Mental weakness? I think Shaqs problem is more due to his size. The ball looks quite small in his hands...try shooting foul shots with an undersized ball and you'll know what I mean.

Its a number of factors Eddie P, I think. Its to do with trajectory. Your 6foot4 and shorter guys get a better arc on their free throws because they are shorter. The big guys have to shoot their free throws flatter.

Also, I think shaq struggles to get the correct lever motion on his free throw action because of the size of those guns/arms

You tell us Eddie P. Im interested to hear your opinion.

Ha, classic, just reading the Eagles vs Lions boxscore and noticed Forestville shot 53% from 3PT line and 44% from FT line.

Eddie P, I thought you were the expert?

P as in the free throw shooting coach ??

By the way the arc on Shaq's shot is only part of the problem . He refuses to flick his wrist - so it comes out like a cannon ball.

Mark Nash needs to pull his finger out. He should be listening to this.

Eddie, help all these boys out!
Nash, that is disgusting.... by the way, Shaq is starting to look better from the foul line than Ben Wallace.....oh, that isn't a compliment.

just checking, but the ball hasnt changed in size or weight so the only variable is the shooter. The ball may look tiny in Shaqs hands but his job is to shot the same sized and weighted ball from the same distance in a basket that is the same height (unless you are in the marion stadium)! its in the head. noone else is to blame but the person at the line.

Dr Shot,

I'm not convinced your trajectory theory is on the money in terms of disadvantaging the bigger guys, the tallest guy in the league shot 85% this season from the stripe so presumably his height hasn't made shooting them more difficult.

There's just something hideously wrong with the mechanics of Shaq's shot, I think the fact his hands are massive does make it harder, but again Yao must have some pretty big mits himself.

Some things in the world just are the way the are, there will always be conflict in Palestine, Sixers33 will always post unneccessary posts and Shaq will always be a bad free throw shooter.

Shaq can't blame anyone appart from himself, the old sane goes practice makes perfect. I know it must be fun Dunking all over Alonzo at trainig but wouldn't it be better to make a free throw when it matters!

While the mechanics of the shot have a massive impact on FT results, i think they are cases when it realli is lack of confidence and a mental issue. ive heard numerous accounts at how wilt chamberlain was a fantastic foul shooter in trainings often matching it with jerry west, however in games we all know he had a disgusting FT%. so its many factors, but as they basketball is 90% above the neck

Shaq actually broke both arms as a young child, and could not afford the proper medical treatment to have the set correctly - and to have it done now would throw all his muscle balance out. One wrist is slightly rotated inward, and one wrist is slightly bent back towards him. Neither are too noticeable, but would affect taking balanced shots from more than about 2 feet from the ring. This was well documented when he was struggling through problems as a rookie.

God you guys talk shit...daniel

agreed on Dr Damage what a load of shit, just face it Shaq cant shoot he can only dunk, and he will never be able to shoot its just not him. Dont think im bagn the big guy, i rekon hes great but he just can't shoot

to damage and brad - just because it is not widely known, doesn't mean it's untrue. do your research boys.

well said anon87743

Shaq is 7'4 and built like a brick shit house, his game was built around that fact only!!!

He cant shoot, never could, never will. What he can do is awesome. But get real about mixing Shaq and any real thread about shooting free throws.

Looks like shaq has had a growth spirt at a late age. Last time i checked Shaq was 7'1. I wonder how the extra 3" will affect his numbers next season Dr Damage?

Surely Undersized Pf, the Greatest Player of All Time would not be intimidated by a trip to the stripe?

Psychological factors have a hell of a lot to do with this skill.
As does recvery heart rate , between the action that has occured in the previous couple of plays.
Many players find it difficult to narrow the focus while the whole game is fixed on them.
People like Brett Maher who are high % ft shooters are also organised and methodical in all their play(on and of the court) so it would follow into their shooting from the stripe.

There is always the old fashioned way...shoot thousands of them and turn it into a closed skill!!

Time to think can be a dangerous comodity for some. Foul shots should be routine, practice going a fair way to perfection. Surely any coach at a reasonable level can give intruct a player in this basic technique.

well said sween players in under 14's are expected to shoot at least one out of 2 and if shaq or anyother players can not hit that when they go to the line, they need to go back to basics

The fact that the ball seems smaller to shaq or that it's because hes taller is bull! IF you played continually on an Under 10's size ring with a size 5 ball, and thats what you always took you foul shots from, it would be easy as hell to make them.

I think it is also the coaching staff's fault, during the finals but also in the regular season, teams will go out and deliberately plan to 'hack shaq' cause everyone knows he can't shoot foul shots. Get him in the gym working hard from the stripe and you could add a lot of easy points to his game...