Best Free Throw Shooters Ever

Steve Nash

Nash retired as arguably the most efficient free throw shooter in NBA history, finishing at nearly 90% for his career. His smooth, high-arcing form and unflappable demeanor at the line made him a nightmare to foul late in games. Two-time MVP whose shooting touch extended perfectl

Career FT%: 90.4 %Active Era: 1996-2015Clutch Reputation: 9.5/10Notable Record/Streak: Highest career FT% in NBA history (min. attempts)Hall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRin 4 rankings

Mark Price

Price was a lights-out shooter whose 90.4% career mark rivaled Nash's, built on textbook mechanics and relentless practice. An All-Star point guard for Cleveland, he was automatic when games came down to the wire. Often cited by shooting coaches as a model form.

Career FT%: 90.4 %Active Era: 1986-1998Clutch Reputation: 9/10Notable Record/Streak: Once made 97.2% in a single season (1992-93)Hall of Famer: —

added by IJR

Stephen Curry

Curry combined revolutionary three-point shooting with elite free throw accuracy, hovering around 91% for his career. His flick-of-the-wrist consistency at the line matches his reputation as the greatest shooter of all time. He's redefined what elite shooting touch looks like acr

Career FT%: 90.8 %Active Era: 2009-presentClutch Reputation: 9.5/10Notable Record/Streak: Multiple 90%+ seasons, including a career-high 93.7%Hall of Famer: —

added by IJRin 10 rankings

Rick Barry

Barry shot free throws underhand—the 'granny style'—and it worked spectacularly, finishing at 90% for his career including a legendary 94.7% in his final season. He's the loudest advocate that unconventional form beats ego, proving it every night. His son Canyon later used the sa

Career FT%: 89.98 %Active Era: 1965-1980Clutch Reputation: 9/10Notable Record/Streak: Shot 94.7% in his final NBA season (1979-80)Hall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRRick Barry

Reggie Miller

Miller built his Hall of Fame career on cold-blooded shooting, and his 88.8% free throw mark made him deadly when fouled intentionally in crunch time. His flair for the dramatic—see the 1995 Knicks meltdown—cemented his reputation as one of the most clutch shooters ever. Opponent

Career FT%: 88.8 %Active Era: 1987-2005Clutch Reputation: 9.5/10Notable Record/Streak: 8 points in 9 seconds (1995 playoffs) partly via FTsHall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRin 5 rankings

Ray Allen

Allen's picture-perfect jumper translated into 89.4% career free throw shooting, making him nearly unguardable in crunch situations. Best remembered for his game-tying three in the 2013 Finals, his overall shooting pedigree made every trip to the line a near-certainty. A model of

Career FT%: 89.4 %Active Era: 1996-2014Clutch Reputation: 9/10Notable Record/Streak: 10 consecutive seasons above 88% FTHall of Famer: ✓

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Dirk Nowitzki

Nowitzki shot 87.9% for his career, remarkable for a 7-footer, and was automatic in the clutch during Dallas's 2011 championship run. His fadeaway jumper got the headlines, but his free throw reliability made him deadly whenever defenses fouled him to stop the bleeding. A rare bi

Career FT%: 87.9 %Active Era: 1998-2019Clutch Reputation: 9/10Notable Record/Streak: 24 consecutive makes during 2011 Finals runHall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRin 5 rankingsDirk Nowitzki

Larry Bird

Bird shot 88.6% for his career and was legendarily unbothered in pressure moments, often trash-talking opponents mid-shot. His clutch gene extended perfectly to the free throw line, where he became one of the most feared closers in NBA history. Three-time MVP and three-time champ

Career FT%: 88.6 %Active Era: 1979-1992Clutch Reputation: 9.5/10Notable Record/Streak: Won three straight 3-point contests partly on shooting reputationHall of Famer: ✓

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Kevin Durant

Durant's smooth mechanics have made him nearly automatic at the line, sitting around 88.5% for his career despite his massive frame. His ability to get to the line and convert consistently has been a cornerstone of multiple championship runs. Widely regarded as one of the best pu

