Worst Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History
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Worst Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History
Free throws are not easy points for everyone.Midway through the 2007-08 NBA season, about the time when there was a better chance for a lightning strike than Ben Wallace sinking two consecutive free throws, I felt compelled to address the elephant in the gym. "Would you ever consider shooting underhanded?" I asked Big Ben after a practice. After all, countless studies have told us that the "granny style" is the easiest, most scientific-friendly way to shoot uncontested 15-footers, right?
Wallace paused for a moment with a quizzical look on his face. Then he uttered three brutally honest words that told us where the pro game was headed at the time. "That ain’t basketball."
In other words, it was better to suck but look cool than help your team but look like a sissy. Wallace wasn’t alone, of course. Not since Hall of Famer Rick Barry (career percentage: .900) retired four decades ago has a player shot free throws between his legs on a regular basis. (Big Ben would have had to sink 12,943 freebies in a row to strike The Big Nine-Oh-Oh.)
Meanwhile, while we brag that modern athletes are bigger, stronger and faster these days, league-wide free-throw accuracy hasn’t changed much since the dawn of the shot-clock era. Of the 50 worst free-throw shooters in league history (minimum 400 career attempts), 31 threw up bricks in this millennium. And seven are still active.
These are the all-time suspects, one brick at a time.
50. Darko Milicic
Darko Milicic was known as "The Human Victory Cigar."Position: Center/power forward
Career: 2003-13 (11 seasons)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Memphis Grizzlies, New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
Free-throw attempts: 734
Free throws made: 421
Free-throw percentage: .574
Bottom Line: Darko Milicic
Darko Milicic played 11 seasons in the NBA.Whenever this former No. 2 draft pick launched from the line, it was a shot in the dark.
Were limited chances partly to blame?
In the 2006-07 season, the only one in which the Serbian southpaw had 200-plus attempts, he converted at a career-high 61 percent rate.
49. Toby Kimball
Toby Kimball starred at the University of Connecticut in college.Position: Forward
Career: 1966-1975 (9 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics, San Diego Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Kansas City/Omaha Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Jazz
Free-throw attempts: 1,229
Free throws made: 704
Free-throw percentage: .573
Bottom Line: Toby Kimball
Toby Kimball played nine seasons in the NBA.Had to be the weather. In three seasons in Sun Diego, he failed to break .500 twice.
His best season (1973-74) came in chilly Philly, where he shot a career-high 69 percent as part of the rotation. At 32 years of age.
48. Jim Brewer
Jim Brewer was nicknamed "Papa."Position: Forward
Career: 1973-82 (9 seasons)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons
Free-throw attempts: 900
Free throws made: 501
Free-throw percentage: .571
Bottom Line: Jim Brewer
Jim Brewer won an NBA title with the Lakers in 1982.When this badass scored a bucket at home, the public address guy would scream "Two for Brew!" to the crowd. And when he converted two consecutive free throws, the person would yell, "Glory glory hallelujah!"
OK, I made that up. Truth is, after Jim Brewer canned 65 percent of his freebies in the first three seasons, his shot went to hell over the next five.
He was even worse (52 percent) in the playoffs.
47. Tom Hawkins
Tom Hawkins averaged 8.7 points per game in his career.Position: Forward
Career: 1959-69 (10 seasons)
Teams: Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers, Cincinnati Royals
Free-throw attempts: 2,016
Free throws made: 1,150
Free-throw percentage: .570
Bottom Line: Tom Hawkins
Tom Hawkins shot 44.7 percent from the field in his careerAt 6-foot-5, "The Hawk" was one of the great leapers of his time.
He also owned more than 1,000 records and CDs in his jazz collection. Or almost as many missed free throws (866) he had in his career.
He shot 62 percent at the foul line in the first five seasons, a mere 52 percent in the last five.
