Best Free Throw Percentage NBA History: Top Players You Need To Know
15 Jul 2024
Regarding free throws, some NBA players are automatic while others struggle to make them consistently. If you're looking for the best free throw percentage NBA, you've come to the right place. Check out our list of the top players in the league.
The 30-year-old Spaniard with the Toronto Raptors has a distinction that the other four players on this list do not.
With a rate of 98.1 percent, Jose Calderon holds the record for the most free throws made in a season.
That's accurate.
Incredibly, Calderon made 151 of his 154 tries at free throws in the 2008–09 season. The point guard for the Raptors made 87 free throws while playing in his best zone.
Some may criticize the fact that Calderon only participated in 68 of the 82 regular season games that year.
However, it's reasonable to give Calderon the benefit of the doubt as a top-four foul shooter in the league, given his lifetime free throw percentage of 87.7.
Even at 23, Kevin Durant is one of the NBA's brightest talents. Durant, who stands a lanky 6'9", is capable of doing it all, even making free throws.
At 88 percent, "The Durantula" presently holds the 12th-best overall free throw percentage.
Just stating that Reggie Miller is rated eighth.
3.4 - 3.9 (FTM - FTA)
Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, one of the best Houston Rockets players ever, averaged 17.9 ppg and 4.4 APG throughout his career. Despite being very tiny at 5'9", the point guard was skilled and quick enough to have an effect anytime he suited up for the Houston team.
Houston never anticipated Murphy, a second-round choice, would grow into the player he is today. Murphy averaged over 20 points per game in five different seasons, and in the 1979 campaign, he made his sole All-Star berth.
Throughout his Hall of Fame career, Calvin Murphy made almost 3,400 free throw attempts and converted over 89 percent.
While little, Calvin learned how to handle contact and capitalize on it by going hot from the stripe.
He led the league in free throw percentage in two seasons (95.8 percent and 92.0 percent), and he made a name for himself as a player who should under no circumstances be fouled. He shot over 90 percent from the line in six different seasons.
J.J. Redick was a brilliant college basketball player who carried his shooting ability to the NBA, where the shooting guard had little trouble making baskets.
Redick, who uses picks and runs off screens to catch and shoot, is one of the best off-ball players of his time. He averaged 41.5 percent of his threes, 44.7 percent of his field goals, and 89.18 percent of his free throws.
Redick was skilled from the line, yet he was most effective when making spot-up shots or dribble jumpers.
Over the course of his career, Redick made just over 2,000 free throws, nearly hitting a 90 percent accuracy rate. Although the shooting guard wasn't mighty, he had the ability to generate fouls when he successfully forced defenders to challenge his shoots fiercely.
The shooting guard had a long career and played for several teams, but his free throw shooting was never inconsistent.
Given how drastically the game has evolved, it is always encouraging to see contemporary NBA players among the all-time ranks in statistics. Three-point shooting has altered how teams prepare for games, and the playbook now considers pace and space.
Only two contemporary stars actively playing today will be included in this list. One of them is NBA 75th Anniversary Team member and superstar Damian Lillard. Lillard is renowned for his long-range and clutch shooting, but he also makes excellent free throws.
Lillard has earned a livelihood at the free-throw line, despite his numbers and free-throw attempts being down this year due to rule changes.
Dame has averaged six free-throw attempts per game throughout his career, an astounding total attributed to the rules' relaxation in recent years.
But Lillard is practically converting 90% of his attempts, showing that his shooting ability makes him one of the top 75 players in the history of the NBA.
Before a specific Warriors player emerged, Ray Allen, a legend and Hall of Famer, was considered the best shooter.
Because of their precision at long distances, Ray Allen and Reggie Miller were frequently included in discussions about the best shooter to live.
Although Allen was a great all-around scorer and defender, his outside shooting was his strongest trait. Ray has built a career out of knockout shooting (10 All-Star Teams, 2 All-NBA Teams), and he now has the most made 3-pointers of any player.