Career FT%: 88.5 %Active Era: 2007-presentClutch Reputation: 9/10Notable Record/Streak: Shot 90%+ in five separate seasonsHall of Famer: —

added by IJRin 6 rankingsKevin Durant

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Career FT%: 0 %Active Era: n/aClutch Reputation: 0/10Notable Record/Streak: n/aHall of Famer: —

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Chris Paul

Paul has built a reputation as one of the most reliable clutch performers in NBA history, shooting around 87% for his career at the line. His ability to draw fouls and then calmly convert has made him a nightmare for opposing defenses late in games. A future Hall of Famer whose f

Career FT%: 87.3 %Active Era: 2005-presentClutch Reputation: 9/10Notable Record/Streak: Shot above 90% in three separate seasonsHall of Famer: —

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Jerry West

West's nickname 'Mr. Clutch' was earned partly at the free throw line, where he shot 81.4% for his career—elite for his era. His late-game heroics, including a legendary 60-foot shot to force overtime in the 1970 Finals, cemented his reputation as the ultimate pressure performer.

Career FT%: 81.4 %Active Era: 1960-1974Clutch Reputation: 9.5/10Notable Record/Streak: 14x All-Star, 'Mr. Clutch' nickname earned partly at the lineHall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRin 6 rankings

Kevin Love

Love has quietly shot around 82% for his career, a strong mark for a power forward, making him a reliable option when fouled in crunch time. Best known for his rebounding and stretch shooting, his free throw touch has been an underrated part of his offensive game across two decad

Career FT%: 82.1 %Active Era: 2008-presentClutch Reputation: 7.5/10Notable Record/Streak: Multiple 85%+ seasons at the lineHall of Famer: —

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Dolph Schayes

Schayes was one of the first big men to master free throw shooting, finishing around 84% for his career in an era of far rougher play. A 12-time All-Star, his consistency at the line helped define what was possible for a power forward decades before the modern stretch-four existe

Career FT%: 84.3 %Active Era: 1948-1964Clutch Reputation: 8/10Notable Record/Streak: 12x All-Star, elite FT% for a 1950s big manHall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRDolph Schayes

Bill Sharman

Sharman led the NBA in free throw percentage seven times, an unmatched feat that speaks to his mastery of the craft in the 1950s. He shot 88.3% for his career, a staggering number for his era, and later became a respected coach who preached shooting fundamentals. His dominance at

Career FT%: 88.3 %Active Era: 1950-1961Clutch Reputation: 8.5/10Notable Record/Streak: Led NBA in FT% seven timesHall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRin 2 rankingsBill Sharman

Calvin Murphy

Murphy set the single-season free throw percentage record at 95.8% in 1980-81, a mark that stood for decades. Undersized at 5'9", he compensated with one of the purest shooting strokes the league has ever seen, finishing his career at 89.2% overall. His record-setting season rema

Career FT%: 89.2 %Active Era: 1970-1983Clutch Reputation: 8.5/10Notable Record/Streak: 95.8% in a single season, an NBA record for decadesHall of Famer: ✓

added by IJRCalvin Murphy

Peja Stojakovic

Stojakovic was one of the deadliest shooters of the 2000s, converting 89.5% of his free throws over his career. His smooth European shooting form made him nearly unstoppable when opponents tried to slow him down with intentional fouls. A three-point specialist whose touch extende

Career FT%: 89.5 %Active Era: 1998-2011Clutch Reputation: 8/10Notable Record/Streak: Multiple 92%+ seasonsHall of Famer: —

added by IJR

Jose Calderon

Calderon quietly put together one of the best free throw careers in NBA history, finishing around 89.9%. His unassuming style meant he rarely made headlines, but his shooting numbers speak for themselves among the game's most efficient practitioners. A model of consistency over a

Career FT%: 89.9 %Active Era: 2005-2018Clutch Reputation: 7/10Notable Record/Streak: 98.1% in the 2008-09 season, then an NBA recordHall of Famer: —

added by IJR