46. Greg Ostertag
Greg Ostertag was 7-foot-2 and 280 pounds.Position: Center
Career: 1996-2006 (11 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz
Free-throw attempts: 1,465
Free throws made: 833
Free-throw percentage: .569
Bottom Line: Greg Ostertag
Greg Ostertag played his whole career with the Utah Jazz.This 7-foot-2 big went out in style. In his final pro game, he blocked a shot, grabbed a rebound and botched two free throws.
Consistent? He shot 57 percent in the regular season and the postseason.
45. John Henson
John Henson was a first-round pick (14th overall) out of North Carolina in 2012.Position: Center/forward
Career: 2012-present (8 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons
Free-throw attempts: 857
Free throws made: 487
Free-throw percentage: .568
Bottom Line: John Henson
Free throws are not one of John Henson's strengths.Believe it or not, this number represents a marked improvement from his 48 percent with North Carolina for three seasons.
As a Tar Heel, he infamously threw up consecutive airballs.
44. Mark West
Mark West was nicknamed "The Hammer."Position: Center
Career: 1983-2000 (17 seasons)
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 2,117
Free throws made: 1,203
Free-throw percentage: .568
Bottom Line: Mark West
Mark West, right, played 17 seasons in the NBA.This otherwise serviceable backup went by the name of "Hammer" for much of three decades.
Yep, he had the touch of a blacksmith, all right. He shot less than 54 percent in 11 of his 17 seasons.
43. Ken Norman
Ken Norman played on three NBA teams.Position: Forward
Career: 1987-97 (10 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 1,786
Free throws made: 1,012
Free-throw percentage: .567
Bottom Line: Ken Norman
Ken Norman played in 646 career NBA games.There’s absolutely no truth to the rumor that Ken Norman was nicknamed "The Snake" because his free throws slithered all over the place.
The truth is, his free-throw percentage tumbled in five of his final six seasons.
Heck, even Dennis Rodman (.584) was better. Probably his hairdresser was, too.
42. Dwight Howard
Practice hasn't helped Dwight Howard shoot free throws.Position: Center
Career: 2004-present (16 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards
Free-throw attempts: 9,099
Free throws made: 5,144
Free-throw percentage: .565
Bottom Line: Dwight Howard
Clank.We could say that Superman shot free throws more like Lois Lane, but we wouldn’t insult her like that.
Dwight Howard hovered around 60 percent at the charity line until his mid-20s. Or not long before he signed his first ginormous contract.
Connect the dots, people. He has had three sub-50 percent seasons since then.
41. Eddie Lee Wilkins
Eddie Lee Wilkins was a sixth-round draft choice (133rd overall) out of Gardner-Webb University in 1984.Position: Center/forward
Career: 1984-87, 1988-91, 1992-93 (6 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 606
Free throws made: 342
Free-throw percentage: .564
Bottom Line: Eddie Lee Wilkins
Eddie Lee Wilkins scored 1,534 points in his career.No player on this list poured concrete in more leagues.
The career reserve also broke backboards in the CBA, USBL and Italy.
It was a testament to his dogged pursuit of mediocrity.
40. Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumlee went to Duke University.Position: Center
Career: 2013-present (7 seasons)
Teams: Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets
Free-throw attempts: 1,679
Free throws made: 944
Free-throw percentage: .562
Bottom Line: Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumlee is nicknamed the "Plumdog Millionaire."In his final college season, this Duke star sank 68 percent of his freebies on seven-plus attempts per game. Then his fundamentals and confidence went to hell.
He showed some improvement under Nuggets assistant Mark Price in the 2018-19 seasons but failed to break 60 percent either time.
39. Carlos Rogers
Carlos was much better at dunking than shooting free throws.Position: Center-forward
Career: 1994-2002 (9 seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers
Free-throw attempts: 690
Free throws made: 388
Free-throw percentage: .562
Bottom Line: Carlos Rogers
Carlos Rogers, center, played on five NBA teams.Quick, somebody check the rims at Tennessee State.
Carlos Rogers shot 64 percent (454 attempts) in his final two seasons there.
Then he turned pro and never shot better than 60 percent again.
