Free throws

A free throw could make or break a close game, but even the best three pointers could miss from the charity stripe and there’s even nobody to bother the shot.  Several games this season were lost due to missed shots.  In last month’s game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, Grant Williams was fouled with less than two seconds, left in the game and all he has to do was make one, but he missed both shots and the game went into overtime. The Celtics lost.  In another game, Jaylen Brown, also of the Celtics, missed both free throws with time almost expiring.  The Celtics lost.  Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers also missed two free shots with a few seconds left in the game.  The Lakers lost.  Here are some of the worst free throw shooters in the NBA.  Wilt Chamberlain held the previous record for missed free throws in a single game with 0 for 10  and also had a 0 for 9.  But in the game in 1962 where he scored 100 points, Wilt hit an astounding 28 out of 32 from the foul line.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL- Holds  the record for most free throws attempted in one game, 11 without making one which was accomplished in a game versus the Seattle Supersonics on December 3, 2000.  Through 2003-2004 seasons, he had played 158 all important playoff games, making just over half of his free throws at .518.  During his fourth and fifth seasons, he shot a miserable .487 and, 484 from the line.  Opposing players  felt it was better to foul O’Neal than allow him easy dunks.  There was a good chance he’d miss at least one attempted  shot, thus the birth of “Hack-a-Shaq”.

Best free throw shooters

While there are bad free throw shooters, there are also good ones.  Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors has the highest free throw percentage in the NBA with 90.9 while teammate Jordan Poole has the highest free throw  percentage in the 2021-22 season with 92.5.  Steve Nash ranked second in career free throws with 90.4, Rick Barry .90.0 and Calvin Murphy 89.2.

KARL MALONE of the Utah Jazz recorded the most career free throws scored with 9,787.  He attempted 13,000 shots for an average of  4.20 percent.  Murphy of the Houston Rockets holds the single season free throw accuracy of. 958 clip.  The 5’9” Murphy, had a shot do sweet, the media called it “soft as cotton puffs in a wastebasket.

RICK BARRY made 90 percent of his  free throws in an unusual underhand style or “Granny Style.  Rick’s sons Brent and Jon shot well but didn’t use their father’s style.  Brent was .820 while Jon connected on .847.  Barry’s third son Drew, shot .774 from the line.