Best Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History
The free-throw line in an NBA game can be a lonely place or easy money. It depends on the shooter.Free throws should be easy points on a basketball court. The uncontested shot attempts, 15 feet from the basket after a foul, can mean the difference between winning or losing a game.
But shooting free throws is as much a mental exercise as a physical art. While some NBA players struggle from the charity stripe, other players should never be sent to the line.
These former and current NBA players have the best career free-throw shooting percentage. To qualify, they needed 1,200 career free-throw attempts. Some of the names might surprise you.
74. Marco Belinelli (Tie)
Marco Belinelli played pro basketball in Italy.Length of career: 13 seasons (2007-20)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 1,485
Free throws made: 1,256
Free-throw percentage: 84.58
All statistics are updated through Dec. 13, 2021.
Career Highlights: Marco Belinelli
Marco Belinelli won the 3-point title in 2014.- NBA champion (2014)
- NBA 3-Point Contest champion (2014)
Bottom Line: Marco Belinelli
Marco Belinelli was a great shooter.Marco Belinelli was a veteran pro by the time he came to the NBA. He played five seasons of professional basketball in Italy before breaking into the NBA with the Golden State Warriors in 2007.
Bellinelli had his best years with the San Antonio Spurs, where he won the 3-Point Contest and NBA championship in 2014.
74. Glen Rice (Tie)
Glen Rice played 15 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 15 seasons (1989-2004)
Teams: Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 3,813
Free throws made: 3,225
Free-throw percentage: 84.58
Career Highlights: Glen Rice
Glen Rice, right, made a lot of shots.- NBA champion (2000)
- Three-time NBA All-Star (1996-98)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1997)
- Two-time All-NBA Team (1997, 1998)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1990)
- NBA 3-Point Contest champion (1995)
Bottom Line: Glen Rice
Glen Rice was a three-time All-Star.Glen Rice was great for the Miami Heat in his first six seasons, but it was with the Charlotte Hornets that he truly became an NBA superstar.
Rice made all three of his All-Star appearances with the Hornets, including winning NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1997 — the same season he averaged a career-high 26.8 points.
Rice averaged 23.5 points during his four seasons in Charlotte, over four points more than any other stop in his 15-year career.
73. Junior Bridgeman
Junior Bridgeman was an underrated player.Length of career: 12 seasons (1975-87)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 2,216
Free throws made: 1,875
Free-throw percentage: 84.61
Career Highlights: Junior Bridgeman
Junior Bridgeman is a Bucks legend.- No. 2 retired by Milwaukee Bucks
Bottom Line: Junior Bridgeman
Junior Bridgeman had his number retired by the Milwaukee Bucks.You may have never heard of Junior Bridgeman despite his 12-year NBA career and the fact he had his number retired by the Milwaukee Bucks. And despite him being one of the richest men in America with a net worth close to $700 million.
Bridgeman famously worked at Wendy's part-time during his playing career in order to learn the fast-food restaurant business and retired owning three locations. He founded Bridgeman Foods and Bridgeman Hospitality Group after his retirement and became the second-largest Wendy's franchise owner in the world with over 160 locations, along with 120 Chili's restaurants.
72. Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge won two NBA championships with the Boston Celtics.Length of career: 14 seasons (1981-95)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns
Free-throw attempts: 1,980
Free throws made: 1,676
Free-throw percentage: 84.65
Career Highlights: Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge was a three-sport star in high school.- Two-time NBA champion (1984, 1986)
- NBA All-Star (1988)
Bottom Line: Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge played on four NBA teams.No player in NBA history had the ability to get underneath the skin of his opponents like Danny Ainge, who won two NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and played in the NBA Finals two more times with the Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns.
Ainge actually played three years in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays before deciding to switch sports and play in the NBA.
71. Caron Butler
Caron Butler scored 12,430 points in his NBA career.Length of career: 14 seasons (2002-16)
Teams: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings
Free-throw attempts: 2,942
Free throws made: 2,492
Free-throw percentage: 84.70
Career Highlights: Caron Butler
Caron Butler won an NBA title in 2011.- NBA champion (2011)
- Two-time NBA All-Star (2007, 2008)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2003)
Bottom Line: Caron Butler
Caron Butler shot 85 percent from the free-throw line.Caron Butler was a scoring machine during parts of his career. A two-time NBA All-Star, he had his best years with the Washington Wizards, where he averaged 17 points or more for five consecutive seasons.
One of the more peculiar aspects of Butler's personality was something he disclosed in his 2015 autobiography — a crippling addiction to Mountain Dew that saw him drinking up to a 12-pack of the caffeine-heavy soda per day for most of his career.
70. Spud Webb
Spud Webb could do more than dunk.Length of career: 13 seasons (1985-98)
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic
Free-throw attempts: 2,296
Free throws made: 1,946
Free-throw percentage: 84.76
Career Highlights: Spud Webb
Spud Webb was 5-foot-6.- NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1986)
Bottom Line: Spud Webb
Spud Webb averaged 9.9 points per game.Spud Webb wasn't known for free throws. He was known for dunks.
Webb became a worldwide basketball sensation when he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1986, going head-to-head with teammate Dominique Wilkins despite being one of the shortest players in league history at just 5-foot-7.
Webb played 13 seasons in the NBA and averaged 9.9 points and 5.6 assists.
68. Magic Johnson (Tie)
Magic Johnson led the Lakers to five NBA titles in the 1980s.Length of career: 13 seasons (1979-91, 1996)
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers
Free-throw attempts: 5,850
Free throws made: 4,960
Free-throw percentage: 84.79
Career Highlights: Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson was a three-time NBA MVP.- Five-time NBA champion (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988)
- Three-time NBA Finals MVP (1980, 1982, 1987)
- Three-time NBA MVP (1987, 1989, 1990)
- 12-time NBA All-Star (1980, 1982-92)
- Two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (1990, 1992)
- 10-time All-NBA (1982-91)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1980)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Bottom Line: Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson was one of the greatest NBA players of all time.Magic Johnson is perhaps the greatest point guard of all time, one of the most exciting, dynamic players in NBA history and a global sports icon.
Magic's rivalry with Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird, which started in the 1979 NCAA championship game between Michigan State and Indiana State, was the key to putting the NBA on the path to becoming the global behemoth it is today, generating approximately $8 billion in revenue annually.
Johnson was the guiding force behind the Lakers' "Showtime" era, leading the franchise to five NBA titles in the 1980s.
68. Danny Granger (Tie)
Danny Granger made over 2,100 free throws.Length of career: 10 seasons (2005-15)
Teams: Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat
Free-throw attempts: 2,577
Free throws made: 2,185
Free-throw percentage: 84.79
Career Highlights: Danny Granger
Danny Granger was an All-Star in 2009.- NBA All-Star (2009)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2009)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2006)
Bottom Line: Danny Granger
Danny Granger was sneaky good.Late 2000s NBA fans will remember Danny Granger as a player who, for a brief moment, was as good as anyone in the NBA.
Granger won NBA Most Improved Player honors in 2009 after he averaged 25.8 points — part of a five-season stretch where he averaged at least 18 points and averaged over 20 points from 2009 to 2012.
Another crazy fact about Granger? He never averaged in double-digit scoring over the last five years of his career.
