I've often wondered how as a professional so many players shoot such poor percentages.

I would have thought it reasonable to shoot min 80% from the Free Throw line.

Thoughts?

Bizzy - 80% might be a stretch, but 70% seems reasonable.

I can't understand why someone can't shoot 200 a day until they improve. Big guys who can rebound, block shots and hit free throws will get a mid-range NBA contract on a contender.

Very valuable in the playoffs, and equally as risky to have on the court if they can't shoot clutch FT's.

Imagine Shaq as a 70% FT shooter - scary

At least hit the ring on every attempt?

Kevin Durrant doesn't have any problems with his long arse arms

Hey, at least he wiped his hands on his shorts afterwards!

It's all mental, you could see the stress on his face thinking about it way too much. Same with aussie rules, you see guys who kick 9/10 set shots in practice but talk themselves out of it in a game.

If they're coordinated enough to make 15-ft jumpshots then why can't they make 15-ft foul shots?

Amare Stoudemire- 80%
Tyson Chandler- 78%
Pau Gasol- 78%
LaMarcus Aldridge- 77%
Al Jefferson- 74%

All big fella's with long arms and big hands....

Shaun Bradley - 72%.

Pretty sure I read that the reason MJ was a good shooter was his large hands (insert any punchline you like people).
Able to spread the fingers and get a better rotation on the shot.

How come Kwame isn't the best shooter going around (career 57%) he of the "little hands".

Yao Ming 83%

Great commentary on the Jordan free throw. Listen a few times..

One of those commentators almost sounds like Kermit the Frog on the Jordan free throw!

Dirk has big hands and long arms too.

The offense per se has been putrid in the NBA this season .. the rush to get things up and running post the lockout has clearly played havoc with teams' chemistry ect.

The NBA ppg is about 11 lower than the average for the past three or four years ..

Give Reggie Evans a run for his money

That is so short, can't believe it.

Funny how all the guys who struggle (and use the long arms/large hands excuses) are not renowned for their work ethic either. Shaq being a prime example.

Jordan had huge hands, career 83.5% free throw shooter

I love his assumption that his teammates are going to want to slap his hands after that effort. At least the net moved!

The first "related video" on your Reggie Evans example features Ben Wallace with two straight airballs.

I still agree with the reason that big hands are the reason why big man are worse shooters. Just imagine trying to shoot a mini basketball. Its alot harder shooting at the ring then a normal sized basketball. It's harder to aim and it's harder to measure the distance when you shoot. That's what big men have to deal with in the NBA, the ball is alot smaller to them and therefore it's harder to aim and measure the distance.

Just look at the clip below and watch Shaq holding the ball before he shoots the free throw. It looks like he is holding a mini ball, this is why big man tend to be worse free throw shooters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT9-DckWq8Q

Diop has never ever been good, no idea what the Cavs saw in him to select him in the lotto with the 8th pick back in 2001.

Dallas giving him $32 mill over 6 was dumb, but what's even dumber was the Bobcats trading for him.

If I shot free throws with a mini-ball 300 times a day, I'd make more than 48%.

I would be very surprised if any of the terrible free throw shooters were truly trying to improve by practicing every day.

doc, I also wonder how much of it at that level is mental, being able to clear the mind to stick with a routine.

This is still the worst one I've seen