Decided to do a deep dive because I'm tired of hearing this nonsense about free throws not being ethical points. Players generate free throws by putting their defender in a compromising position.
A majority of the best scorers in the history of the NBA are free throw merchants
10 of the top 15 players in PPG all-time, are simultaneously top 18 in FTA all-time. You can expand this even further. 25 of the top 40 players in PPG all-time, are simultaneously top 38 in FTA all-time.
- Kevin Durant: 27.3ppg (6th) / 7.5fta (28th)
- LeBron James : 27.1ppg (7th) / 7.6fta (26th)
- George Gervin: 26.2ppg (11th) / 6.8fta (38th)
- Trae Young: 25.5ppg (13th) / 7.7fta (25th )
- Kobe Bryant: 25ppg (16th) / 7.4fta (29th)
- Dominique Wilkins: 24.8ppg (17th) / 6.9fta (37th)
- Adrian Dantley: 24.3ppg (23rd) / 8.7fta (10th)
- James Harden: 24.1ppg (25th) / 8.3fta (16th)
- Shaquille O'Neale: 23.7ppg (27th) / 9.3fta (5th)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo: 23.4ppg (29th) / 8.1fta (19th)
- George Mikan: 23.1ppg (31st) / 8.9fta (6th)
- Paul Arizin: 22.8ppg (34th) / 8.7fta (12th)
- Charles Barkley: 22.1ppg (37th) / 8.1fta (20th)
- David Thompson: 22.1ppg (38th) / 7.1fta (32nd)
- Dwyane Wade: 22ppg (40th) / 7.1fta (33rd)
For further reference, here are some all-time scoring seasons by players not previously mentioned:
- Kareem Abdul-Jabar (1972): 34.8ppg, 9fta
- Tiny Archibald (1973): 34ppg, 9.8fta
- Bob McAdoo (1975): 34.5ppg, 9.7fta
- Bernard King (1985): 32.9ppg, 10fta
- Tracy McGrady (2003): 32.1ppg, 9.7fta
- Russell Westbrook (2017): 31.6ppg, 10.4fta
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2023): 31.4ppg, 10.9fta
- Damian Lillard (2023): 32.2ppg, 9.6fta
by IndigoJacob
2 Comments
The idea that free throws aren’t “ethical points” is ridiculous. Free throws are a fundamental part of the sport, going back to its earliest days. They’re the checks and balances of the game.
***Almost all*** of the greatest scorers in the history of the sport, leveraged their skill and dominance to put their defenders in compromising positions, making them more susceptible to fouling.
The Process is no exception.
It’s not the free throws themselves that are getting criticized, it’s the way a lot of players are drawing fouls that fans don’t like. These stats don’t communicate the same things as watching a player stick their foot out or lock arms as they shoot or flop after crashing into a defender. Watching these athletes flail around and take advantage of the rules is what I have issue with.