Although the three-point mark will soon be broken, coming in second place is by no means a terrible thing. Allen, though, was a skilled free-throw shooter as well, averaging over 89 percent over the course of his career.
Early in his career, the former SuperSonics and Celtics significant were explosive, but as he got older, he began to pick his moments to attack the rim. In any case, Ray could make at least 3 of his roughly four tries at the free throw line each game.
Ray Allen, an all-time great marksman, averaged at least 90% of his shots from the line ten times.
Mr. Big Shot Chauncey Billups is renowned for his decisive shooting and ability to take charge of the court. Billups was a strong point guard who knew how to be productive on both ends of the court despite having mediocre quickness and explosiveness.
Billups, a five-time All-Star, was named to two all-defensive and three NBA all-star teams. His greatest effect was felt during the 2004 Finals, where he was the unquestioned captain and star player for the Pistons, who won the title.
Over the course of his career, Billups was a reliable shooter, connecting on 38.7 percent of his three-point attempts and 89.4 percent of his free throws.
Chauncey was a reliable scorer who frequently used his long-range and big physique to attack the hoop and force fouls.
Considering that he averaged nearly 5 free throws per game and shot such a high percentage, Billups somehow made 4,496 attempts throughout his career.
Although Billups was a modest scorer, the point guard was practically unstoppable when he was at the line (which often frequently, as he shot over 90% from the line in 7 seasons of his career).
Peja Stojakovic was a unique shooter who was a three-time All-Star and one of the finest European players to play professional basketball.
Over the course of his career, he shot an average of 40.1 percent from three, with 45.0 percent from the field and 89.48 percent from the foul line. Peja earned a living on shooting, twice dominating the NBA in free-throw percentage (92.7 percent, 92.9 percent ).
Amazingly, Peja never had a season with a free-throw percentage below 85% and averaged over 90% in five separate seasons.
Stojakovic mostly took his shots from the outside, but over his career, he averaged about three free throws per game. The scouting report strongly advocated blocking Peja's path to the line since once he got there, he was automatic.
Although Stojakovic's career was hampered by his inability to stay fit for the duration of it, his free-throw accuracy will live on in folklore for many years.
In both the ABA and the NBA, Rick Barry was a superstar who excelled at everything he did on the court. However, Rick Barry ranked as the fourth best free-throw shooter in NBA history while he was playing.
Barry had a lifetime average of 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.9 APG, making him an all-around powerhouse. Barry, an eight-time NBA All-Star, also earned the Finals MVP award and the NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors.
But Rick Barry's free-throw shooting stood out above all the other things he achieved at a high level. Because of his stature, aggression, and ability to withstand pressure, the 6'7" small forward was unstoppable when he attacked the hoop.
However, he was fouled frequently. Barry made a fantastic 3,800 free throws throughout his NBA career, shooting just under 90%. Given that he was making an average of 5 free-throw tries each game, it is simply amazing.
Rick Barry is a member of the Hall of Fame because of his all-around skill, but his dominance on the stripe also aided his candidacy.
Mark Price, one of the all-time greatest Cleveland Cavaliers players, established himself by participating in four All-Star games and guiding the team to many postseason berths.
Price was a great player for Cleveland's team for many years as a controlled scorer and facilitator. Price had career averages of 15.2 PPG and 6.7 APG and was a professional scorer who frequently attacked the hoop with vigor.
However, Price was a unique free-throw shooter who made almost 90% of his attempts. Throughout his career, Price made an average of three free throws per game, frequently all three.
In three different seasons, Price led the NBA in free-throw percentage (94.7 percent, 94.8 percent, and 90.6%), and he never had a season with a shooting percentage lower than 83 percent.
Mark Price is a legend in Cleveland, but he is also one of the all-time great free-throw shooters, behind just two other outstanding shooters in that category.