38. Dale Davis
Dale Davis was an All-Star in 2000.Position: Center/forward
Career: 1991-2007 (16 seasons)
Teams: Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons.
Free-throw attempts: 2,708
Free throws made: 1,522
Free-throw percentage: .562
Bottom Line: Dale Davis
Dale Davis played in 137 playoff games during his NBA career.Strange what practice can do, isn’t it? (Cue Allen Iverson rant here.)
During the 1998 lockout, "Double D" worked hard on his free throws, and his percentage shot up by an unheard-of 33 percent the next season.
Problem was, the damage had already been done. He clanged 50 percent of his freebies in seven seasons before then.
37. Bill Russell
Bill Russell was a five-time MVP.Position: Center
Career: 1956-69 (13 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics
Free-throw attempts: 5,614
Free throws made: 3,148
Free-throw percentage: .561
Bottom Line: Bill Russell
Bill Russell won 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics.To say Bill Russell's free-throw shooting form was ugly is to say Joakhim Noah has had some bad hair.
For Russell, it began with an elongated, left-handed wind-up and got worse from there. He bricked 2,466 free throws in the regular season and 439 more in the playoffs.
Heck, not even genius head coach Red Auerbach could help him.
36. Manute Bol
At 7-foot-6, Manute Bol, left, was one of the tallest players in NBA history.Position: Center
Career: 1986-95 (10 seasons)
Teams: Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat
Free-throw attempts: 403
Free throws made: 226
Free-throw percentage: .561
Bottom Line: Manute Bol
Manute Bol, left, was born in Gogrial, South Sudan.Incredibly, this 7-foot-7 Sudanese sultan of swat once hit six 3-pointers in a half. He drained as many as six free throws in a game exactly twice in his career.
The guy had an 8-foot-6 wing span. Would a finger roll with an extended right arm have been more accurate than that sling shot of his?
Couldn’t have been much worse.
35. Steven Adams
Steven Adams was born in Rotorua, New Zealand.Position: Center
Career: 2013-present (7 seasons)
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder
Free-throw attempts: 1,573
Free throws made: 876
Free-throw percentage: .558
Bottom Line: Steven Adams
Steven Adams is better at rebounding than shooting free throws.In the 2014-15 season, this veteran shot two free throws left-handed after his right arm was injured on a rebound tussle.
Steven Adams came up short on the first one-hander, then swished the second attempt.
Yeah, he might have been onto something there.
34. Joel Przybilla
Joel Przybilla practices free-throw shooting in 2007.Position: Center
Career: 2000-13 (13 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Bobcats
Free-throw attempts: 900
Free throws made: 501
Free-throw percentage: .557
Bottom Line: Joel Przybilla
Joel Przybilla played 13 seasons in the NBA.His ritual included three dribbles and one deep breath followed by a ... doink!
It got so bad that he lined up at a 45-degree angle to the basket.
He got as high as 68 percent with his new form but couldn’t sustain it.
33. Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft.Position: Center-forward
Career: 2005-19 (14 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers
Free-throw attempts: 1,495
Free throws made: 833
Free-throw percentage: .557
Bottom Line: Andrew Bogut
Andrew Bogut averaged 9.6 points per game in his career.No sooner was this Aussie dealt to the Warriors than his shot went down under. Way down, down, down under.
He shot 46 percent in five seasons there. He also authored one of the all-time horrific airballs late in the 2015-16 season — a foot-and-a-half short and wide to the left.
32. Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson played at Houston in college.Position: Center/forward
Career: 1987-92, 1993-98 (10 seasons)
Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 1,668
Free throws made: 929
Free-throw percentage: .557
Bottom Line: Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson played on six NBA teams."Cadillac" Anderson was the Ford Pinto of free-throw shooters.
In his third-to-last season, he shot 24 percent (6 of 25).
And if that isn’t bad enough, he was worse in the playoffs (48 percent) than the regular season.