67. Paul George
Paul George started his NBA career with the Indiana Pacers.Length of career: 12 seasons (2010-present)
Teams: Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 3,438
Free throws made: 2,917
Free-throw percentage: 84.85
Career Highlights: Paul George
Paul George grew up in Southern California.- Six-time NBA All-Star (2013, 2014, 2016-19)
- Five-time All-NBA Team (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)
- Four-time NBA All-Defensive Team (2013, 2014, 2016, 2019)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2011)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2013)
Bottom Line: Paul George
Paul George was the No. 10 pick overall in the NBA draft.Paul George was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft and overcame a gruesome injury in 2015 while playing for Team USA.
George became a superstar playing for the Indiana Pacers before spending a brief time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and cashing out big with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he's still missing the one thing all NBA players covet most — a championship.
65. Michael Adams (Tie)
Michael Adams had great range.Length of career: 11 seasons (1985-96)
Teams: Sacramento Kings, Washington Bullets, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets
Free-throw attempts: 2,543
Free throws made: 2,158
Free-throw percentage: 84.86
Career Highlights: Michael Adams
Michael Adams played 11 seasons in the NBA.Bottom Line: Michael Adams
Michael Adams played his college ball at Boston College.If you watched NBA games in the late 1980s and early 1990s, you probably remember Michael Adams for having one of the more distinctive jump shots of all time —a physics-defying shot from the hip.
Adams was an absolute walking bucket during his 11 seasons in the league and had one of the best individual seasons for a player under six feet in NBA history in 1990-91, when he averaged 26.5 points, 10.5 assists and 2.2 steals for the Denver Nuggets.
Adams was voted to play in the NBA All-Star Game in 1992 and averaged 14.7 points and 6.4 assists for his career.
65. Kelly Tripucka (Tie)
Kelly Tripucka averaged 17.2 points per game in his career.Length of career: 10 seasons (1981-91)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets
Free-throw attempts: 3,660
Free throws made: 3,106
Free-throw percentage: 84.86
Career Highlights: Kelly Tripucka
Once a baller, always a baller.- Two-time NBA All-Star (1982, 1984)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1982)
Bottom Line: Kelly Tripucka
Kelly Tripucka played for three NBA teams.The son of former NFL quarterback Frank Tripucka, two-time Notre Dame All-American Kelly Tripucka had a more-than-stellar NBA career in the 1980s and averaged 17.2 points for his career.
Tripucka was great at the free-throw line, but he was also great from beyond the 3-point arc. He shot 36.1 percent on threes for his career and had three seasons where he shot over 40 percent.
64. Flynn Robinson
Flynn Robinson played seven seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 7 seasons (1966-73)
Teams: Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Baltimore Bullets
Free-throw attempts: 1,881
Free throws made: 1,597
Free-throw percentage: 84.86
Career Highlights: Flynn Robinson
Flynn Robinson waves to the crowd.- NBA champion (1972)
- NBA All-Star (1970)
Bottom Line: Flynn Robinson
Flynn Robinson was an All-Star in 1970.Flynn Robinson was a solid player throughout his NBA career, if not more than that. He was an NBA All-Star in 1970 and was a solid role player for the Los Angeles Lakers on the way to winning the 1972 NBA title.
Robinson died of cancer in 2013, at 72 years old.
63. Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes was a 12-time All-Star.Length of career: 16 seasons (1948-64)
Teams: Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 7,984
Free throws made: 6,712
Free-throw percentage: 84.92
Career Highlights: Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes is on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team.- NBA champion (1955)
- 12-time NBA All-Star (1951-62)
- 12-time All-NBA Team (1950-61)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Bottom Line: Dolph Schayes
Dolph Schayes was one of the NBA's first big stars.Bronx native Dolph Schayes led NYU to the NCAA tournament final as a 16-year-old college freshman in 1945, then became a 12-time All-Star and 12-time All-NBA pick with both sets of honors coming in 12 consecutive seasons.
Schayes won his lone NBA title in 1955 and played his entire 16-year career with one franchise, the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers. Schayes' game was unique even for his era as a big man with a high-arcing outside jumper.
His son, Danny, played 18 seasons in the NBA from 1981-99.
62. Jack Sikma
You didn't want to underestimate Jack Sikma.Length of career: 14 seasons (1977-91)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks
Free-throw attempts: 5,053
Free throws made: 4,292
Free-throw percentage: 84.94
Career Highlights: Jack Sikma
Jack Sikma was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.- NBA champion (1979)
- Seven-time NBA All-Star (1979-85)
- NBA All-Defensive Team (1982)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1978)
Bottom Line: Jack Sikma
Jack Sikma could do everything on the court.Jack Sikma was unique before he made it to the NBA. He chose NCAA Division III Illinois Wesleyan over a multitude of Division I offers because of his close relationship with the school's head coach.
Sikma led the Sonics to the NBA Finals in his rookie season, where they lost to the Washington Bullets, and led them right back there in 1979 against the Bullets and pulled off one of the great upsets in pro sports history.
Sikma's numbers in nine seasons with the Sonics match up with the very best big men of all time — 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks.
61. Mitch Richmond
Was Mitch Richmond overrated or underrated?Length of career: 14 seasons (1988-2002)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers
Free-throw attempts: 5,365
Free throws made: 4,561
Free-throw percentage: 85.01
Career Highlights: Mitch Richmond
Mitch Richmond made the Hall of Fame in 2014.- NBA champion (2002)
- Six-time NBA All-Star (1993-98)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1995)
- Five-time All-NBA Team (1994-98)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1989)
Bottom Line: Mitch Richmond
Mitch Richmond scored over 20,000 points in his career.Mitch Richmond's legacy has been sort of twisted up since he retired in 2002, mainly after his induction into the Hall of Fame in 2014 best underlined the modern beef with the Hall of Fame's process of picking NBA players.
Want to make the case against Richmond? His career numbers for rebounds and assists are low, even for a shooting guard. And he only has 23 career playoff games. Is he even a top five shooting guard for his era?
You can't make an argument that he wasn't at his best with the Sacramento Kings, where he played seven seasons and was a six-time All-Star.
60. Walter Davis
Walter Davis was a six-time All-Star in 15 NBA seasons.Length of career: 15 seasons (1977-92)
Teams: Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers
Free-throw attempts: 3,676
Free throws made: 3,128
Free-throw percentage: 85.09
Career Highlights: Walter Davis
Walter Davis was a six-time All-Star.- Six-time NBA All-Star (1978-81, 1984, 1987)
- Two-time All-NBA Second Team (1978, 1979)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1978)
Bottom Line: Walter Davis
Walter Davis was the NBA rookie of the year in 1978.Walter Davis had an effortless style of play defined by his ability to score and defend at an elite level. He averaged over 20 points per game six times in his first 10 seasons, including 24.2 points when he was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1978.
The reason you won't hear Davis' name spoken with the same reverence as some other Suns greats is likely because of his role in an ugly drug scandal in the late 1980s.
Davis, who struggled with his own cocaine addiction, cut a deal for immunity with prosecutors and testified against his teammates.
59. Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton averaged 17.1 points per game in his NBA career.Length of career: 14 seasons (1999-2013)
Teams: Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls
Free-throw attempts: 3,805
Free throws made: 3,240
Free-throw percentage: 85.15
Career Highlights: Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton was a three-time NBA All-Star.- NBA champion (2004)
- Three-time NBA All-Star (2006-08)
Bottom Line: Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in 2004.Richard Hamilton shot to fame as the star player for UConn in the 1999 NCAA tournament, where they pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college basketball history with their win over Duke in the championship game.
Hamilton was dominant at times during his NBA career, making three All-Star teams and winning an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004 in another stunning upset — this time a sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers.