Steve Nash, a two-time MVP renowned for his playmaking, is a first-ballot candidate for the Hall of Fame. Nash, a Canadian superstar, was one of the few point guards who could make shots for others, and he did it regularly for a very long period.
But in addition to being a legendary facilitator, Steve Nash was a phenomenal shooter. Nash shot 42.8 percent from three and 49.0 percent from the field. Nash was selective in where he chose to stand and always had a perfect shot.
From the stripe, Nash was the most lethal, though. It is absurd to make over 3,000 free throws in a career while shooting over 90% of them, and the point guard also had a regimen to stick to.
A "swish" would immediately follow Nash licking his fingers and releasing the ball from the stripe. Nash averaged over two free throws per game almost throughout his career, making them all seem effortless.
However, only one person can shoot free throws better than Nash, and that man also happens to be the best shooter of all time.
Stephen Curry, unsurprisingly, is at the top of the list for shooting. The NBA's greatest shooter is a superstar point guard, but he is most famous for his three-pointers.
Since Curry became the league's top All-Star, we have not seen any player develop his offense from beyond the arc as he has. Curry is capable of shooting from 15 feet in addition to three-point range.
Every time he released the ball from the line, his rapid release and tucked shoulders provide a consistent stroke, and throughout his career, he is getting there around twice per game.
Over the course of his career, he has consistently shot close to 91 percent from the line. Curry is the most accurate free throw shooter we have ever seen, with over 2,900 attempts and counting.
It's straightforward: Curry is the best shooter of all time, and his free-throw accuracy is just one more proof of that.
NBA Best Free Throw Percentage
Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors - 87.70%
The 30-year-old Spaniard with the Toronto Raptors has a distinction that the other four players on this list do not.
With a rate of 98.1 percent, Jose Calderon holds the record for the most free throws made in a season.
That's accurate.
Incredibly, Calderon made 151 of his 154 tries at free throws in the 2008–09 season. The point guard for the Raptors made 87 free throws while playing in his best zone.
Some may criticize the fact that Calderon only participated in 68 of the 82 regular season games that year.
However, it's reasonable to give Calderon the benefit of the doubt as a top-four foul shooter in the league, given his lifetime free throw percentage of 87.7.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder - 88.30%
Even at 23, Kevin Durant is one of the NBA's brightest talents. Durant, who stands a lanky 6'9", is capable of doing it all, even making free throws.
At 88 percent, "The Durantula" presently holds the 12th-best overall free throw percentage.
Just stating that Reggie Miller is rated eighth.
Calvin Murphy - 89.16 % (3445 FTM)
3.4 - 3.9 (FTM - FTA)
Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, one of the best Houston Rockets players ever, averaged 17.9 ppg and 4.4 APG throughout his career. Despite being very tiny at 5'9", the point guard was skilled and quick enough to have an effect anytime he suited up for the Houston team.
Houston never anticipated Murphy, a second-round choice, would grow into the player he is today. Murphy averaged over 20 points per game in five different seasons, and in the 1979 campaign, he made his sole All-Star berth.
Throughout his Hall of Fame career, Calvin Murphy made almost 3,400 free throw attempts and converted over 89 percent.
While little, Calvin learned how to handle contact and capitalize on it by going hot from the stripe.
He led the league in free throw percentage in two seasons (95.8 percent and 92.0 percent), and he made a name for himself as a player who should under no circumstances be fouled. He shot over 90 percent from the line in six different seasons.
J.J. Redick - 89.18% (2060 FTM)
2.2 - 2.5 (FTM - FTA)
J.J. Redick was a brilliant college basketball player who carried his shooting ability to the NBA, where the shooting guard had little trouble making baskets.
Redick, who uses picks and runs off screens to catch and shoot, is one of the best off-ball players of his time. He averaged 41.5 percent of his threes, 44.7 percent of his field goals, and 89.18 percent of his free throws.
Redick was skilled from the line, yet he was most effective when making spot-up shots or dribble jumpers.