31. Bud Olsen
Bud Olsen played eight seasons in the NBA.Position: Forward
Career: 1962-69 (7 seasons)
Teams: Cincinnati Royals, San Francisco Warriors, Seattle SuperSonics
Free-throw attempts: 517
Free throws made: 286
Free-throw percentage: .553
Bottom Line: Bud Olsen
Bud Olsen scored 1,935 points in his career.Bud Olsen? No, Thud Olsen.
This original Sonic never shot better than 44 percent in any of his final four NBA seasons.
He shot even more godawful (36 percent) in his only ABA season with the red, white and blue ball.
30. Johnny Green
Johnny Green was a four-time All-Star.Position: Forward
Career: 1959-73 (14 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Baltimore Bullets, San Diego Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, Cincinnati Royals-Kansas City/Omaha Kings
Free-throw attempts: 4,226
Free throws made: 2,335
Free-throw percentage: .553
Bottom Line: Johnny Green
Johnny Green averaged 11.6 points per game in his career."Jumpin' Johnny" could jump out of the gym. But touch, he had none, none whatsoever.
The lefty shot better in the field than at the free-throw line in five seasons.
But the 39-year-old went out with a bang — a career-best 68 percent in his farewell season.
29. Jim McIlvaine
Jim McIlvaine played seven seasons in the NBA.Position: Center
Career: 1994-2001 (7 seasons)
Teams: Washington Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics, New Jersey Nets
Free-throw attempts: 408
Free throws made: 225
Free-throw percentage: .551
Bottom Line: Jim McIlvaine
Jim McIlvaine, left, was a second-round pick in the 1994 NBA draft.As a rookie, this big actually sank six consecutive freebies. The rest was downhill.
Heck, his wife could have done better. No, we're serious. She’s the former Gwendolyn Gillingham, a member of the 1994 North Carolina national championship team.
28. Omer Asik
Omer Asik was born in Bursa, Turkey.Position: Center
Career: 2010-18 (8 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans
Free-throw attempts: 1,062
Free throws made: 585
Free-throw percentage: .551
Bottom Line: Omar Asik
Omer Asik scored 2,479 points in his career.2012 Eastern Conference first round, Game 6. Bulls 78, Philadelphia 76ers 77. Seven seconds on the clock, Omer Asik at the foul line. Doink!
Then Andre Iguodala drains a pair at the other end. Game, series.
Love the name AH-shick, though. (Not to be confused with OH-sheet, a common refrain among Bulls fans when he was at the line.)
27. Mark McNamara
Mark McNamara, right, started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers.Position: Center
Career: 1982-91 (8 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Kansas City Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic
Free-throw attempts: 467
Free throws made: 256
Free-throw percentage: .548
Bottom Line: Mark McNamara
Mark McNamara, right, averaged 9.7 minutes per game in his career.Mark McNamara shot free throws like his nickname, "Tank."
The 6-foot-11 mop-up man was only half bad with the Lake Show. From 1988 to 1990, he connected at a 64 percent rate in 118 attempts.
26. George Nostrand
George Nostrand played his college ball at Wyoming.Position: Center/forward
Career: 1946-50 (4 seasons)
Teams: Toronto Huskies, Cleveland Rebels, Providence Steamrollers, Boston Celtics, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Chicago Stags
Free-throw attempts: 832
Free throws made: 448
Free-throw percentage: .538
Bottom Line: George Nostrand
George Nostrand shot only 30 percent from the field in his career.Hey, look, a really, really old old-timer who couldn’t shoot 15-footers!
George Nostrand's claim to fame: Any fan taller than the 6-foot-8 Husky who attended the first NBA game received free admission.
We like this promotion better — anyone who beat him in a first-to-two free-throw contest got a free beer.
25. Earl Cureton
Earl Cureton, left, played on seven NBA teams in his career.Position: Center/forward
Career: 1980-89, 1990-91, 1993-94, 1996-97 (12 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors
Free-throw attempts: 530
Free throws made: 985
Free-throw percentage: .538
Bottom Line: Earl Cureton
Earl Cureton, right, was nicknamed "The Twirl."Earl Cureton's daughter Sari is a member of Georgetown women’s team. We know who we’ve got our money on.