58. Randy Foye
Randy Foye made over 85 percent of his free throws.Length of career: 11 seasons (2006-17)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 1,429
Free throws made: 1,217
Free-throw percentage: 85.16
Randy Foye
Randy Foye went to Villanova.- NBA All-Rookie Team (2007)
Bottom Line: Randy Foye
Randy Foye played for seven NBA teams.Randy Foye was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft and would end up playing for seven different teams over 11 seasons.
Out of those 11 seasons, Foye only played in the postseason twice and never played in the NBA Finals.
What's truly amazing about Foye is that he ever played in the NBA at all. He was born with a rare condition in which his internal organs were reversed, meaning everything that's meant to be on one side of his body is on the other side, including his heart.
57. James Silas
James Silas scored 11,038 points in his career.Length of career: 6 seasons (1976-82)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers
Free-throw attempts: 1,690
Free throws made: 1,440
Free-throw percentage: 85.21
Career Highlights: James Silas
James Silas played six seasons in the NBA.- Two-time All-ABA (1975, 1976)
- Two-time ABA All-Star (1975, 1976)
- ABA All-Rookie Team (1973)
- ABA All-Time Team
Bottom Line: James Silas
James Silas was a two-time All-Star.James Silas actually played his first four seasons in the ABA before the ABA/NBA merger in 1976, and his free-throw shooting was strikingly consistent in both leagues. He shot 85.7 percent from the line in the ABA and 85.2 percent from the line in the NBA.
Silas had his best years in the ABA, where he was a two-time All-ABA Team selection and a two-time ABA All-Star.
56. Darren Collison
Darren Collison played 10 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 10 seasons (2009-19)
Teams: New Orleans Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings
Free-throw attempts: 1,973
Free throws made: 1,682
Free-throw percentage: 85.25
Career Highlights: Darren Collison
Darren Collison made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2010.- NBA All-Rookie Team (2010)
Bottom Line: Darren Collison
Darren Collison went to UCLA.If you remember anything about Darren Collison's career, we hope it's his blazing speed. He was a blur on the court from the moment he stepped on the floor for the first time at UCLA.
That's not a surprise if you know about where Collison came from. His mother was Olympic sprinter June Griffith. Collison was good and sometimes great in 10 NBA seasons, although he never even played in the conference finals.
55. Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson played for seven NBA teams.Length of career: 11 seasons (1997-2008)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Charlotte Bobcats
Free-throw attempts: 2,198
Free throws made: 1,874
Free-throw percentage: 85.26
Career Highlights: Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson won an NBA title in 2006.- NBA champion (2006)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1998)
Bottom Line: Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson could sky.Derek Anderson was a strikingly efficient role player throughout much of his NBA career despite playing for pretty awful teams throughout most of his 11 seasons.
While Anderson didn't contribute much, he did manage to win an NBA title in 2006 with the Miami Heat although he only saw action in eight playoff games.
54. Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson started his NBA career with the Oklahoma City Thunder.Length of career: 11 seasons (2011-present)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 1,512
Free throws made: 1,290
Free-throw percentage: 85.32
Career Highlights: Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson went to Boston College.Bottom Line: Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson is nicknamed "Big Government."Reggie Jackson earned one of the best nicknames we've ever come across — "Big Government" — thanks to his ability to bail out the Los Angeles Clippers with key baskets in clutch situations.
Jackson was one of the key components to leading the Clippers into the Western Conference finals for the first time in 2021.
53. Mario Elie
Mario Elie was one of the toughest players in NBA history.Length of career: 11 seasons (1990-2001)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns
Free-throw attempts: 1,692
Free throws made: 1,445
Free-throw percentage: 85.40
Career Highlights: Mario Elie
Mario Elie went into coaching after his playing career.- Three-time NBA champion (1994, 1995, 1999)
Bottom Line: Mario Elie
Mario Elie was a three-time NBA champ.Mario Elie made his reputation as one of the toughest players in NBA history — a no-nonsense guard who was one of the key players on back-to-back NBA championship teams for the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.
Elie added another NBA championship to his career with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.
52. Larry Siegfried
Larry Siegfried played nine seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 9 seasons (1963-72)
Teams: Boston Celtics, San Diego/Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 1,945
Free throws made: 1,662
Free-throw percentage: 85.45
Career Highlights: Larry Siegfried
Larry Siegfried could shoot the rock.- Five-time NBA champion (1964-66, 1968, 1969)
Bottom Line: Larry Siegfried
Larry Siegfried won five NBA titles with the Boston Celtics.Larry Siegfried was always in close proximity to greatness — as a college basketball player at Ohio State alongside John Havlicek and Jerry Lucas, and then in the NBA on five NBA championship teams for the Boston Celtics.
Siegfried's value as a role player was directly tied to the free-throw line, where he hit 85 percent of his free throws for his career.
51. Jarrett Jack
Jarrett Jack played 13 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 13 seasons (2005-2018)
Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Hornets, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks
Free-throw attempts: 2,316
Free throws made: 1,981
Free-throw percentage: 85.54
Career Highlights: Jarrett Jack
Jarrett Jack averaged 10.8 points per game in his career.- Two-time All-ACC (2004, 2005)
Bottom Line: Jarrett Jack
Jarrett Jack played for nine different NBA teams.Jarrett Jack scrapped and clawed his way to 13 NBA seasons with nine different teams because he was always a reliable role player.
Jack's ability to hit free throws is one reason why he lasted that long in the NBA since he's one of the best in NBA history from the charity stripe.
50. Ben Gordon
Ben Gordon was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft.Length of career: 11 seasons (2004-2015)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Orlando Magic
Free-throw attempts: 2,394
Free throws made: 2,051
Free-throw percentage: 85.67
Career Highlights: Ben Gordon
Ben Gordon was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2005.- NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2005)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2005)
Bottom Line: Ben Gordon
Ben Gordon was named NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2005.Ben Gordon was drafted just a tad too high at No. 3 overall in 2004, but he did earn some respect his rookie year as the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2005.
Gordon was always money at the free-throw line, hitting 85.6 percent of his attempts.
49. Fred Brown
Fred Brown, with ball, played his entire career in Seattle.Length of career: 13 seasons (1971-1984)
Team: Seattle SuperSonics
Free-throw attempts: 2,211
Free throws made: 1,896
Free-throw percentage: 85.75
Career Highlights: Fred Brown
"Downtown" Freddy Brown.- NBA champion (1979)
- NBA All-Star (1976)
Bottom Line: Fred Brown
Fred Brown, right, helped lead the SuperSonics to the 1979 NBA title.Fred Brown was among the league leaders in free-throw percentage throughout his career — he also led the NBA in 3-point shooting the first year the 3-point line was implemented.
Brown was also a winner. He was an NBA All-Star in 1976 and captained the SuperSonics during their 1979 NBA championship season.
48. Dana Barros
Dana Barros played 15 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 15 seasons (1989-2004)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons
Free-throw attempts: 1,456
Free throws made: 1,294
Free-throw percentage: 85.78
Career Highlights: Dana Barros
Dana Barros was an All-Star in 1995.- NBA All-Star (1995)
- NBA Most Improved Player (1995)
Bottom Line: Dana Barros
Dana Barros, right, made his lone All-Star team in 1995.Dana Barros was an NBA All-Star in 1995 — the same year he was named NBA Most Improved Player.
Barros had to be great at the free-throw line. He was only 5-foot-11.
47. Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard won two NBA titles in his first 10 seasons.Length of career: 11 seasons (2011-present)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 2,325
Free throws made: 1,987
Free-throw percentage: 85.46
Career Highlights: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has had a lot of career highlights.- Two-time NBA champion (2014, 2019)
- Two-time NBA Finals MVP (2014, 2019)
- Four-time NBA All-Star (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2020)
- Four-time All-NBA Team (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020)
- Two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (2015, 2016)
- Six-time NBA All-Defensive Team (2014-17, 2019, 2020)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2012)
Bottom Line: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has played for three teams in 11 seasons.Kawhi Leonard has already etched his name alongside the greatest players in NBA history as a two-time NBA Finals MVP leading two teams to NBA championships.
Part of Leonard's complete game is his consistency at the free-throw line, where he's hit 85.5 percent.
46. James Harden
James Harden has played for four teams in 13 seasons.Length of career: 13 seasons (2009-present)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 7,336
Free throws made: 6,296
Free-throw percentage: 85.82
Career Highlights: James Harden
The Beard.- NBA MVP (2018)
- 10-time NBA All-Star (2013-22)
- Seven-time All-NBA Team (2013-15, 2017-20)
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2012)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2010)
Bottom Line: James Harden
James Harden, left, made his only trip to the NBA Finals in 2012.Already one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, former NBA MVP James Harden didn't get to that level by giving away points at the free-throw line.
The only thing missing on Harden's resume is an NBA championship. He has made the finals just once, in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder alongside Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
45. Wally Szczerbiak
Wally Szczerbiak's career was cut short by injuries.Length of career: 10 seasons (1999-2009)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, Seattle SuperSonics, Cleveland Cavaliers
Free-throw attempts: 1,899
Free throws made: 1,633
Free-throw percentage: 85.99
Career Highlights: Wally Szczerbiak
Wally Szczerbiak retired in 2009.- NBA All-Star (2002)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2000)
Bottom Line: Wally Szczerbiak
Wally Szczerbiak made one All-Star team, in 2002.Wally Szczerbiak made one NBA All-Star team in 2002, but was a consistently great free-throw shooter for all 10 seasons he was in the league.
The reason he only played 10 seasons was that by the end of his career doctors determined he had so little cartilage left in his left knee that another surgery might hinder his ability to lead a normal life.
44. Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell won three NBA titles in 16 seasons.Length of career: 16 seasons (1993-2009)
Teams: Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics
Free-throw attempts: 4,144
Free throws made: 3,567
Free-throw percentage: 86.08
Career Highlights: Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell made over 3,500 free throws.- Three-time NBA champion (1994, 1995, 2008)
- NBA All-Star (2004)
- All-NBA (2004)
Bottom Line: Sam Cassell
Sam Cassell won back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.The reason Sam Cassell's career lasted so long was because of his consistency on the court, including at the free-throw line.
Most people know Cassell won two NBA titles with the Houston Rockets in the mid-1990s.
Did you know he won another with the Boston Celtics in 2008?
43. Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford is one of the most beloved teammates in NBA history.Length of career: 20 seasons (2000-2020)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 4,286
Free throws made: 3,694
Free-throw percentage: 86.19
Career Highlights: Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford played on nine NBA teams.- Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year (2010, 2015, 2016)
- NBA Teammate of the Year (2018)
Bottom Line: Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford is one of the few players to last 20 seasons in the NBA.Jamal Crawford's name holds weight in NBA circles.
Considered by his contemporaries to be one of the greatest scorers and teammates of his generation, Crawford is a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year and was named NBA Teammate of the Year in 2008.
Which is news to us that the award even exists.
42. John Long
John Long had some of his best years with the Atlanta Hawks.Length of career: 14 seasons (1978-1991, 1996-1997)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors
Free-throw attempts: 2,104
Free throws made: 1,814
Free-throw percentage: 86.22
Career Highlights: John Long
John Long won an NBA ring in 1989.Bottom Line: John Long
John Long attempts to guard Magic Johnson.John Long was a high-scoring guard who played 14 seasons in the NBA.
He was the original backcourt mate to Isiah Thomas on the Detroit Pistons before he was replaced by Joe Dumars.
But Long returned to the Pistons as a reserve in 1989 and won an NBA title.
41. Luke Ridnour
Luke Ridnour played for five NBA teams in 12 seasons.Length of career: 12 seasons (2003-2015)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic
Free-throw attempts: 1,496
Free throws made: 1,290
Free-throw percentage: 86.23
Career Highlights: Luke Ridnour
Luke Ridnour shot 86 percent from the free-throw line in his career.- Pac-10 Player of the Year (2003)
Bottom Line: Luke Ridnour
Luke Ridnour set the Pac-10 record by making 62 consecutive free throws while playing for the University of Oregon.We knew Luke Ridnour was pretty great at shooting free throws in college. He set the Pac-10 record with 62 consecutive made free throws at the University of Oregon.
He kept that going in the NBA, and his consistency helped him last 12 seasons.
40. Allan Houston
Allan Houston played for the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks.Length of career: 12 seasons (1993-2005)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks
Free-throw attempts: 2,979
Free throws made: 2,572
Free-throw percentage: 86.34
Career Highlights: Allan Houston
Allan Houston played 12 seasons in the NBA.- Two-time NBA All-Star (2000, 2001)
Bottom Line: Allan Houston
Allan Houston signed a six-year, $100 million contract in 2001.Allan Houston was a great free-throw shooter throughout his entire career, but his greatest accomplishment was getting New York Knicks owner James Dolan to gift him with one of the most maligned contracts in NBA history.
Houston signed a six-year, $100 million contract in 2001 that was so bad for the team the next CBA included an "Allan Houston Clause" to rid teams of one bad contract.
39. Trae Young
Trae Young made an immediate impact in the NBA.Length of career: 4 seasons (2018-present)
Team: Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 1,678
Free throws made: 1,449
Free-throw percentage: 86.35
Career Highlights: Trae Young
Trae Young is nicknamed "Ice Trae."- Two-time NBA All-Star (2020, 2022)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2019)
Bottom Line: Trae Young
Trae Young got serious game.Trae Young has set the NBA on fire through his first three full seasons, showing himself to be a generational talent as far as scoring the ball.
Young led the Atlanta Hawks on a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2021 and following the season agreed to a five-year contract extension worth up to $207 million.
38. Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic can shoot.Length of career: 8 seasons (2014-present)
Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz
Free-throw attempts: 1,620
Free throws made: 1,401
Free-throw percentage: 86.48
Career Highlights: Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina.- NBA All-Rookie Team (2015)
Bottom Line: Bojan Bogdanovic
Bojan Bogdanovic played overseas before playing in the NBA.Bojan Bogdanovic was playing professional basketball overseas by the time he was 16 years old. He played 10 seasons overseas before he made it to the NBA in 2014 with the Brooklyn Nets, where he was an NBA All-Rookie Team selection in 2015.
Bogdanovic has been a force to deal with in the NBA and averaged at least 18 points for three consecutive seasons starting in 2018.
37. Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin started his career with the Golden State Warriors.Length of career: 16 seasons (1985-2001)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers
Free-throw attempts: 4,178
Free throws made: 3,616
Free-throw percentage: 86.55
Career Highlights: Chris Mullin
Run TMC.- Five-time NBA All-Star (1989-93)
- Three-time All-NBA (1989, 1991, 1992)
- Three-time All-NBA (1989-91)
Bottom Line: Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin, center, was a member of the famed 1992 "Dream Team" that won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics.Big surprise to see Chris Mullin on this list. He is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.
Mullin also was a five-time NBA All-Star, three-time All-NBA pick and member of the "Dream Team" at the 1992 Summer Olympics — the greatest collection of basketball talent in the history of the sport.