Over the course of his career, Redick made just over 2,000 free throws, nearly hitting a 90 percent accuracy rate. Although the shooting guard wasn't mighty, he had the ability to generate fouls when he successfully forced defenders to challenge his shoots fiercely.
The shooting guard had a long career and played for several teams, but his free throw shooting was never inconsistent.
Damian Lillard - 89.30% (3788 FTM)
5.5 - 6.1 (FTM - FTA)
Given how drastically the game has evolved, it is always encouraging to see contemporary NBA players among the all-time ranks in statistics. Three-point shooting has altered how teams prepare for games, and the playbook now considers pace and space.
Only two contemporary stars actively playing today will be included in this list. One of them is NBA 75th Anniversary Team member and superstar Damian Lillard. Lillard is renowned for his long-range and clutch shooting, but he also makes excellent free throws.
Lillard has earned a livelihood at the free-throw line, despite his numbers and free-throw attempts being down this year due to rule changes.
Dame has averaged six free-throw attempts per game throughout his career, an astounding total attributed to the rules' relaxation in recent years.
But Lillard is practically converting 90% of his attempts, showing that his shooting ability makes him one of the top 75 players in the history of the NBA.
Ray Allen - 89.39% (4398 FTM)
3.4 - 3.8 (FTM - FTA)
Before a specific Warriors player emerged, Ray Allen, a legend and Hall of Famer, was considered the best shooter.
Because of their precision at long distances, Ray Allen and Reggie Miller were frequently included in discussions about the best shooter to live.
Although Allen was a great all-around scorer and defender, his outside shooting was his strongest trait. Ray has built a career out of knockout shooting (10 All-Star Teams, 2 All-NBA Teams), and he now has the most made 3-pointers of any player.
Although the three-point mark will soon be broken, coming in second place is by no means a terrible thing. Allen, though, was a skilled free-throw shooter as well, averaging over 89 percent over the course of his career.
Early in his career, the former SuperSonics and Celtics significant were explosive, but as he got older, he began to pick his moments to attack the rim. In any case, Ray could make at least 3 of his roughly four tries at the free throw line each game.
Ray Allen, an all-time great marksman, averaged at least 90% of his shots from the line ten times.
Chauncey Billups - 89.40% (4496 FTM)
4.3 - 4.8 (FTM - FTA)
Mr. Big Shot Chauncey Billups is renowned for his decisive shooting and ability to take charge of the court. Billups was a strong point guard who knew how to be productive on both ends of the court despite having mediocre quickness and explosiveness.
Billups, a five-time All-Star, was named to two all-defensive and three NBA all-star teams. His greatest effect was felt during the 2004 Finals, where he was the unquestioned captain and star player for the Pistons, who won the title.
Over the course of his career, Billups was a reliable shooter, connecting on 38.7 percent of his three-point attempts and 89.4 percent of his free throws.
Chauncey was a reliable scorer who frequently used his long-range and big physique to attack the hoop and force fouls.
Considering that he averaged nearly 5 free throws per game and shot such a high percentage, Billups somehow made 4,496 attempts throughout his career.
Although Billups was a modest scorer, the point guard was practically unstoppable when he was at the line (which often frequently, as he shot over 90% from the line in 7 seasons of his career).
Peja Stojakovic - 89.48% (2237 FTM)
2.8 - 3.1 (FTM - FTA)
Peja Stojakovic was a unique shooter who was a three-time All-Star and one of the finest European players to play professional basketball.
Over the course of his career, he shot an average of 40.1 percent from three, with 45.0 percent from the field and 89.48 percent from the foul line. Peja earned a living on shooting, twice dominating the NBA in free-throw percentage (92.7 percent, 92.9 percent ).
Amazingly, Peja never had a season with a free-throw percentage below 85% and averaged over 90% in five separate seasons.