In the four seasons that Earl "The Twirl" had 100-plus attempts, he shot between 54 and 57 percent each time.
24. Olden Polynice
Olden Polynice, left, scored 8,265 points in his career.Position: Center
Career: 1987-2001, 2003-04 (15 seasons)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Los Angeles Clippers, Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Utah Jazz
Free-throw attempts: 2,141
Free throws made: 1,146
Free-throw percentage: .535
Bottom Line: Olden Polynice
Olden Polynice, left, once broke up a fight between Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant during a pickup game.In the middle of the 1992-93 season, the Haitian went on a hunger strike to protest policies against his people.
That’s not all O.P. should have given up, though. The guy shot 46.5 percent at the free-throw line that season.
He finished his career in a blaze of gory — 36 percent in his final five seasons.
23. Jahidi White
Jahidi White, at 6-foot-9 and 290 pounds, was a big dude.Position: Center
Career: 1999-2005 (6 seasons)
Teams: Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Charlotte Bobcats
Free-throw attempts: 903
Free throws made: 482
Free-throw percentage: .534
Bottom line: Whenever I hear his name, two things immediately come to mind — jazz great Cab Calloway and the sound of ball against iron. Hi-de hi-de hi-de hi Hey-de hey-de hey-de hey He-de he-de he-de he.
Bottom Line: Jahidi White
Jahidi White averaged 5.9 points per game in his career.Whenever we hear his name, two things immediately come to mind — jazz great Cab Calloway and the sound of ball against iron.
Hi-de hi-de hi-de hi Hey-de hey-de hey-de hey He-de he-de he-de he.
So Jahidi White has that going for him.
22. Larry Smith
Larry Smith made the 1981 NBA All-Rookie Team.Position: Forward
Career: 1980-93 (13 seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs
Free-throw attempts: 1,630
Free throws made: 866
Free-throw percentage: .531
Bottom Line: Larry Smith
Larry Smith made $1.8 million in two seasons with the Houston Rockets.From the time the guy was an Alcorn State freshman, he was known as "Mr. Mean" because of the permanent scowl on his face.
Mr. Smith never shot as much as 69 percent at the charity stripe in the pros, but the numbers lie.
Actually, Mr. Smith was a very good free-throw shooter. If not for a lot of bad luck, Mr. Smith would have been a 75 percenter. Easy.
21. Reggie Evans
Reggie Evans played 13 seasons in the NBA.Position: Forward
Career: 2002-15 (13 seasons)
Teams: Seattle SuperSonics, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings
Free-throw attempts: 2,036
Free throws made: 1,074
Free-throw percentage: .528
Bottom Line: Reggie Evans
Reggie Evans was not known for his free-throw shooting."The Joker" proved that practice also makes imperfect.
In the season (2007-08) with the most freebies (257), he had his second-worst percentage (.467).
He did hit at a 60 percent clip in his final two seasons, though. And that’s no joke.
20. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaq made free throws when they counted. That's his story, and he's sticking to it.Position: Center
Career: 1993-2011 (19 seasons)
Teams: Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
Free-throw attempts: 11,252
Free throws made: 5,935
Free-throw percentage: .527
Bottom Line: Shaquille O'Neal
Hack-a-Shaq used to be a laughing matter. Not anymore.Shaq Diesel is vice president of the highly exclusive Six-Thousand Bricks Club. Stay tuned for the prez later.
Of course, the big fella likes to brag that he made ‘em when they counted. Well, this fish ain’t biting. In the playoffs, he shot a feeble 44 percent (47 of 106) in 13 losses by three points or less. What’s more, he broke .500 in only eight of 17 postseasons and barely that (.504) overall.
That's why Hack-a-Shaq was invented. The tactic of fouling bad foul shooters on purpose to send them to the line changed the game. But not in a good way.
