Best Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History

These former and current players have the best career shooting percentage at the charity stripe.

Best Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History

Dirk Nowitzki — 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)

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

San Antonio Spurs 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, Mason Plumlee — 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)

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

Alonzo Mourning and 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, Mike Sanders — 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

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

Milwaukee Bucks Junior Bridgeman — Junior Bridgeman is a Bucks legend.

No. 2 retired by Milwaukee Bucks

Bottom Line: Junior Bridgeman

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

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

Utah Jazz executive 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

Charles Barkley, 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

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

NBA champion 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

Washington Wizards Guard 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

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

Atlanta Hawks Spud Webb — Spud Webb was 5-foot-6.

NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1986)

Bottom Line: Spud Webb

Spud Webb, Kevin Willis — 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)

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, Dr. J. — 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, Michael Jordan — 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)

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, Bismack Biyombo — 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

Miami Heat forward 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

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

Los Angeles Clippers forward 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, Russell Westbrook — 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)

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

Denver Nuggets Michael Adams — Michael Adams played 11 seasons in the NBA.

NBA All-Star (1992)

Bottom Line: Michael Adams

Denver Nuggets Guard 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)

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

Michael Jordan, Muggsy Bogues, Rex Chapman, Kelly Tripucka, Dell Curry — Once a baller, always a baller.

Two-time NBA All-Star (1982, 1984)
NBA All-Rookie Team (1982)

Bottom Line: Kelly Tripucka

Kelly Tripucka, Alexander Julian — 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, Dave DeBusschere — 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

Los Angeles Laker Flynn Robinson — Flynn Robinson waves to the crowd.

NBA champion (1972)
NBA All-Star (1970)

Bottom Line: Flynn Robinson

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, Bill Russell — 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

Hall of Famer 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

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

Jack Sikma, Bob Lanier — 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

Hall of Famer 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 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

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

Hall of Famer 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

Golden State Guard 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

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

Phoenix Suns guard 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 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, Chris Singleton — 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, Jim Calhoun — 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 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

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

NBA All-Rookie Team (2007)

Bottom Line: Randy Foye

Randy Foye, Jerian Grant, Robin Lopez — 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

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, Jeff Judkins — 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 shoots the ball — 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 shooting a free throw — 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

Los Angeles Lakers guard Darren Collison — Darren Collison made the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2010.

NBA All-Rookie Team (2010)

Bottom Line: Darren Collison

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

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

San Antonio Spurs Derek Anderson — Derek Anderson won an NBA title in 2006.

NBA champion (2006)
NBA All-Rookie Team (1998)

Bottom Line: Derek Anderson

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

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

Los Angeles Clippers guard Reggie Jackson — Reggie Jackson went to Boston College.

All-ACC (2011)

Bottom Line: Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson, Cody Zeller — 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, Willie Anderson — 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

Scott Skiles, Mario Elie, Adrian Griffin — Mario Elie went into coaching after his playing career.

Three-time NBA champion (1994, 1995, 1999)

Bottom Line: Mario Elie

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

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

Boston Celtics Larry Siegfried — Larry Siegfried could shoot the rock.

Five-time NBA champion (1964-66, 1968, 1969)

Bottom Line: Larry Siegfried

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

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

Two-time All-ACC (2004, 2005)

Bottom Line: Jarrett Jack

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

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

Kane Fitzgerald, 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 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

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

Seattle Supersonics Fred Brown — "Downtown" Freddy Brown.

NBA champion (1979)
NBA All-Star (1976)

Bottom Line: Fred Brown

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

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

NBA All Star 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 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

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

Los Angeles Clippers forward 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 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

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

Philadelphia 76ers 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

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

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

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Wally Szczerbiak — Wally Szczerbiak retired in 2009.

NBA All-Star (2002)
NBA All-Rookie Team (2000)

Bottom Line: Wally Szczerbiak

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

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

76ers assistant coach 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

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

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

Phoenix Suns guard 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'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

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

Indiana Pacers John Long — John Long won an NBA ring in 1989.

NBA champion (1989)

Bottom Line: John Long

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

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

Pac-10 Player of the Year (2003)

Bottom Line: Luke Ridnour

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

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

Spencer Haywood, Carmelo Anthony, Allan Houston — Allan Houston played 12 seasons in the NBA.

Two-time NBA All-Star (2000, 2001)

Bottom Line: Allan Houston

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

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

Atlanta Hawks point guard 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 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

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

Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic — Bojan Bogdanovic was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

NBA All-Rookie Team (2015)

Bottom Line: Bojan Bogdanovic

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

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

Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway — 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

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

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, Isaac Okoro — 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

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

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

Minnesota Timberwolves Micheal Williams — Micheal Williams made over 1,500 free throws.

NBA champion (1989)
NBA All-Defensive Team (1992)

Bottom Line: Micheal Williams

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

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

Three-time All-WAC (1969-71)

Bottom Line: Mike Newlin

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

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

Phoenix Suns 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 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

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

College Basketball Hall of Famer 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 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

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

San Antonio Spurs Kevin Martin — Kevin Martin played 12 seasons in the NBA.

Three-time All-SoCon (2002-04)

Bottom Line: Kevin Martin

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

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

Jackson State coach 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 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

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, Derrick McKey — 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 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

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

New Jersey Nets guard 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 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

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

Yao Ming, Ernest Maurice "Kiki" Vandeweghe III — Kiki Vandeweghe was a two-time All-Star.

Two-time NBA All-Star (1983, 1984)

Bottom Line: Kiki Vandeweghe

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

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

Phoenix Suns point guard 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

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

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

Charlotte Hornets gaurd 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 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

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

Cleveland Cavs guard 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 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

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

Milwaukee Buck guard 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 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

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, Lamar Odom — Earl Boykins wasn't scared of anyone on the court.

EuroChallenge Champion (2009)

Bottom Line: Earl Boykins

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

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

Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari — Danilo Gallinari has played in over 720 NBA games.

Italian League MVP (2008)

Bottom Line: Danilo Gallinari

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

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

Milwaukee Buck Kyle Korver — Kyle Korver can play a lot of positions.

NBA All-Star (2015)
NBA Sportsmanship Award (2015)

Bottom Line: Kyle Korver

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

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

New York Knicks coach 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

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

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

Dallas Mavericks legend 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

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

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

Milwaukee Bucks 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

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

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

Brooklyn Nets point guard 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 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

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

Brooklyn Nets small forward 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

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

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

Los Angeles Lakers legend 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 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

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

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson — 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

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

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

Indiana Pacers 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

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

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

Orlando Magic coach Scott Skiles — Scott Skiles became a coach after his playing days.

NBA Most Improved Player (1991)

Bottom Line: Scott Skiles

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

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

Hall of Famer 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 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

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

Los Angeles Clippers guard J.J. 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 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

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

Portland Trail Blazers 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

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

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, Kevin Garnett — 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 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

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

Portland Trail Blazers 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

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

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

Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Scott Pollard — 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 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

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

Cade Cunningham, 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 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

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

Georgia Tech legend 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 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

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

Brooklyn Nets coach 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 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

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

Golden State Warriors guard 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 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.