# The 24 Best Free Throw Shooters in NBA History

> Underhanded throwbacks, single-season record holders and modern guards who barely miss at the line. Career percentages split them by fractions, so reputation and clutch makes may decide it.

*By YPB Team · Published November 7, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-24-best-free-throw-shooters-in-nba-history*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Stephen Curry** — score 1000/1000
   Golden State Warriors guard who holds the highest career free throw percentage in NBA history, about 91%.
2. **Larry Bird** — score 645/1000
   Boston Celtics forward who led the NBA in free throw percentage four times and made 88.6% for his career.
3. **Calvin Murphy** — score 645/1000
   Houston Rockets guard who shot 95.8% from the line in 1980–81 and made 89.2% of his career free throws.
4. **Dolph Schayes** — score 625/1000
   Syracuse Nationals forward of the 1950s and 1960s who led the NBA in free throw percentage three times.
5. **Steve Nash** — score 558/1000
   Two-time MVP point guard who made 90.4% of his free throws over an 18-season career.
6. **JJ Redick** — score 558/1000
   Sharpshooting guard who made 89.2% of his free throws over 15 NBA seasons.
7. **Mark Price** — score 506/1000
   Cleveland Cavaliers point guard of the late 1980s and 1990s who retired with a 90.4% career free throw percentage.
8. **Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf** — score 446/1000
   Denver Nuggets guard who led the NBA twice in free throw percentage, including 95.6% in 1993–94.
9. **Chris Paul** — score 446/1000
   Point guard whose career free throw percentage sits near 87% on more than 4,800 makes.
10. **José Calderón** — score 446/1000
   Spanish point guard José Calderón, who set the single-season NBA record by shooting 98.1% from the line for Toronto in 2008–09.
11. **Kiki Vandeweghe** — score 446/1000
   Scoring forward for Denver, Portland and the Knicks who made 87.2% of his career free throws.
12. **Bill Sharman** — score 446/1000
   Boston Celtics guard of the 1950s who led the league in free throw percentage seven times.
13. **Jeff Hornacek** — score 378/1000
   Guard for the Suns, 76ers and Jazz who made 87.7% of his career free throws and led the league in 1999–2000.
14. **Devin Booker** — score 378/1000
   Phoenix Suns guard whose career free throw percentage sits above 87% on more than 4,000 makes.
15. **Chauncey Billups** — score 378/1000
   2004 Finals MVP point guard who made 89.4% of his free throws across 17 NBA seasons.
16. **Scott Skiles** — score 298/1000
   Point guard of the 1980s and 1990s who made 88.9% of his career free throws.
17. **Damian Lillard** — score 298/1000
   Portland Trail Blazers guard whose career free throw percentage sits near 90% on more than 5,000 makes.
18. **Peja Stojaković** — score 298/1000
   Serbian forward, mainly with the Sacramento Kings, who made 89.5% of his career free throws.
19. **Kyrie Irving** — score 203/1000
   Point guard whose career free throw percentage sits near 89%, among the top 15 all time.
20. **Ray Allen** — score 203/1000
   Hall of Fame shooting guard who made 89.4% of his free throws on 4,398 makes.
21. **Dirk Nowitzki** — score 203/1000
   Dallas Mavericks power forward who made 87.9% of his free throws on more than 7,000 makes.
22. **Rick Barry** — score 203/1000
   Hall of Fame forward famous for shooting underhanded free throws, with a 90.0% NBA career mark.
23. **Reggie Miller** — score 0/1000
   Indiana Pacers shooting guard who made 6,237 free throws at an 88.8% career rate.
24. **Kevin Durant** — score 0/1000
   Four-time scoring champion whose career free throw percentage sits above 88% on more than 7,000 makes.

Tags: sports, basketball, players, nba, free throws