Description
Free throws can normally be made at a high percentage by good players. In the NBA, most players make between 70–80% of their attempts. The league’s best shooters (such as Steve Nash, Peja Stojaković, Ray Allen, Chauncey Billups, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki) can make roughly 90% of their attempts over a season, while notoriously poor shooters (e.g. Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Ben Wallace, Tim Duncan, Rajon Rondo, Andre Iguodala, Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis or Marcin Gortat) may struggle to make 50% of them. During a foul shot, a player's foot must be completely behind the foul line. If a player lines up with part of their foot on the line, a violation is called and the shot doesn't count. Foul shots are worth 1 point.
Tall players often shoot free throws poorly; though theoretically, taller players should be better at making them. One possible explanation for this is that the high release point of their shots can cause them to stand overly erect. Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain made just 51.1% of his free-throw attempts, one of the lowest percentages of all time, and the poor free throw shooting of players such as O'Neal and Wallace, have led to the 'Hack-a-Shaq' and other intentional fouling tactics. On the other hand, there have also been big men who have been prolific scorers from free throws, who not surprisingly also have good outside shooting range (an example is Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki who, at 2.13 m (7.0 ft), has a career average of 88% (.877).)
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