36. D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin has played for 11 NBA teams in 14 seasons.Length of career: 14 seasons (2008-present)
Teams: Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers
Free-throw attempts: 2,180
Free throws made: 1,886
Free-throw percentage: 86.51
Career Highlights: D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2009.- Bob Cousy Award (2008)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2009)
Bottom Line: D.J. Augustin
D.J. Augustin was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft.This probably isn't the way D.J. Augustin planned his career going when he was taken as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft — he's on his eighth team in 12 seasons.
But there's something to be said for staying in the league. A big part of that is his ability to shoot free throws at such a high level.
35. Micheal Williams
Micheal Williams finished his career with the Toronto Raptors.Length of career: 11 seasons (1988-1999)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toronto Raptors
Free-throw attempts: 1,780
Free throws made: 1,545
Free-throw percentage: 86.80
Career Highlights: Micheal Williams
Micheal Williams made over 1,500 free throws.- NBA champion (1989)
- NBA All-Defensive Team (1992)
Bottom Line: Micheal Williams
Micheal Williams played 11 seasons in the NBA.Micheal Williams still holds the NBA record for consecutive free throws made during the regular season with 97.
Williams won an NBA title riding the bench for the Pistons in 1989 and had his best season in 1992, when he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Team.
34. Mike Newlin
Houston Rockets guard Mike Newlin, center, faces a tight situation against the New York Nets in 1977.Length of career: 11 seasons (1972-82)
Teams: Houston Rockets, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks
Free-throw attempts: 3,456
Free throws made: 3,005
Free-throw percentage: 86.95
Career Highlights: Mike Newlin
NBA player or unfrozen caveman lawyer.- Three-time All-WAC (1969-71)
Bottom Line: Mike Newlin
Mike Newlin, left, shot 87 percent from the free-throw line in his career.Mike Newlin had a good field-goal percentage of 46.6, and shot only 30 percent from 3-point land, mainly because the 3-point line was not implemented until the 1979-80 season.
Despite those numbers, he averaged double-digit scoring per game for all of his career, except his rookie season and last season, and put up 20 points a game in the 1979-80 season and 1980-81 season.
Although he did not attempt more than six free throws per game in his career, Newlin was an excellent free-throw shooter.
33. Devin Booker
Devin Booker wowed NBA fans with his play during the 2020 NBA restart.Length of career: 7 seasons (2015-present)
Team: Phoenix Suns
Free-throw attempts: 2,472
Free throws made: 2,150
Free-throw percentage: 86.97
Career Highlights: Devin Booker
Devin Booker can do it all on the floor.- Three-time NBA All-Star (2020-22)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2016)
- NBA 3-Point Contest champion (2018)
Bottom Line: Devin Booker
Devin Booker is already one of the NBA's best career free-throw shooters.Devin Booker is one of the most exciting players of his generation.
With his play during the NBA restart in 2020, he turned expectations on their head for what the Phoenix Suns could accomplish with him as the team's best player.
Part of Booker's complete game is his free-throw shooting, where he's hit almost 90 percent of his attempts through seven seasons.
32. Hersey Hawkins
Hersey Hawkins implores the Seattle SuperSonics crowd to cheer against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1998.Length of career: 13 seasons (1988-2001)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics, Chicago Bulls
Free-throw attempts: 3,985
Free throws made: 3,466
Free-throw percentage: 86.98
Career Highlights: Hersey Hawkins
Hersey Hawkins played his college ball at Bradley.- NBA All-Star (1991)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1989)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award (1999)
Bottom Line: Hersey Hawkins
Hersey Hawkins, left, was an NBA All-Star in 1991.Hersey Hawkins was a shooting guard, who had a good field-goal percentage at 46 percent, including shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc.
He made the All-Star team in the 1990-91 season with the 76ers when he averaged 22.1 points per game on 47.2 percent from the field, including 40 percent for 3-pointers and 87.1 from the charity stripe.
Throughout his career, Hawkins was always money from the free-throw line.
31. Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin prepares to shoot a free throw in 2010.Length of career: 12 seasons (2004-16)
Teams: Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs
Free-throw attempts: 4,091
Free throws made: 3,561
Free-throw percentage: 87.04
Career Highlights: Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin played 12 seasons in the NBA.- Three-time All-SoCon (2002-04)
Bottom Line: Kevin Martin
Kevin Martin shot just 43 percent from the field for his career.Known as a pure scorer, Kevin Martin had an array of shots he could make, including a pull-up jumper and a turnaround jumper.
Martin averaged 20 or more points in seven seasons, with his best seasons coming early in his career with the Sacramento Kings.
Although his field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage are not staggering at 43 percent and 38 percent, respectively, his free-throw percentage is high.
30. Mo Williams
Mo Williams prepares to shoot a free throw against the Dallas Mavericks in 2014 as Dirk Nowitzki argues the foul called on him.Length of career: 13 seasons (2003-16)
Teams: Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets
Free-throw attempts: 1,795
Free throws made: 1,563
Free-throw percentage: 87.08
Career Highlights: Mo Williams
Mo Williams became the head men's basketball coach at Jackson State University in 2022.- NBA champion (2016)
- NBA All-Star (2009)
Bottom Line: Mo Williams
Mo Williams won an NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.Mo Williams was a solid point guard with nice ballhandling skills and a great jumper.
Although his career field-goal percentage at 43.4 percent does not suggest he was a good scorer, Williams could pick his spots and score when his team needed it. He never averaged 20 points in a season, but he had many seasons averaging double figures in points, as his 13.2 career scoring average shows.
Williams also was a consistent solid shooter from the free-throw line and could be counted on at the end of games.
29. Jeff Malone
Utah Jazz player Jeff Malone, right, drives around New York Knicks player Hubert Davis during a 1993 game.Length of career: 13 seasons (1983-96)
Teams: Washington Bullets, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat
Free-throw attempts: 3,383
Free throws made: 2,947
Free-throw percentage: 87.11
Career Highlights: Jeff Malone
Jeff Malone was a two-time All-Star.- Two-time NBA All-Star (1986, 1987)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1984)
Bottom Line: Jeff Malone
Jeff Malone played 13 seasons in the NBA.Jeff Malone was a solid scorer during his time in the NBA, coming off screens to shoot his jump shot.
He averaged at least 15 points per game in nine of his 13 seasons. His career field-goal percentage was 48.4 percent, including 27 percent from beyond the arc.
Although his field-goal percentage was slightly under 50 percent, Malone was a dead-eye shooter from the free-throw line.
28. Darrell Armstrong
Darrell Armstrong played 14 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 14 seasons (1994-2008)
Teams: Orlando Magic, New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, New Jersey Nets
Free-throw attempts: 1,679
Free throws made: 1,463
Free-throw percentage: 87.14
Career Highlights: Darrell Armstrong
Darrell Armstrong finished his NBA career with the Nets.- NBA Most Improved Player (1999)
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1999)
Bottom Line: Darrell Armstrong
Darrell Armstrong was a solid NBA point guard his entire career.Darrell Armstrong was an average field-goal shooter at 40 percent, including 33 percent from beyond the arc.
Despite the low field-goal percentages, Armstrong was a good free-throw shooter.
He did not get a lot of opportunities at the charity stripe, but he made them count.
