caidic is to provide evidence that he deserves to be on the conversation of the greatest shooters in the history of basketball.
The first evidence is his historic game on November 12, 1991. He scored 79 points to lead Presto Tivoli over Ginebra San Miguel, 162-149.
In that game, he managed 17 three-pointers, three more than the current record in the NBA. I am pretty sure you will say that there is a big difference in the level of the league. Yes. But remember, we are only talking about the ability to impact the game with three-point shots. Caidic is not even 10% of a Curry and a Bird in terms of overall talent. But, if we are only talking about the skill of three-point shooting, his record of 17 is very good evidence that is on par with them.
To add to that legendary performance, he also has another one, two years earlier than that, wherein he made 15 long bombs! Yes, he has two performances that eclipsed the current record in the NBA!
The other evidence is the timeless nature of his three-point shooting ability.
Back in 2010, former NBA stars went to the Philippines and play an exhibition game together with PBA legends.
Caidic, 47 at that time, erupted for 54 points behind 14/26 shooting from beyond the arc. Yes, his three-point shooting skill was still alive even at old age.
If that is not a legend. Who is?
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