19. Clint Capela
Clint Capela was born in Geneva, Switzerland.Position: Center
Career: 2014-present (6 seasons)
Teams: Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 1,033
Free throws made: 543
Free-throw percentage: .526
Bottom Line: Clint Capela
Clint Capela was a first-round draft pick in 2014.As a rookie, "The Swiss Miss" bricked 19 of 23 attempts. Wo isch d’toilette? Translation: Where is the toilet?
He improved to a career-best 64 percent in the 2018-19 season, only to fall back to 53 percent in the 2019-20 campaign.
The guy is only 26, so let’s give him some time. For worse or worser.
18. John Hummer
John Hummer, center, went to Princeton.Position: Center/forward
Career: 1971-76 (6 seasons)
Teams: Buffalo Braves, Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics
Free-throw attempts: 950
Free throws made: 498
Free-throw percentage: .524
Bottom Line: John Hummer
John Hummer made 498 free throws in his NBA career.Not even this Princeton grad could figure it out.
The one-time Ivy League Player of the Year was very good in practices, very lousy in the games.
In the 1974-75 season, he reached rock bottom with 27 bricks in 41 heaves.
17. Mark Landsberger
Position: Forward
Career: 1977-84 (7 seasons)
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks
Free-throw attempts: 805
Free throws made: 420
Free-throw percentage: .522
Bottom Line: Mark Landsberger
Mark Landsberger had 2,681 career rebounds.This rebound machine is best known as the guy Julius Erving posterized in the 1983 NBA Finals.
Good thing, too, because we forget how bad he was with the ball in his hands. He sank as low as 47 percent in his second season.
And to think he was just a tick below 70 as a Minnesota sophomore.
16. Bo Outlaw
Orlando Magic players Bo Outlaw, left, Travis Diener, second from left, Tony Battie and Pat Garrity (8) celebrate in the fourth quarter as the Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-98 in an NBA basketball game in Minneapolis, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006.Position: Forward
Career: 1993-2008 (15 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings
Free-throw attempts: 710
Free throws made: 413
Free-throw percentage: .521
Bottom Line: Bo Outlaw
Bo Outlaw played in 914 career games.He was known for his heart and hustle.
But at the free-throw line, this Outlaw should have worn a mask, so bad was he there.
He was even worse in college. If you can believe that.
15. Stanley Roberts
Stanley Robert was a first-round pick (23rd overall) in the 1991 NBA draft.Position: Center
Career: 1991-2000 (9 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets Philadelphia 76ers
Free-throw attempts: 850
Free throws made: 437
Free-throw percentage: .514
Bottom Line: Stanley Roberts
Stanley Roberts played with Shaq at LSU.Believe it or not, the 7-footer sank 70 percent of his freebies (45 of 64) in the 1996-97 season.
The Timberwolves were so encouraged, they acquired him from the Clippers for Stojko Vrankovic.
Along with Shaquille O’Neal, Roberts' one-time college teammate, this makes two LSU bigs on the list.
14. Wilt Chamberlain
Nobody's perfect.Position: Center
Career: 1959-73 (14 seasons)
Teams: Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers
Free-throw attempts: 11,862
Free throws made: 6,057
Free-throw percentage: .511
Bottom Line: Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain was a four-time MVP and seven-time scoring champ.Only the free throw could stop the greatest force in basketball history — "The Big Dipper" missed an insane 5,805 of them — and the whole process frustrated the hell out of him. (His 28-of-32 performance is nearly as stunning as the epic 100-point game itself.)
But his utter ineffectiveness wasn’t all in vain. The rulemakers stepped in after some opponents chased him around the court to commit intentional fouls.
"The Stilt" fun fact: If the big guy had converted only two of every three free throws, he would have scored 1,863 more points and easily surpassed Michael Jordan as the all-time leader per game.
13. Andris Biedrins
Andris Biedrins played nine seasons with the Warriors.Position: Center
Career: 2004-14 (10 seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz
Free-throw attempts: 776
Free throws made: 388
Free-throw percentage: .500
Bottom Line: Andris Biedrins
Andris Biedrins was born in Riga, Latvia.Had this competent rebounder-shot blocker been more than a coin flip at the free throw line — remember that Up Periscope style of his? — he would have had a longer career.