27. Kiki Vandeweghe
Kiki Vandeweghe played on four teams in his NBA career.Length of career: 13 seasons (1980-93)
Teams: Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 3,997
Free throws made: 3,484
Free-throw percentage: 87.17
Career Highlights: Kiki Vandeweghe
Kiki Vandeweghe was a two-time All-Star.- Two-time NBA All-Star (1983, 1984)
Bottom Line: Kiki Vandeweghe
Kiki Vandeweghe was one of the NBA's first great 3-point shooters.Kiki Vandeweghe was an above-average field-goal shooter, with a 52.5 percent average, including mid-30s behind the arc.
After his rookie season, Vandeweghe was a scorer, averaging more than 20 points per game for seven consecutive seasons, with 29.4 points per game being the highest he averaged in his fourth year in the league.
But he was not just a great scorer. He also was a great shooter, from the field and the free-throw line.
26. Chris Paul
Chris Paul was a first-round draft pick out of Wake Forest in 2005.Length of career: 17 seasons (2005-present)
Teams: New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns
Free-throw attempts: 5,166
Free throws made: 4,564
Free-throw percentage: 87.19
Career Highlights: Chris Paul
Chris Paul was the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2006.- 10-time NBA All-Star (2008-16, 2020)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)
- Nine-time All-NBA Team (2008. 2009, 2011-16, 2020)
- Nine-time NBA All-Defensive Team (2008, 2009, 2011-17)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2006)
Bottom Line: Chris Paul
Chris Paul is one of the NBA's best point guards.Future Hall of Famer Chris Paul has been one of the NBA's best point guards since he entered the league in 2005.
His run to the NBA playoffs with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA restart in 2020 seemed to truly cement his legacy.
25. Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas is a study in concentration as he prepares to shoot a free throw.Length of career: 9 seasons (2011-present)
Teams: Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Charlotte Hornets
Free-throw attempts: 2,656
Free throws made: 2,317
Free-throw percentage: 87.24
Career Highlights: Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas has played on a lot of NBA teams.- Two-time NBA All-Star (2016, 2017)
- All-NBA Team (2017)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2012)
Bottom Line: Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas was an NBA MVP candidate for the Boston Celtics.Isaiah Thomas has carved out a niche for himself since entering the league in 2011.
A two-time All-Star, Thomas has played for seven teams. At every stop except one (Denver Nuggets in 2018-19), he has shot over 80 percent from the free-throw line.
He had his best year in 2016-17, averaging 28.9 points with the Boston Celtics while shooting 90.9 percent from the free-throw line.
24. Terrell Brandon
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Terrell Brandon drives past San Antonio Spurs guard Avery Johnson in 1995.Length of career: 11 seasons (1991-2002)
Teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Free-throw attempts: 2,043
Free throws made: 1,784
Free-throw percentage: 87.32
Career Highlights: Terrell Brandon
Terrell Brandon was a two-time All-Star.- Two-time NBA All-Star (1996, 1997)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1992)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award (1997)
Bottom Line: Terrell Brandon
Terrell Brandon played for three teams in 11 NBA seasons.Terrell Brandon was a decent shooter from the field at just under 45 percent and a mid-30s 3-point shooter, but he made his stamp at the free-throw line.
Although he did not get to the charity stripe often, he made the majority of the free throws he shot in his career.
23. Ricky Pierce
Ricky Pierce shoots against the Chicago Bulls in a 1991 game.Length of career: 16 seasons (1983-98)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, San Diego Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Hornets
Free-throw attempts: 3,871
Free throws made: 3,389
Free-throw percentage: 87.55
Career Highlights: Ricky Pierce
Don't let the smile fool you. Ricky Pierce was tough as nails.- NBA All-Star (1991)
- Two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1987, 1990)
Bottom Line: Ricky Pierece
Ricky Pierce shot 87.5 percent from the free-throw line for his career.Ricky Pierce played for several teams during his NBA career, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics and Indiana Pacers.
He was a proficient shooter from the field over the course of his career at just under 50 percent.
His free-throw shooting was even better.
22. Earl Boykins
Earl Boykins played on 10 teams in his NBA career.Length of career: 13 seasons (1998-2012)
Teams: New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets
Free-throw attempts: 1,433
Free throws made: 1,255
Free-throw percentage: 87.58
Career Highlights: Earl Boykins
Earl Boykins wasn't scared of anyone on the court.- EuroChallenge Champion (2009)
Bottom Line: Earl Boykins
Earl Boykins is the second-shortest player in NBA history at 5-foot-5.At only 5-foot-5, Earl Boykins was the second-shortest player in NBA history behind Muggsy Bogues, who was 5-foot-3.
Height limitations did not stop Boykins from making an impact. With speed and quickness that cannot be taught, Boykins found many homes — and free-throw opportunities.
After his 2002-03 season in Golden State, Boykins never shot lower than 83 percent from the free-throw line, and he shot over 90 percent in two seasons (2004-05 and 2006-07) with the Denver Nuggets.
21. Danilo Gallinari
Danilo Gallinari began playing pro basketball in Italy when he was 16 years old.Length of career: 11 seasons (2008-present)
Teams: New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 3,300
Free throws made: 2,892
Free-throw percentage: 87.64
Career Highlights: Danilo Gallinari
Danilo Gallinari has played in over 720 NBA games.- Italian League MVP (2008)
Bottom Line: Danilo Gallinari
Danilo Gallinari joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2019-20 season.Danilo Gallinari started playing professional basketball in his native Italy in 2004, at just 16 years old, before making his NBA debut with the New York Knicks in 2008 after being named Italian League MVP.
Gallinari has four seasons where his free-throw percentage was over 90 percent.
20. Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver started his NBA career in 2003.Length of career: 17 seasons (2003-present)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers
Free-throw attempts: 1,479
Free throws made: 1,297
Free-throw percentage: 87.69
Career Highlights: Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver can play a lot of positions.- NBA All-Star (2015)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award (2015)
Bottom Line: Kyle Korver
Kyle Korver has shot over 40 percent from beyond the 3-point arc for his entire career.You might not think of Kyle Korver as an NBA great, but his quick release and dead-on accuracy make him one of the greatest shooters in league history.
Korver has shot 44.4 percent from the field for his career, including 43.1 percent from 3-point land, and he is one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the NBA today.
That success translates to the free-throw line.
19. Jeff Hornacek
Jeff Hornacek was one of the game's great shooters.Length of career: 13 seasons (1986-2000)
Teams: Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 3,390
Free throws made: 2,973
Free-throw percentage: 87.70
Career Highlights: Jeff Hornacek
Jeff Hornacek played 13 seasons in the NBA.- NBA All-Star (1992)
- NBA 3-Point Contest champion (1998, 2000)
Bottom Line: Jeff Hornacek
Jeff Hornacek played in two NBA Finals with the Utah Jazz.The Phoenix Suns drafted Jeff Hornacek with the 22nd pick out of Iowa State in 1986. The consummate "glue guard" with perfect shooting form, Hornacek averaged over 13 points in Phoenix and Philadelphia with 86 percent free-throw shooting over his first eight NBA seasons.
He joined the Utah Jazz in 1993 and hit the national stage toward the end of his career, playing alongside John Stockton and Karl Malone as annual second fiddles to Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
In Hornacek’s final season in 1999-2000, the 36-year-old shot 95 percent from the free-throw line, making 171 of 180 free throws in 77 games.
18. Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki was a 14-time All-Star.Length of career: 21 seasons (1998-2019)
Team: Dallas Mavericks
Free-throw attempts: 8,339
Free throws made: 7,240
Free-throw percentage: 87.87
Career Highlights: Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki was the NBA MVP in 2007.- NBA champion (2011)
- NBA MVP (2007)
- NBA Finals MVP (2011)
- 14-time NBA All-Star (2002-12, 2014, 2015, 2019)
- 12-time All-NBA Team (2001-12)
- NBA 3-Point Contest champion (2006)
- NBA Teammate of the Year (2017)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Bottom Line: Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki played 21 seasons in the NBA.Where does the time go? Dirk Nowitzki played in three decades in the NBA and built a Hall of Fame resume as one of the best international players in league history.
