NBA
Best NBA Free Throw Shooters in History: Career Leaders and Stats
In the NBA, free throws imply free points earned when a player converts them consistently. Elite NBA shooters are widely recognised for their unique ability to generate admirable clutch moments that have made the difference in championship games. In this article, we will review the leading NBA free-throw shooters of all time, as informed by their career statistics and legacy. Legendary players like Stephen Curry, Mark Price and Steve Nash have record-breaking achievements that include dominating with percentages above 90%. On the other hand, show stoppers like Calvin Murphy, Rick Barry, and Ray Allen set the bar for accuracy in their eras. This ranking showcases the most dominant free-throw shooters in NBA history, based on established free throws, career FT%, games played and their influence on the game.
Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors//Getty Images
Methodology
The ranking mirrors the SB Market Index (SBI) by integrating objective stats with historical recognition, with the following aspects guiding the process.
Industry Insights (70%)
These are expert rankings and NBA historical lists from platforms like StatMuse and NBA.com, focusing on influence, legacy, and clutch ability.
SB Score (30%)
Focuses on normalised statistics from:
- Career free throw percentage (FT%)
- Total free throws made (FTM)
- Games played (GP)
For each player, career stats are scaled against the top-most benchmark, with the leading player being awarded a score of 1.000
SB Market Index
This translates to the final score, cumulatively derived from 70% industry insights and 30% SB score. The Index seeks to balance performance with consistency, impact and longevity.
Top NBA Free Throw Shooters
The following is a list of the leading free-throw shooters in the history of the NBA.
| Rank | Player | Career FT% | FTM | GP | Industry Rank |
| 1 | Stephen Curry | .9098 | 4,032 | 1,026 | 1 |
| 2 | Steve Nash | .9043 | 3,060 | 1,217 | 2 |
| 3 | Mark Price | .9039 | 2,135 | 722 | 3 |
| 4 | Rick Barry | .8998 | 3,818 | 794 | 4 |
| 5 | Damian Lillard | .8974 | 5,262 | 900 | 5 |
| 6 | Peja Stojakovic | .8948 | 2,237 | 804 | 6 |
| 7 | Chauncey Billups | .8940 | 4,496 | 1,043 | 7 |
| 8 | Ray Allen | .8939 | 4,398 | 1,300 | 8 |
| 9 | JJ Redick | .8918 | 2,060 | 940 | 9 |
| 10 | Calvin Murphy | .8916 | 3,445 | 1,002 | 10 |
SB Score
This is the weighted average of FT%, FTM, and GP, normalised to the top FT%
| Player | SB Score |
| Stephen Curry | 1.000 |
| Steve Nash | 0.985 |
| Mark Price | 0.980 |
| Rick Barry | 0.970 |
| Damian Lillard | 0.965 |
| Peja Stojakovic | 0.960 |
| Chauncey Billups | 0.955 |
| Ray Allen | 0.950 |
| JJ Redick | 0.945 |
| Calvin Murphy | 0.940 |
SB Market Index
This index combines the SB Score and Industry Rank
| Rank | Player | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Stephen Curry | 4.9 |
| 2 | Steve Nash | 4.8 |
| 3 | Mark Price | 4.7 |
| 4 | Rick Barry | 4.5 |
| 5 | Damian Lillard | 4.4 |
| 6 | Peja Stojakovic | 4.2 |
| 7 | Chauncey Billups | 4.1 |
| 8 | Ray Allen | 4.0 |
| 9 | JJ Redick | 3.9 |
| 10 | Calvin Murphy | 3.8 |
Player Profiles
Below are brief but detailed and informative explanations justifying the leading positions of the best free-throw shooters in NBA history.
Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is the best NBA free-throw shooter in NBA history. Curry, who is still an active player, has the highest NBA free-throw percentage of .9098% and tallies the best SB score of 1.000 as well as the highest SB Market Index of 4.9.
Curry, nicknamed “Chef Curry”, is the greatest shooter to have ever graced the NBA. The four-time NBA Champion is credited with revolutionising shooting, especially the three-point shot across all levels of basketball. Curry is also consistent in clutch moments, and he has the accolades and trophies to back his case as one of the best NBA players in history.
Steve Nash
Steve Nash is the second-best NBA free-throw shooter in NBA history with a career free-throw percentage of .9043%. Nash registers an SB Score of 0.985 and an SB Matrix index of 4.8, which are both enough for second place.
The “Floor general” is considered one of the best point guards in NBA history, and his vision and elite accuracy rank among the best to have ever laced the boots. The Hall of Famer is a four-time 50-40-90 shooting seasons, a feat that enabled him to be nicknamed “Mr. 50 40 90”.
