The free-throw shot in basketball has always been an important part of the game, and it’s now more important than ever to be a good free-throw shooter. It’s one thing to get to the foul line, it’s another thing to be able to make your free-throws at a high percentage.
Statistics show that the average free-throw percentage (FT%) for the NBA, WNBA and NCAA is around 70%. Basketball players that average a FT% of 90% and above are considered elite free-throw shooters. Basketball players that have a free-throw percentage below 70% are considered to be below average free-throw shooters.
With that being said, a good free-throw percentage depends on the position of the player and the level and league being played. Also keep in mind that the volume or number of free-throws attempted also plays a big factor.
In this article, we will discuss more in-depth on what is considered to be a good free-throw percentage at the NBA, NCAA, & High School levels, as well as talk about some of the greatest and worst free-throw shooters the game of basketball has ever seen.
Let’s get started.
Basketball Free-Throw Percentage
There are many factors to consider when discussing what makes a good free-throw shooter and what separates them from other players.
One of the most common and effective ways to measure if a player is good at free-throws is to look at their free-throw percentage (FT%) and see how many they make vs. how many they take during a game, season and career.
In most levels of basketball, a player or team that shoots about 70-80% is pretty average. Anything above 80% is considered to be above average and any player that shoots 85-95% is an elite free-throw shooter. However, this number may vary by the level of play and number of attempts.
Here is a breakdown of what is considered to be a good and elite free-throw shooting percentage at the different levels of basketball.
Basketball Free-Throw Percentage by Level
| Basketball Level | FT% (Below Average) | FT% (Average) | FT% (Elite) |
| NBA | Below 70% | 70% | 85-90% |
| College | Below 70% | 70% | 85-90% |
| High School | Below 65% | 65-70% | 80-90% |
NBA Free-Throw Percentage
In the NBA free-throw shooting percentage is an important statistic that can have a huge impact on the game. A good free-throw shooting percentage in the NBA is anything over 80%. However, most NBA players average free-throw shooting percentage is around 70%. Elite free-throw shooters like Steph Curry have a 90% free-throw shooting percentage.
In my opinion here is what I would considered to be the different tiers of free-throw shooting percentages in the NBA.
NBA 3-Point Tiers
| Level | FT% |
| Elite | 85-90% |
| Average | 70-80% |
| Below Average | 70% or Below |
College Free-Throw Percentage
In college basketball the average free-throw percentage for a player during a season is around 70%. Elite college basketball players typically have a free-throw shooting percentage of 85% or higher. Below average shooters will typically have a free-throw percentage below 70%.
According to teamrankings.com the best free-throw shooting team in the 2021-2022 season was Villanova who shot a team average of 83% behind the line. The worst free-throw shooting team in this same season was the Sam Houston St. Bearkats who shot an average free-throw percentage of 60.5%. Most Division 1 men’s basketball teams shoot a team average of 70-75% from the free-throw line in a given season.
In general, the best free-throw shooters in college basketball are guards and forwards but some centers can also shoot at a high percentage from behind the line.
High School Free-Throw Percentage
As you would expect a good free-throw percentage in high school is lower when compared to college basketball and NBA players.
The average free-throw shooting percentage for a high school basketball player is around 65-70%. A really good high school basketball player will shoot 80-85% from the free-throw line. A below average free-throw shooting percentage in high school would be anything below 65%.
With all that said, these numbers might also vary depending on what level of high school basketball is being played. For example, the varsity players will most likely shoot a higher 3-point percentage than the freshmen team would and bigger high schools are more likely to have more skilled players than smaller schools.
How Free-Throw Percentage is Calculated
Calculating your free-throw percentage is pretty straightforward. You simply take the number of free-throws made and divide it by the total number of attempts. From there you multiply that number by 100 to get the percentage. Most basketball leagues and stat tracking websites round your percentage to the nearest tenths place.
For example, if Steph Curry makes 9 free-throws in a game out of 10 attempts. You can calculate his free-throw shooting percentage by taking his made free-throws (9) and dividing it by the number of attempts (10) and then multiplying it by 100 to get the percentage. (9/10 = 0.9 X 100 = 90%)
Other Important Basketball Statistics
- What is a good 3-point percentage? (With Examples)
- What’s a Good Field Goal Percentage in Basketball? (NBA, College, Highschool)
- How Long Are Basketball Games?
How to Become a Good Free-Throw Shooter
Establish a Routine
Consistency is key to becoming an effective free throw shooter. One thing that can help you increase your free-throw percentage is to stabling a simple routine each time you get to the line. You’ll start to perform a habit and you’ll end up being more consistent.
