Best Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History
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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.
Spoiler alert: Jose Calderon — who holds the NBA record for best free-throw percentage in a season at 98.1 percent, making 151 of 154 free throws with the Toronto Raptors in 2008-09 — doesn't make the all-time cut with his 87.3 career free-throw percentage because he had only 1,060 career attempts.
50. Larry Siegfried
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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
Bottom Line: Larry Siegfried
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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.
49. Kawhi Leonard
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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
Bottom Line: Kawhi Leonard
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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.
48. Jarrett Jack
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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
Bottom Line: Jarrett Jack
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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.
47. Ben Gordon
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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
Bottom Line: Ben Gordon
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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.
46. Fred Brown
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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
Bottom Line: Fred Brown
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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.
45. Dana Barros
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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
Bottom Line: Dana Barros
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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.
44. James Harden
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James Harden has played for two teams in 11 seasons.Length of career: 11 seasons (2009-present)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets
Free-throw attempts: 7,336
Free throws made: 6,296
Free-throw percentage: 85.82
Bottom Line: James Harden
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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.
43. Wally Szczerbiak
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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
Bottom Line: Wally Szczerbiak
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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.
42. Sam Cassell
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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
Bottom Line: Sam Cassell
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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?
41. Jamal Crawford
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Jamal Crawford is one of the most beloved teammates in NBA history.Length of career: 20 seasons (2000-present)
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
Bottom Line: Jamal Crawford
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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.
40. John Long
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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
Bottom Line: John Long
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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.
39. Luke Ridnour
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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
Bottom Line: Luke Ridnour
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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.
38. Allan Houston
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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
Bottom Line: Allan Houston
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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.
37. D.J. Augustin
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D.J. Augustin has played for nine NBA teams in 12 seasons.Length of career: 12 seasons (2008-present)
Teams: Charlotte Bobcats, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic
Free-throw attempts: 2,180
Free throws made: 1,886
Free-throw percentage: 86.51
Bottom Line: D.J. Augustin
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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.
36. Chris Mullin
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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
Bottom Line: Chris Mullin
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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.
35. Micheal Williams
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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
Bottom Line: Micheal Williams
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Mike Newlin
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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. Hersey Hawkins
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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
Bottom Line: Hersey Hawkins
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Hersey Hawkins, left, was an NBA All-Star in 1992.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. (Tie) Chris Paul
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Chris Paul was a first-round draft pick out of Wake Forest in 2005.Length of career: 15 seasons (2005-present)
Teams: New Orleans Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder
Free-throw attempts: 4,892
Free throws made: 4,258
Free-throw percentage: 87.04
Bottom Line: Chris Paul
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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.
31. (Tie) Kevin Martin
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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
Bottom Line: Kevin Martin
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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.
29. (Tie) Devin Booker
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Devin Booker wowed NBA fans with his play during the 2020 NBA restart.Length of career: 5 seasons (2015-present)
Team: Phoenix Suns
Free-throw attempts: 1,989
Free throws made: 1,732
Free-throw percentage: 87.08
Bottom Line: Devin Booker
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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 five seasons.
29. (Tie) Mo Williams
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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
Bottom Line: Mo Williams
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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.
28. Jeff Malone
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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
Bottom Line: Jeff Malone
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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.
27. Darrell Armstrong
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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
Bottom Line: Darrell Armstrong
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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.
26. Kiki Vandeweghe
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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
Bottom Line: Kiki Vandeweghe
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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.
25. Isaiah Thomas
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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
Free-throw attempts: 2,551
Free throws made: 2,236
Free-throw percentage: 87.23
Bottom Line: Isaiah Thomas
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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. Danilo Gallinari
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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
Free-throw attempts: 3,083
Free throws made: 2,691
Free-throw percentage: 87.29
Bottom Line: Danilo Gallinari
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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.
23. Terrell Brandon
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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
Bottom Line: Terrell Brandon
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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.
22. Ricky Pierce
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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
Bottom Line: Ricky Pierece
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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.
21. Earl Boykins
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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
Bottom Line: Earl Boykins
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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.
20. Khris Middleton
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Khris Middleton has played almost his entire career with the Milwaukee Bucks.Length of career: 8 seasons (2012-present)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks
Free-throw attempts: 1,576
Free throws made: 1,381
Free-throw percentage: 87.63
Bottom Line: Khris Middleton
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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.
18. (Tie) Kyle Korver
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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
Bottom Line: Kyle Korver
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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.
18. (Tie) Kyrie Irving
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Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving during a 2017 game against the Charlotte Hornets.Length of career: 9 seasons (2012-present)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 2,316
Free throws made: 2,031
Free-throw percentage: 87.69
Bottom Line: Kyrie Irving
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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.
17. Jeff Hornacek
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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
Bottom Line: Jeff Hornacek
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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.
16. Dirk Nowitzki
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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
Bottom Line: Dirk Nowitzki
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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.
15. Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant won two NBA titles with the Golden State Warriors.Length of career: 13 seasons (2007-present)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 6,506
Free throws made: 5.742
Free-throw percentage: 88.26
Bottom Line: Kevin Durant
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Bill Sharman
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Larry Bird
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Reggie MIller
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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. Damian Lillard
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Damian Lillard is calm, cool and collected on the court.Length of career: 8 seasons (2012-present)
Team: Portland Trail Blazers
Free-throw attempts: 3,723
Free throws made: 3,309
Free-throw percentage: 88.88
Bottom Line: Damian Lillard
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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.
10. Scott Skiles
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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
Bottom Line: Scott Skiles
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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.
9. J.J. Redick
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J.J. Redick doesn't miss too many free throws.Length of career: 14 seasons (2006-present)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans
Free-throw attempts: 2,011
Free throws made: 2,258
Free-throw percentage: 89.06
Bottom Line: J.J. Redick
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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. Calvin Murphy
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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
Bottom Line: Calvin Murphy
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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.
7. Ray Allen
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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
Bottom Line: Ray Allen
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Chauncey Billups
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Peja Stojakovic
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Rick Barry
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Mark Price
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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
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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
Bottom Line: Steve Nash
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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
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Stephen Curry was the seventh pick overall in the 2009 NBA draft.Length of career: 11 seasons (2009-present)
Team: Golden State Warriors
Free-throw attempts: 2,560
Free throws made: 2,827
Free-throw percentage: 90.56
Bottom Line: Stephen Curry
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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