With a 7-foot frame and superior shooting skills, Nowitzki revolutionized the game, changing the way power forwards and centers play offense.
17. Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton has played almost his entire career with the Milwaukee Bucks.Length of career: 10 seasons (2012-present)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
Free-throw attempts: 1,894
Free throws made: 1,665
Free-throw percentage: 87.91
Career Highlights: Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton made his NBA debut in 2012.- NBA champion (2021)
- Three-time NBA All-Star (2019, 2020, 2022)
Bottom Line: Khris Middleton
Khris Middleton's play left a lot to be desired in the 2020 NBA restart.The Detroit Pistons essentially gave Khris Middleton away early in his career, and he's become one of the NBA's most consistent players alongside NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Milwaukee Bucks.
As inconsistent as Middleton may have been during the NBA's restart in 2020, he's always been uber-consistent at the free-throw line.
16. Kyrie Irving
Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving during a 2017 game against the Charlotte Hornets.Length of career: 11 seasons (2012-present)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 2,534
Free throws made: 2,232
Free-throw percentage: 88.08
Career Highlights: Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving can ball with the best of them.- NBA champion (2016)
- Six-time NBA All-Star (2013-15, 2017-19)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (2014)
- Two-time All-NBA Team (2015, 2019)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2012)
- NBA 3-Point Contest champion (2013)
Bottom Line: Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving is nicknamed "Uncle Drew" and "Ankletaker."Kyrie Irving is already a six-time All-Star and an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
His ballhandling wizardry makes opposing defenses dizzy and off-balance, and his soft shooting touch makes him one of the most dynamic point guards in the league today.
Irving is a great shooter from midrange, particularly from the free-throw line.
15. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors.Length of career: 15 seasons (2007-present)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 6,923
Free throws made: 6,109
Free-throw percentage: 88.24
Career Highlights: Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is one of the most popular players in NBA history.- Two-time NBA champion (2017, 2018)
- Two-time NBA Finals MVP (2017, 2018)
- NBA MVP (2014)
- 10-time NBA All-Star (2010-19)
- Two-time NBA All-Star Game MVP (2012, 2019)
- Nine-time All-NBA Team (2010-14, 2016-19)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2008)
Bottom Line: Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant started his career with the Seattle SuperSonics.The former NBA Most Valuable Player, four-time scoring champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP is facing a career crossroads — how will he come back from a devastating Achilles injury?
Kevin Durant now plays for the Brooklyn Nets, but one thing that definitely won't change is the stellar free-throw shooting.
He's hit almost 90 percent of his free throws for his career.
14. Bill Sharman
Bill Sharman is a Hall of Famer.Length of career: 11 seasons (1950-61)
Teams: Washington Bullets, Boston Celtics
Free-throw attempts: 3,559
Free throws made: 3,143
Free-throw percentage: 88.31
Career Highlights: Bill Sharman
Bill Sharman was an eight-time All-Star.- Four-time NBA champion (1957, 1959-61)
- Eight-time NBA All-Star (1953-60)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1955)
- Seven-time All-NBA (1953, 1955-60)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Bottom Line: Bill Sharman
Bill Sharman won four NBA titles with the Boston Celtics.Bill Sharman played 10 years of his 11-year NBA career as a shooting guard with the Boston Celtics and point guard Bob Cousy from 1951 to 1961. Some consider the Cousy-Sharman duo to be the best backcourt in hoops history, with good reason. Together, they won four NBA championships.
Sharman also was one of the first players to shoot better than 40 percent from the field, and he led the NBA in free-throw percentage for seven straight seasons.
He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1976 and then as a coach in 2004.
13. Larry Bird
Larry Bird was one of the greatest shooters of all time.Length of career: 12 seasons (1979-1992)
Team: Boston Celtics
Free-throw attempts: 4,471
Free throws made: 3,960
Free-throw percentage: 88.57
Career Highlights: Larry Bird
Old friends.- Three-time NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
- Two-time NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
- Three-time NBA MVP (1984-86)
- 12-time NBA All-Star (1980-88, 1990-92)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1982)
- 10-time All-NBA (1980-88, 1990)
- Three-time NBA All-Defensive Team (1982-84)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1980)
- Three-time NBA 3-Point Contest champion (1986-88)
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Bottom Line: Larry Bird
Larry Bird talks with Boston Celtics general manager Red Auerbach.He's not called Larry Legend for nothing.
One of the greatest players to ever play the game, Larry Bird amazed basketball fans with a silky-smooth shooting stroke. The Hall of Famer led the Boston Celtics to three NBA world championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
He finished his career with a 49.6 shooting percentage from the field, including 37.6 percent from behind the arc, and was an assassin in crunch time anywhere on the court.
12. Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller loved to practice his shooting.Length of career: 18 seasons (1987-2005)
Teams: Indiana Pacers
Free-throw attempts: 7,026
Free throws made: 6,237
Free-throw percentage: 88.77
Career Highlights: Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller went into broadcasting after his NBA career.- Five-time NBA All-Star (1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000)
- Three-time All-NBA Team (1995, 1996, 1998)
- NBA Citizenship Award (2004)
Bottom Line: Reggie MIller
Reggie Miller hit as many big shots as any player in NBA history.Before Uncle Drew, there was Uncle Reg. Reggie Miller played his whole career for the Indiana Pacers and created a library of shooting highlights, making 47.1 percent from the field, including 39.5 percent from beyond the arc.
One of his most famous shooting displays came in Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks, when "The Knick Killer" scored eight points in nine seconds—including two free throws with 7.5 seconds remaining — to lift the Pacers to a 107-105 win.
That wasn't the only time he broke the hearts of opposing teams.
11. Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles played 10 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 10 seasons (1986-96)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic, Washington Bullets, Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 1,741
Free throws made: 1,548
Free-throw percentage: 88.91
Career Highlights: Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles became a coach after his playing days.- NBA Most Improved Player (1991)
Bottom Line: Scott Skiles
Scott Skiles, left, once started a fight with Shaquille O'Neal.Scott Skiles might not have looked like a dominant athlete, but he could ball with the best of them.
After a ho-hum start to his career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, Skiles was drafted by the Orlando Magic in the expansion draft in 1989 and found his NBA game.
He became the starting point guard in Orlando — averaging a career-high 17.2 points per game and 8.4 assists per game in the 1990-91 season — and earned a reputation as a floor leader and clutch shooter over the course of his career.
10. Calvin Murphy
Calvin Murphy played 12 seasons in the NBA.Length of career: 12 seasons (1970-83)
Teams: San Diego Rockets, Houston Rockets
Free-throw attempts: 3,864
Free throws made: 3,445
Free-throw percentage: 89.16
Career Highlights: Calvin Murphy
Calvin Murphy is known for wearing some pretty wild suits.- NBA All-Star (1979)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1971)
- NBA Citizenship Award (1979)
Bottom Line: Calvin Murphy
Calvin Murphy was inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.Calvin Murphy was a pure shooter and broke numerous records, including the best free-throw percentage in a season, in the 1980-81 campaign.
The 5-foot-9 guard played 12 seasons for the Rockets (one in San Diego, 11 in Houston) and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993.
