In the high-stakes world of basketball, where every second counts and the outcome of a game can hinge on a single shot, there exists a seemingly straightforward task that perplexes even the most skilled players: the free throw.
With no defenders to contest the shot and an unobstructed path to the hoop, one might assume that sinking a free throw would be a breeze for professional athletes.
However, as fans and players alike have witnessed time and again, these seemingly simple shots can prove excruciatingly difficult to convert.
What lies beneath the surface of this enigma?
Is it purely a matter of skill, or are there deeper factors at play?
Join us as we delve into the captivating world of basketball free throws, uncovering the intricate blend of science, psychology, and pressure that make them one of the most challenging aspects of the game.
Prepare to witness the unraveling of this captivating mystery, where the seemingly easy can become the maddeningly elusive.
Now, let’s start with a quick answer summary…
Basketball free throws are deceptively difficult to convert due to external and internal pressures on the athlete, such as the weight of the game, the crowd’s anticipation and the player’s own mental state. Additionally, the free throw requires a combination of focus and near-flawless shooting technique for success, which can be difficult to have when you take into account physical fatigue as well.
Right, with that out of the way let’s get into the finer details.
Reasons why free throw opportunities are hard to convert into baskets
Free throws pose a challenge for casual players and seasoned professionals alike.
Here’s how…
1. Static setting
We all know that basketball is a game of motion.
From the tipoff to the final buzzer, players are running, jumping, dribbling the ball, boxing out, screening, etc.
In other words, people playing the game are always in “constant motion.”
Now on the other side of the coin, here comes the free throw.
Static.
Still.
Practically motionless.
In all the chaos of movement that the game requires, the one shot you are given with no constraints (other than time) is given to you in complete stillness!
You go from bouncing around and running around and jumping all over the place to a full stop!
So, you have to temporarily suspend your adrenaline, slow your heartbeat, control your breathing, and focus your vision on making a shot into a small hoop 15 feet away!
As it turns out, it’s not so easy to do, isn’t it?
Your shooting technique becomes crucial, with the slightest deviation in form or release leading to missed shots.
One of basketball’s most successful free throw shooters with a career 89% conversion from the stripe – Jonathan Clay “J J” Reddick – echoes the aforementioned sentiment:
“From a mental standpoint, free throws are the hardest shot in basketball. Take all the shots in basketball—they all occur in a dynamic setting. There’s a cadence and a rhythm to shooting a three off a screen or a pull-up off the dribble. You’re making instinctual reads based on the defence and coverage. But with free throws, that all changes. Free throws are static. It’s the one play in basketball where everything stops.”
Source – Los Angeles Times
2. Pressure moment
When you are shooting free throws, all the players are gathered around you, staring at you.
The devotion of fans to their teams can be extremely vocal, and their dissatisfaction with or excitement for the players can be overwhelming.
Coaches and teammates may also have high expectations for a player’s performance, therefore adding more pressure.
So ultimately, the pressure-packed nature of free throws can significantly impact a player’s performance, as the weight of the game, the crowd’s anticipation, and the individual’s own mental state all contribute to the heightened stress surrounding these shots.
3. Physical fatigue
Taking free throws at the end of games can be harder because fatigue has already set in.
Basketball, we can all agree, is a physically demanding sport; the players are always in constant motion.
They are sprinting up and down the court, making physical contact with their opponents.
Even the fittest athletes might become exhausted as a result of this, affecting their free throw shooting.
The physical fatigue endured during a game can affect a player’s muscle control, altering their shooting mechanics.
Fatigue can cause a loss of focus, poor technique, or diminished power, all of which can result in missed free throw shots for even the most skilled of basketball players, particularly when they’re attempted close to the end of a fixture.
What’s a good free throw conversion percentage in basketball?
The significance of free throws for both teams and individual players cannot be overstated.
It’s important to note that with no interference from the opposing side, scoring free throws can increase the score from zero to one or two points.
So, what’s a good free-throw conversion percentage?
The free-throw percentage of a player is derived by dividing the total number of free throws attempted by the total number of free throws made.
A respectable free-throw percentage should be greater than 80%, which indicates that a player must make at least eight out of every ten attempts.
A professional basketball player’s rate averages between 70% and 85% (73% for the NBA to be precise), whereas a moderate free-throw shooter converts between 50 and 70%.
Poor free-throw shooters, on the other hand, have a conversion percentage of fewer than 60%.
A player’s free-throw percentage is a crucial indicator for determining the qualities of his or her skill set.
Which NBA players have historically struggled to make free throw attempts?
Now there are quite a few professionals who’ve dazzled millions of spectators at the highest level of the sport, yet at the same time, been pretty terrible at free throw shooting.
Check out some of the famous names below.
Shaquille O’Neal
Shaq’s career goes down in NBA history as one of the most dominant players ever.
He completed his career with 15 All-Star appearances, 14 All-NBA and three All-Defensive selections, four championships, three All-Star MVPs, a regular-season MVP, two scoring titles, and other honours.
Shaq’s past, on the other hand, was marked by his not being a terrific free-throw shooter; in his career, he missed a total of 5,317 free throws.
With 1,200 misses or more, he has the fifth-worst free-throw shooting percentage in NBA history, at 52.7%.
DeAndre Jordan
Throughout his career, DeAndre Jordan has struggled with free throws.
In reality, Jordan made only 43% of his free throws in the 2015-16 NBA season, the lowest percentage in NBA history for a player with at least 150 tries.
Jordan has also attempted everything from working with shooting tutors to tweaking his technique to improve his free throw shooting.
But, unlike O’Neal, he appears to have discovered a consistent remedy.
Wilt Chamberlain
Chamberlain has a poor free-throw shooting percentage.
Like O’Neal, he probably did not need to develop that skill, but the stats are simply undeniable.
The four-time MVP (including one as a rookie) missed 5,805 of his 11,862 free-throw attempts in his career, meaning he missed at least five free throws per game over his career.
He has only made 51% of his free throws in his career (down to 46% in the NBA Playoffs) and has the fourth-worst FT percentage among players with at least 1,200 misses.
Andre Drummond
One may also argue that Andre Drummond is the NBA’s worst free-throw shooter.
Drummond’s free-throw percentage of 35.5% in the 2015–2016 NBA season was among the lowest in the league.
Despite working on his free throw ability during the 2016–2017 season, his percentage remained relatively low, hovering around 38.6%.
It’s extremely disheartening for players like Drummond, who are recognised for their physical dominance in the game, to miss out on such simple scoring opportunities.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, the perplexing nature of basketball free throws becomes clearer when we examine the interplay of various factors.
The intense pressure surrounding these shots, coupled with the need for precise shooting technique, unwavering focus, and the physical toll of the game, all contribute to their difficulty.
As spectators, we must appreciate the mental and physical challenges faced by players as they step up to the free-throw line.
Furthermore, coaches and athletes alike should continue to emphasize the importance of mental preparation, practice, and technique refinement to enhance free-throw conversion rates.
Although the challenge remains, understanding the complexities behind the struggle can foster a deeper appreciation for the skill, resilience, and mental fortitude required to conquer the enigma of the basketball free throw.
If this post has left you captivated, then you’re also going to want to have a read of our article that discusses whether you can jump when making a free throw shot.
He now intends to dedicate his time to produce great content for his own little basketball blog that aims to help its readership with whatever basketball-related topic they can think of.
Have a read through Samuel Waihenya's author bio page here.
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