Balance is Key
The power of your shot comes from your legs. Make sure to stay balanced and keep your knees bent with your weight on your toes all whilst balancing the ball with your non-dominant hand. From there you can engage your core and be in a stable position to aim at the hoop.
Eyes
This tip may sound simple but it’s best to focus your eyes directly at your target. As you become more comfortable with your routine it will be like second nature and you can focus the target and no other things like your elbow or the ball. This will allow for better accuracy when aiming at the basketball hoop.
Follow Trough
Perhaps one of the most important components to a free-throw shot is the follow through. Make sure to extend your knees and elbows and most importantly flick your wrist. This will produce a back spin on the ball. All of this movement should be in one fluid motion keeping your feet on the ground.
For more information on becoming a better free-throw shooter check out this article: 5 Tips on How to Improve Your Free-Throw Shot.
Mental Game
Being a consistent free-throw shooter requires a great mental effort. A lot of bad free-throw shooters have the skills and ability but they are not in the right head space mentally. Focus on being mentally strong and positive as you work on your free-throw game.
Best Free-Throw Shooters of All Time (NBA)
Steph Curry
Steph Curry is one of the greatest shooters of all time and is well known for being able to light up the scoreboard from behind the three-point line. He is also statically the best free-throw shooter in NBA history. Stephen Curry has a free-throw shooting percentage of 90.47% in his career.
Steve Nash
Another all-time great free-throw shooter is Steve Nash who averaged a free-throw shooting percentage of 90.43% in his NBA career. Nash could hurt you with his playmaking ability and his deep range and if he got to the free throw line you could count on him to knock down his shorts.
Ray Allen
Many of the greatest free-throw shooters in NBA history are also the greatest three-point shooters, too. Allen historically has one of the best shooting forms in basketball history, and this also rings true to his ability to shoot free throws. Ray Allen average a career free-throw percentage of 89.39% putting himself in elite free-throw making company.
Chauncey Billups
You don’t gain the nickname “Mr. Big Shot” without making a few free-throws. Chauncey did not only shoot his free-throws at a high percentage but he also made some big time shots. If his team need some points they could always count on Chauncey to deliver especially if he got to the foul line. Chauncey Billups average a 89.4% career free-throw shooting percentage.
For more information on some of the best free-throw shooters in NBA history check out this article written by sportscasting.com: The 7-Best Free-Throw Shooters in NBA History.
Worst Free-Throw Shooters of All Times (NBA)
Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq)
Shaquille O’Neal was a dominant big man and one of NBA’s all-time great centers. He was also well known for being a terrible free-throw shooter. So, what was Shaq’s free throw percentage throughout his career?
Shaquille O’Neal averaged 52.7 percent from the free-throw line during his NBA career (basketball-refrence.com). His free-throw shooting was often so bad that other teams used a strategy called “Hack-a-Shaq” where they would intentionally foul him to force him to make his free-throws. Over Shaq’s career he missed more than 5,300 free throws and could never find his rhythm behind the line.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain was one of the greatest basketball players of all time and still holds plenty of records that may never be broke. However, his game wasn’t without weakness and he was bad free throw shooter.
Wilt Chamberlain had a career free-throw shooting percentage of 51.1% which is significantly below the NBA average. To put this in perspective most high school basketball players shoot about 60% and good to elite high school basketball players shoot around 75%.
Ben Wallace
Statistically speaking Ben Wallace is historically the worst free throw shooters in NBA history. He the lowest career free-throw percentage, at 41.4 percent.
His shooting touch and accuracy were absolutely horrendous and his mechanics were subpar at best. However, he was a dominant rebounder and shot blocker and was a four-time defensive player of the year.
Dennis Rodman
Another notable bad free-throw shooter in NBA history is Dennis Rodman. “The Worm” was an outstanding rebounder leading the league in seven different season. He was also one of the worst free-throw shooters during that time.
Dennis Rodman had a career free-throw percentage of 58.4% Rodman was always bad from the line both on all of the teams he played for. (Detroit, Chicago and San Antonio)
For more information on bad free-throw shooters in the NBA check out this article by Bleacher Report: The NBA’s Top 10 All-Time Worst Free Throw Shooters
Final Thoughts
An important part of the game of basketball is the free-throw shot. More and more teams and players are shifting their focus on being able to effectively and consistently make shots from behind the line.
These days if you want to be a successful and effective basketball player making your free-throw is something every basketball player should work on and master.
I hope this article provides some clarity on what is considered to be a good free-throw percentage at the different levels of basketball and that you consider the different variables we discussed in this article.