In the 2007-08 season, the Latvian left-hander turned in a career-best 62 percent at the foul line. Then, he signed a fat contract and didn’t give a spit any more.
At 28, he was out of the league.
12. Adonal Foyle
Adonal Foyle was a first-round pick (eigth overall) out of Colgate in 1997.Position: center
Career: 1997-2009 (12 seasons)
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies
Free-throw attempts: 707
Free throws made: 353
Free-throw percentage: .499
Bottom Line: Adonal Foyle
Adonal Foyle averaged 4.1 points per game in his career.How cool is it that "The Cobra" and Andris Biedris are side-by-side on this list? Brick and Mortar were teammates for three torturous seasons at the free throw line.
Had this big drained the last attempt late in his final regular-season game, he would have broken .500 for his career and finished .001 ahead of his homie.
Rats, Foyled again!
11. Dan Gadzuric
Dan Gadzuric was nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman."Position: Center/forward
Career: 2002-12 (10 seasons)
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Nets, New York Knicks
Free-throw attempts: 737
Free throws made: 367
Free-throw percentage: .498
Bottom Line: Dan Gadzuric
Dan Gadzuric scored 2,465 career points."The Flying Dutchman" at free throw line was kinda like Wile E. Coyote with a stick of Acme dynamite in his hand.
The 6-foot-11 big never surpassed 54 percent in any pro season.
At UCLA, he shot 45 percent in four seasons, so this should not have come as a surprise.
10. Ken Bannister
Ken Bannister played five seasons in the NBA.Position: Forward
Career: 1984-86, 1988-91 (5 seasons)
Teams: New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers
Free-throw attempts: 669
Free throws made: 329
Free-throw percentage: .492
Bottom Line: Ken Bannister
Ken Bannister shot 49 percent from the field.This one-time CBA refugee went by the name of "The Animal," but no, it wasn’t because he shot free throws like a mad rhino.
In the 1990-91 season, the Clippers enforcer donated $50 to the Los Angeles Zoo for each of his missed free throws.
The giraffes held out for 100 bucks. Forty bricks later, he was waived out of the league.
9. Greg Kite
Greg Kite played on seven NBA teams.Position: Center
Career: 1983-95 (12 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers
Free-throw attempts: 584
Free throws made: 284
Free-throw percentage: .486
Bottom Line: Greg Kite
Greg Kite, center, won two rings with the Boston Celtics.For the benefit of Greg Kite, let's say only that his resume includes free-throw percentages of .385, .382, .364, 313, .200 and leave it at that.
Oh, and the career hack banked in a freebie for his only point in Game 5 of the 1987 NBA Finals.
8. Steven Hunter
Steven Hunter, left, played his college ball at DePaul.Position: Center/forward
Career: 2001-08, 2009-10 (8 seasons)
Teams: Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies
Free-throw attempts: 715
Free throws made: 347
Free-throw percentage: .485
Bottom Line: Stephen Hunter
Steven Hunter scored, 1,817 points in his career.This 7-footer was quick and agile and an excellent shot-blocker. Unlike most players his size, he had good hands.
But put him at the free-throw line, where he had zero confidence, and "The Postman" acted like a rabid dog was after him.
7. Eric Montross
Eric Montross played for six teams in his NBA career.Position: Center
Career: 1994-2002 (8 seasons)
Teams: Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors
Free-throw attempts: 604
Free throws made: 289
Free-throw percentage: .478
Bottom Line: Eric Montross
Eric Montross averaged 18.2 minutes per game in his career.In a 1992 showdown against top-ranked Duke, the 7-foot Montrossity famously sank a free throw with a bloodied face late in the game.
Then the kid was drafted in the first round and couldn’t shoot a bloody free throw to save his life.
Tar Heels fans blame Christian Laettner for this.
6. DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan played at Texas A&M in college.Position: Center
Career: 2008-present (12 seasons)
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets
Free-throw attempts: 3,431
Free throws made: 1,626
Free-throw percentage: .474
Bottom Line: DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan has made over $131 million in his NBA career.What’s gotten into this guy? Do you realize that, in the last four seasons, he hit exactly 70 percent of his freebies? (Gasp.)
What happened to the guy who once hit the American flag at the far lower right corner of the backboard?
Keep this up and we’ll have to cancel his Mount Brickmore nomination.
5. Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond was a first-round pick in the 2012 NBA draft.Position: Center
Career: 2012-present (8 seasons)
Teams: Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers
Free-throw attempts: 2,894
Free throws made: 1,334
Free-throw percentage: .461
Bottom Line: Andre Drummond
Free-throw shooting is not Andre Drummond's strong suit.In a 2016 game, "The Big Penguin" took a giant step toward a place on Mount Brickmore when he missed a league record 23 free throws in 36 tries. Twenty-three.
Then again, what does he care? Dude has made nearly 100 million bucks in his career already.
Ha! Brick that!
4. Chris Dudley
Chris Dudley went to Yale.Position: Center-forward
Career: 1987-2003 (16 seasons)
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns
Free-throw attempts: 1,508
Free throws made: 691
Free-throw percentage: .458
Bottom Line: Chris Dudley
Chris Dudley, right, played in 886 career NBA games."Dr. Crash" turned into the Cowardly Lion at the free-throw line, where he admittedly was a psychological wreck.
He once missed five consecutive attempts in one sequence with the aid of four lane violations
At some point, he should have just screamed "I ain’t missing you!" at the rim. But that’s what Tina Turner and Rod Stewart said.
3. Josh Boone
Josh Boone averaged 5.2 points per game in his career.Position: Center-forward
Career: 2006-10 (4 seasons)
Teams: New York Nets
Free-throw attempts: 463
Free throws made: 206
Free-throw percentage: .445
Bottom Line: Josh Boone
Josh Boone was a first-round pick (23rd overall) in the 2006 NBA draft.Nets players and coaches assured us that all it would take was a solid week or two to get Josh Boone on track. Waiting, still waiting.
Even though he claimed to shoot more than 100 freebies almost every day, his free-throw percentage dropped every season.
2. Lou Amundson
Lou Amundson, left, went to UNLV.Position: Forward
Career: 2006-16 (10 seasons)
Teams: Utah Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets/Pelicans, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks
Free-throw attempts: 603
Free throws made: 268
Free-throw percentage: .444
Bottom Line: Lou Amundson
Lou Amundson, right, played on 10 NBA teams.In a career full of "my bads," forehead slaps, chest taps and shoulder shrugs, "Lightning Lou" (per Shaquille O’Neal, natch) shot less than 50 percent with no fewer than 10 different teams.
In a 2016 game, he threatened to become the first player to shatter a backboard on a free throw.
The seismic waves registered 8.5 on the Wallace Scale, which takes us to No. 1.
1. Ben Wallace
Ben Wallace was undrafted.Position: Center-forward
Career: 1996-2012 (16 seasons)
Teams: Washington Bullets/Wizards, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers
Free-throw attempts: 2,679
Free throws made: 1,109
Free-throw percentage: .414
Bottom line: In 16 seasons, the captain of Mount Brickmore shot less than 40 percent at the free throw line a half-dozen times. To put this into perspective, Stephen Curry would have a better chance to drain a 3-pointer (career rate: .435) with someone in his grill than Big Ben did on a 15-footer with nobody in his way. To steal his line, that ain’t basketball. That’s downright embarrassin’.
Bottom Line: Ben Wallace
The free throw was Ben Wallace's Mount Everest.In 16 seasons, the captain of Mount Brickmore shot less than 40 percent at the free-throw line a half-dozen times.
To put this into perspective, Stephen Curry would have a better chance to drain a 3-pointer (career rate: .435) with someone in his grill than "Big Ben" did on a 15-footer with nobody in his way.
To steal his line, that ain’t basketball. That’s downright embarrassing.
Related:Best Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History