Stojakovic mostly took his shots from the outside, but over his career, he averaged about three free throws per game. The scouting report strongly advocated blocking Peja's path to the line since once he got there, he was automatic.
Although Stojakovic's career was hampered by his inability to stay fit for the duration of it, his free-throw accuracy will live on in folklore for many years.
Rick Barry - 89.98% (3818 FTM)
4.8 - 5.3 (FTM - FTA)
In both the ABA and the NBA, Rick Barry was a superstar who excelled at everything he did on the court. However, Rick Barry ranked as the fourth best free-throw shooter in NBA history while he was playing.
Barry had a lifetime average of 24.8 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.9 APG, making him an all-around powerhouse. Barry, an eight-time NBA All-Star, also earned the Finals MVP award and the NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors.
But Rick Barry's free-throw shooting stood out above all the other things he achieved at a high level. Because of his stature, aggression, and ability to withstand pressure, the 6'7" small forward was unstoppable when he attacked the hoop.
However, he was fouled frequently. Barry made a fantastic 3,800 free throws throughout his NBA career, shooting just under 90%. Given that he was making an average of 5 free-throw tries each game, it is simply amazing.
Rick Barry is a member of the Hall of Fame because of his all-around skill, but his dominance on the stripe also aided his candidacy.
Mark Price - 90.39% (2135 FTM)
3.0 - 3.3 (FTM - FTA)
Mark Price, one of the all-time greatest Cleveland Cavaliers players, established himself by participating in four All-Star games and guiding the team to many postseason berths.
Price was a great player for Cleveland's team for many years as a controlled scorer and facilitator. Price had career averages of 15.2 PPG and 6.7 APG and was a professional scorer who frequently attacked the hoop with vigor.
However, Price was a unique free-throw shooter who made almost 90% of his attempts. Throughout his career, Price made an average of three free throws per game, frequently all three.
In three different seasons, Price led the NBA in free-throw percentage (94.7 percent, 94.8 percent, and 90.6%), and he never had a season with a shooting percentage lower than 83 percent.
Mark Price is a legend in Cleveland, but he is also one of the all-time great free-throw shooters, behind just two other outstanding shooters in that category.
Steve Nash - 90.43% (3060 FTM)
2.5 - 2.8 (FTM - FTA)
Steve Nash, a two-time MVP renowned for his playmaking, is a first-ballot candidate for the Hall of Fame. Nash, a Canadian superstar, was one of the few point guards who could make shots for others, and he did it regularly for a very long period.
But in addition to being a legendary facilitator, Steve Nash was a phenomenal shooter. Nash shot 42.8 percent from three and 49.0 percent from the field. Nash was selective in where he chose to stand and always had a perfect shot.
From the stripe, Nash was the most lethal, though. It is absurd to make over 3,000 free throws in a career while shooting over 90% of them, and the point guard also had a regimen to stick to.
A "swish" would immediately follow Nash licking his fingers and releasing the ball from the stripe. Nash averaged over two free throws per game almost throughout his career, making them all seem effortless.
However, only one person can shoot free throws better than Nash, and that man also happens to be the best shooter of all time.
Stephen Curry - 90.80% (2972 FTM)
3.8 - 4.2 (FTM - FTA)
Stephen Curry, unsurprisingly, is at the top of the list for shooting. The NBA's greatest shooter is a superstar point guard, but he is most famous for his three-pointers.
Since Curry became the league's top All-Star, we have not seen any player develop his offense from beyond the arc as he has. Curry is capable of shooting from 15 feet in addition to three-point range.
Every time he released the ball from the line, his rapid release and tucked shoulders provide a consistent stroke, and throughout his career, he is getting there around twice per game.
Over the course of his career, he has consistently shot close to 91 percent from the line. Curry is the most accurate free throw shooter we have ever seen, with over 2,900 attempts and counting.
It's straightforward: Curry is the best shooter of all time, and his free-throw accuracy is just one more proof of that.