Who holds the record for the best free throw percentage in the NBA?
Free throws are crucial in the game of basketball. They are the main way of penalizing foul plays in the game. For NBA teams, having a good free throw shooter could be the difference between winning and losing a game. Today we list the best free throw shooters in the history of the NBA.
Source: Getty Images
Free throws are shot from a line positioned 15 feet horizontally from the basket. They require a lot of precision and concentration as well as practice. Here are some of the greatest shooters of all time.
Who has made the most free throws in NBA history?
Former Utah Jazz big man Karl Malone has made the most free throws in the history of the NBA, with 9787 made over his 19-year career from 1985-2004. Below is the list of the top 5 NBA players with the most made free throws.
Source: Getty Images
| Player | Career period | Free throws made(as of January 2023) |
| Karl Malone | 1985-2004 | 9787 |
| Moses Malone | 1974-1995 | 8531 |
| Kobe Bryant | 1996-2016 | 8378 |
| Lebron James | 2003- Ongoing | 7993 |
| Oscar Robertson | 1960-1974 | 7694 |
Who holds the record for the best free throw percentage in a season?
Spanish shooting guard Jose Calderon holds the record for the highest-ever shooting percentage in a single season. Calderon achieved this in the 2008-2009 NBA season while playing for the Toronto Raptors. He achieved an incredible 98.1% percentage totalling 873 points from free throws in 68 games. These are the five players with the best single-season percentages:
Source: Getty Images
| Player | Team | Season | Games played | Free throw percentage |
| Jose Calderon | Toronto Raptors | 2008-2009 | 68 | 98.1% |
| Calvin Murphy | Houston Rockets | 1980-1981 | 76 | 95.8% |
| Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf | Denver Nuggets | 1993-1994 | 80 | 95.6% |
| Ray Allen | Boston Celtics | 2008-09 | 79 | 95.2% |
| Jeff Hornacek | Dallas Mavericks | 1999-2000 | 77 | 77: 95% |
Who is the best free throw shooting centre in history?
In the NBA, centres are known for struggling with free throw shooting. One of the most famous centres, Shaquille o' neal, AKA Shaq, was known for this. Shaq's percentage over his 19-year NBA career was only 52.7 %. However, some centres have much higher percentages. The best in history is former Seattle Supersonics centre Jack Sikma who shot 84.8 % during his 14-year NBA career from 1977-1991. These are the top 5 best centres in that category.
Source: Getty Images
| Player | Teams | Career period | FT Percentage |
| Jack Sikma | Seattle Supersonics, Milwaukee Bucks | 1977-1991 | 84.8 % |
| Mike Gmisnki | New Jersey Nets,Philadelphia 76ers,Charlotte Hornets,Milwaukee Bucks | 1980-1994 | 84.5% |
| Bill Laimbeer | Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons. | 1980-1984 | 84.0% |
| Karl Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 2015- Ongoing | 83.5% |
| Yao Ming | Houston Rockets | 2002-2011 | 83.3 |
Who holds the record for the best free throw percentage in the NBA?
Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has the best free throw percentage of all time, with a whopping 90.8 %. These are the top 5 players with the best career free throw percentages:
Source: Getty Images
| Player | Team | Career period | Percentage |
| Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | 2009-Ongoing | 90.8 % |
| Steve Nash | Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, LA Lakers | 1996-2015 | 90.4 % |
| Mark Price | Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Bullets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic | 1986-1998 | 90.4% |
| Rick Barry | New York Nets, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets | 1965-1980 | 90.0 % |
| Peja Stojakovic | Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors | 1992-2011 | 89.5% |
Who is the best free throw shooter in the history of the WNBA?
Elena Delle Donne is the best free throw shooter in the history of the WNBA, with an impressive 93.69 percentage in her decade-long spell in the league so far. These are the best free throw shooters in the WNBA:
Source: Getty Images
| Player | Career Period | Teams | Percentage |
| Elena Delle Donne | 2013-ongoing | Chicago Sky, Washington Mystics | 93.69% |
| Kayla Mcbride | 2014-ongoing | San Antonio Stars, Minnesota Lynx, Las Vegas Aces | 89.82% |
| Becky Hammond | 1999-2014 | New York Liberty, San Antonio Silver Stars | 89.68% |
| Tiffany Mitchell | 2016-Present | Indiana Fever | 89.46% |
| Allie Quigley | 2008-Present | Phoenix Mercury, Chicago Sky | 89.28% |
Good shooters tend to perform well in pressure situations. They also have the commitment and discipline to practice and perfect their technique until it is flawless. We have just broken down for you who holds the record for the best free throw percentage in the NBA.
READ MORE: Top 15 best Spanish NBA players of all time: Find out who is on the list
Sportsbrief recently made a list of the top 15 best Spanish NBA players of all time. Spain has a rich basketball history, with gold medals at the FIBA World Championships in 2006 and 2019 and a silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Spanish basketball players are known for their flair and great shooting. The Gasol brothers duo of Pau and Marc Gasol have won NBA championships with the LA Lakers and Toronto Raptors, respectively. Who do you think is the greatest Spanish NBA player of all time? Find out by clicking the link above!
Source: SportsBrief.com