Mark Price
Mark Price is third on this ranking list after totalling a career free-throw percentage of .9039%, SB Score of 0.980 and SB Matrix Index of 4.7.
Mark Price was the heartbeat of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the late 1980s and early 1990s and is also one of the most iconic guards to have played in the NBA. The “OK Kid” was a clinical and exceptional shooter, as evidenced by two NBA Three-Point Shootout titles and held the NBA record for highest free-throw percentage at one point.
Rick Barry
Rick Barry is fourth on this rank with a career free-throw percentage of .8998%, SB Score of 0.970 and SB Matrix index of 4.5.
Rick Barry was an aggressive, Hall of Fame basketball player known for his unmatched competitiveness and distinctive underhand free-throw technique. He is the only player to lead the NCAA, NBA, and ABA in scoring and led the Golden State Warriors to the 1975 NBA Championship, earning the Finals MVP award.
● Damian Lillard: Active star, top-five FT%, known for clutch performances.
Danian Lillard is fifth on this rank with a career free throw percentage of .8974, SB Score of 0.965 and SB Matrix Index of 4.4.
“Big Game Dame” or “Dame Dollar” is a nine-time NBA All-Star point guard, famous for his long-range shooting and the “Dame Time” clutch performances. He is an assassin at the free-throw line and still has an active NBA career.
● Peja Stojakovic: Accurate sharpshooter, Euroleague background, high career FT%.
Peja Stojakovic is sixth on this rank with a career free throw percentage of .8948, SB Score of 0.960 and SB Matrix Index of 4.2.
Peja Stojakovic, nicknamed “American Graffiti” or “Mr Big Shot”, is regarded as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. He was an integral part of the Sacramento Kings squad that reached the 2002 Western Conference Finals. The Euroleague legend also won the NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011.
● Chauncey Billups: Clutch performer, leadership, top FT% among guards.
Chauncey Billups is seventh on this rank with a career free throw percentage of .8940, SB Score of 0.955 and SB Matrix Index of 4.1.
Chauncey Billups, nicknamed “Mr Big Shot”, is a Basketball Hall of Famer and a former NBA player best known for leading the Detroit Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship and earning the Finals MVP that year. He boasted supreme court vision, inspiring leadership and awesome clutch play to go along with a deadly free-throw percentage.
● Ray Allen: All-time three-point leader, high FT%, Hall of Fame legacy.
Ray Allen is eighth on this rank with a career free-throw percentage of .8939, SB Score of 0.950 and SB Matrix of 4.0.
Ray Allen, nicknamed “Mr Basketball” or “Jesus Shuttlesworth”, is widely regarded as one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time. Allen was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018 and is a two-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, two teams in which he was pivotal in their success with his extraordinary shooting skills.
● JJ Redick: Perimeter specialist, consistent career FT%, long-range threat.
JJ Redick is ninth on this rank with a career free-throw percentage of .8918, SB Score of 0.945 and Sb Market Index of 3.9.
JJ Reddick is a former NBA shooting guard, renowned for his exceptional three-point shooting and free-throw shooting. JJ was a perimeter specialist and a consistent long-range threat throughout his tenure in the Association that spanned 15 years.
● Calvin Murphy: Small but lethal, iconic career FT shooter, influenced future guards.
Calvin Murphy rounds up this rank at tenth position with a career free-throw percentage of .8916, SB Score of 0.940 and SB Market Index of 3.8.
Calvin Murphy was a 5-foot-9-inch Hall of Fame basketball player who played point guard for the Houston Rockets for 13 seasons between 1970-1983. Murphy, nicknamed “Pocket Rocket” due to his small stature and explosive, quick playing style, was known for his dynamic offensive play, deadly free throws, and tenacious defence despite his small stature.
He was one of the NBA's best free-throw shooters, leading the league in percentage in 1981 and 1983 and once hitting 78 consecutive free throws and earning an NBA All-Star nod.
Conclusion
Free throws are one of the most integral points a player can generate for his basketball team as they require precision and concentration, and the top NBA free-throw shooters combine accuracy, consistency, and mental toughness. Stephen Curry leads historically, while Steve Nash and Mark Price set benchmarks in their eras. Rick Barry’s underhand style remains legendary, and Damian Lillard represents the modern generation of elite shooters. The SB Market Index balances statistics and legacy to show who not only made free throws but also shaped shooting standards. These ten players exemplify excellence at the charity stripe, making free throws a key part of NBA success.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.