9. JJ Redick
J.J. Redick doesn't miss too many free throws.Length of career: 15 seasons (2006-21)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans
Free-throw attempts: 2,310
Free throws made: 2,060
Free-throw percentage: 89.18
Career Highlights: JJ Redick
J.J. Redick played 15 seasons in the NBA.- First-round pick (11 overall) in 2006 NBA draft
Bottom Line: J.J. Redick
J.J. Redick missed the NBA playoffs for the first time in his career in 2019-20.J.J. Redick remains one of the NBA's premier sharpshooters, just as he was when entered the league in 2006.
With a quick release and pinpoint accuracy, he has been a solid contributor throughout his career, hitting 44.9 percent of his field goals and 41.5 percent of his 3-pointers.
And he's Mr. Consistent at the free-throw line.
8. Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is calm, cool and collected on the court.Length of career: 11 seasons (2012-present)
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Free-throw attempts: 4,312
Free throws made: 3,851
Free-throw percentage: 89.31Damin
Career Highlights: Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard started his NBA career in 2012.- Five-time NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2018-20)
- Five-time All-NBA Team (2014, 2015, 2018-20)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (2013)
- NBA Citizenship Award (2019)
Bottom Line: Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard has played his entire career for the Portland Trail Blazers.One of the more efficient shooters in today’s NBA, Damian Lillard has proved to be a lethal scorer since entering the league in 2012.
The three-time All-Star is fearless on the floor, with a knack for hitting big shots and delivering clutch performances in the fourth quarter.
7. Ray Allen
Ray Allen has one of the best shooting strokes ever.Length of career: 17 seasons (1996-2014)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle Supersonics, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat
Free-throw attempts: 4,920
Free throws made: 4,398
Free-throw percentage: 89.39
Career Highlights: Ray Allen
Ray Allen is also one of the sharpest dressers in NBA history.- Two-time NBA champion (2008, 2013)
- 10-time NBA All-Star (2000-02, 2004-09, 2011)
- Two-time All-NBA (2005, 2011)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (1997)
Bottom Line: Ray Allen
Ray Allen is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history.Ray Allen could not walk on water, but Jesus Shuttlesworth was one of the game's most dangerous — and smoothest — shooters.
Allen cemented his status as a legend in 2011 when he passed Reggie Miller as the most prolific 3-point shooter in NBA history.
Allen finished his career with 2,973 3-pointer to Miller’s 2,560, and the marksmanship of Allen carried over to free throws, where he was money.
6. Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups shot close to 90 percent at the free-throw line in his career.Length of career: 17 seasons (1997-2014)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 5,029
Free throws made: 4,496
Free-throw percentage: 89.40
Career Highlights: Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups played 17 seasons in the NBA.- NBA champion (2004)
- NBA Finals MVP (2004)
- Three-time All-NBA (2006, 2007, 2009)
- Five-time NBA All-Star (2006-10)
- Two-time NBA All-Defensive Team (2005, 2006)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award (2009)
- NBA Teammate of the Year (2013)
Bottom Line: Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups led the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title.Known as "Mr. Big Shot," Chauncey Billups had ice water in his veins in every situation.
He was a clutch performer, especially in the 2004 playoffs when he helped the Detroit Pistons win the NBA championship.
And he averaged over 90 percent at the free-throw line in eight seasons of his 17-year career.
5. Peja Stojakovic
Peja Stojakovic could shoot with the best of them.Length of career: 13 seasons (1998-2011)
Teams: Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks
Free-throw attempts: 2,500
Free throws made: 2,237
Free-throw percentage: 89.48
Career Highlights: Peja Stojakovic
The Kings retired Peja Stojakovic's number.- NBA champion (2011)
- Three-time NBA All-Star (2002-04)
- All-NBA Team (2004)
- Two-time NBA 3-Point Contest champion (2002, 2003)
Bottom Line: Peja Stojakovic
Peja Stojakovic was one of the most underrated players in NBA history.Peja Stojakovic established himself as a dangerous package of fadeaways and catch-and-shoot shots with the Sacramento Kings.
Lethal from long range, he was a 45-percent shooter from the field, including 40.1 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
He also was clutch from the free-throw line.
4. Rick Barry
Rick Barry was one of the game's greats.Length of career: 10 seasons (1965-80, took six-year hiatus from 1967-72 to play in the ABA)
Teams: San Francisco Warriors, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets
Free-throw attempts: 4,243
Free throws made: 3,818
Free-throw percentage: 89.98
Career Highlights: Rick Barry
Rick Barry was an eight-time All-Star.- NBA champion (1975)
- NBA Finals MVP (1975)
- Eight-time NBA All-Star (1966, 1967, 1973-78)
- NBA All-Star Game MVP (1967)
- Six-time All-NBA Team (1966, 1967, 1973-76)
- NBA Rookie of the Year (1966)
- NBA 50th Anniversary Team
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
Bottom Line: Rick Barry
Rick Barry, right, shot free throws underhanded.Rick Barry was a different kind of shooter, most known for shooting his free throws underhand style.
Although his field-goal percentage and 3-point percentages are not eye-popping at 44.9 and 33 percent, respectively, his 90 percent career shooting from the charity line made him an elite shooter.
3. Mark Price
Mark Price averaged 15.2 points in his career.Length of career: 12 seasons (1986-98)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic
Free-throw attempts: 2,362
Free throws made: 2,135
Free-throw percentage: 90.39
Career Highlights: Mark Price
Mark Price played his college ball at Georgia Tech.- Four-time NBA All-Star (1989, 1992-94)
- Four-time All-NBA (1989, 1992-94)
- Two-time NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1993, 1994)
Bottom Line: Mark Price
Mark Price played most of his career for the Cleveland Cavaliers.Mark Price could shoot it from anywhere on the floor.
His field-goal percentage stands at 47.2 percent, including a 40.2 percent clip from the 3
-point line. But his most lethal spot on the floor was at the free-throw line.
2. Steve Nash
Steve Nash was an eight-time All-Star.Length of career: 18 seasons (1996-2014)
Teams: Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers
Free-throw attempts: 3,384
Free throws made: 3,060
Free-throw percentage: 90.43
Career Highlights: Steve Nash
Steve Nash became a coach after his playing days.- Two-time NBA MVP (2005, 2006)
- Eight-time NBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005-08, 2010, 2012)
- Seven-time All-NBA Team (2002, 2003, 2005-08, 2010)
Bottom Line: Steve Nash
Steve Nash won two NBA Most Valuable Player awards.Steve Nash was more than a great passer. Nash also was an elite shooter, shooting 49 percent from the field, including 42.8 percent from beyond the arc.
But he was close to automatic at the free-throw line with a consistent, near-flawless stroke.
1. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry was the seventh pick overall in the 2009 NBA draft.Length of career: 13 seasons (2009-present)
Team: Golden State Warriors
Free-throw attempts: 3,332
Free throws made: 3,024
Free-throw percentage: 90.76
Career Highlights: Stephen Curry
Steph Curry has changed the game.- Three-time NBA champion (2015, 2017, 2018)
- Two-time NBA MVP (2015, 2016)
- Six-time NBA All-Star (2014-19)
- Six-time All-NBA Team (2014-19)
- NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2015)
- NBA Sportsmanship Award (2011)
- NBA All-Rookie Team (2010)
Bottom Line: Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the NBA's career leader in free-throw shooting percentage.Stephen Curry has redefined the way people think of a "shooter."
With range from the parking lot and incredible ballhandling skills, the 6-foot-3 point guard has transcended how the game is played.
And no one has ever been better at the free-throw stripe.
Related:Worst Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History