The best free throw shooters in NBA history – ranked

In modern basketball, cheap fouls are so common that it's essential for players to take and make their free throws. Nowadays, it can be the difference between victory and defeat. Throughout history, some players have excelled at the charity stripe, creating fouls and winning the game for their team—all statistics per Stat Muse.

Kyrie Irving has arguably the most extraordinary ball-handling ability basketball has ever seen. His ability to put defenders in a cyclone and torment them defensively has helped him consistently reach the free throw line. Irving has attempted nearly 3500 shots from the line, making 88.7%.

At 5ft9, Calvin Murphy was an exceptional scorer in the land full of giants for over a decade in the NBA. Murphy was easily knocked around in the paint, but he made teams pay with his superior free throw ability. In 1980-81, Murphy made 206 of 215 free throws (95.8%), including a streak of 78 charity stripe attempts without a miss. He made 89.2% of his free throws.

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Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird was one of the best all-time mid-range and post players in the NBA. His crafty shot-creating ability was a nightmare for defenders in the 1980s, helping him get to the line consistently and effectively. Bird averaged five free throw attempts each game and made 3,960 of 4,471 attempts in his career (88.6%).

JJ Redick was the perfect role player during his NBA career. He was remarkably consistent at all three scoring levels and took the burden off his team's superstars. He made 2,060 of 2,310 attempts from the line (89.2%).

Ray Allen is better known for his three-point ability, but his free throw consistency is one of the most overlooked parts of his game. Allen holds the Boston Celtics franchise records for consecutive free throws made (72) and highest free throw percentage in a season (95%) after making 237 of 249 in 2008-09. His career percentage is 89.4.

The player with the seventh-best free throw percentage in NBA history is 2004 Finals MVP Chauncey Billups, who made 4,496 of 5,029 attempts (89.4%). For his late-game shooting ability, he earned the nickname 'Mr. Big Shot.'

Serbian forward Peja Stojakovic didn't attempt as many free throws as more players on this list, but he did know how to punish the opposition when he sent to the line. Stojakovic has the sixth-best free throw percentage in NBA history (89.5%) after making 2,237 attempts.

Reggie Miller is one of the most clutch players in NBA history. He has made countless three-pointers and free throws to secure important victories for the Indiana Pacers. Miller's skinny frame was a burden in the physical era of the 1990s, but it also helped him reach the charity stripe on 7,026 occasions, making 6,237 of his attempts (88.8%).

German superstar Dirk Nowitzki is one of eight players to score over 30,000 points in his NBA career, but he wouldn't be close to that target if he weren't so crafty at getting to the line. The opposing team couldn't guard his signature one-legged fadeaway, so he was sent to the line numerous times, making 7,240 of his 8,239 attempts (87.9%).

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Kevin Durant is the most unstoppable mid-range player in NBA history. The 'Slim Reaper' can pull up from just about anywhere contested, making his free throws a near enough guarantee when he gets to the line. The former MVP has made 88.2% of over 8,000 attempts from the stripe.

In the past decade, Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard has established himself as one of the most exceptional marksmen in the NBA. Lillard has attempted nearly 6,000 free throws, making 89.9% of them. He is deadly from half-court to the basket on the court.

Rick Barry is one of four players with a career average of 90% or more from the free throw line. Barry was widely known for his unorthodox underarm free throw shot, which helped him rank first in ABA free throw percentage (88%) and first in NBA charity stripe attempts when he retired in 1980.

Mark Price was one of the first point guards to split the screen and role in the NBA. He forced his way into the paint and was fouled or made a tough shot. Price was an incredible free throw shooter when he got to the line, making 90.4% of his shots in 2,362 attempts.

Two-time MVP Steve Nash was incredible at getting to the line during his NBA career, punishing the opposition 90.4% of the time. The Canadian guard made 3,060 of his 3,384 free throw attempts.

NBA icon Steph Curry has earned the title of 'best shooter in basketball history,' including his free throws. Curry leads the NBA's all-time free throw percentage record, making 91.1% of his shots from the charity stripe. He has taken over 4,000 attempts from the line.

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