In basketball, a free throw is an unopposed attempt to score points from behind the free throw line. The National Basketball Association's (NBA) free throw scoring leader is the player with the highest average of free throws made per game in a given season. To qualify as a free throw scoring leader, the player must have at least 125 free throws made. Aside from the strike shortened 1998–99 NBA season and 2011–12 NBA season, this has been the entry criteria since the 1974–75 NBA season.
Jerry West holds the record for highest free throw scoring average in a season which he accomplished with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1965–66 NBA season with 10.63 free throws made per game. West also holds the record for most free throws made in single season (840) which he accomplished with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1965–66 NBA season.
Karl Malone has led the league in free throw scoring a record eight times. James Harden has led the league seven times, while Neil Johnston and Oscar Robertson have each done it four times. Ten players led the league in free throw scoring three times. Six players led the league in free throw scoring two times.
Key ^Denotes player who is still active in the NBA*Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame‡Denotes player who won the scoring title that yearPlayer (X)Denotes the number of times the player had been the scoring leader up to and including that seasonGGuardFForwardCCenter Annual leaders Season Player Pos Team Free throwsmade Free throwsmade pergame Free throwpercentageRef ‡ *FPhiladelphia Warriors604397.32.730 * (2)FPhiladelphia Warriors432976.91.762 ‡ *CMinneapolis Lakers605328.87.772 ‡ * (2)CMinneapolis Lakers685678.34.779 ‡ * (3)CMinneapolis Lakers685768.47.803 ‡ *FPhiladelphia Warriors665788.76.818 ‡ *CPhiladelphia Warriors705567.94.700 ‡ * (2)CPhiladelphia Warriors725778.01.747 ‡ * (3)CPhiladelphia Warriors725898.18.766 * (4)CPhiladelphia Warriors705497.84.801 *FSyracuse Nationals726258.68.904 ‡ *FDetroit Pistons726559.10.811 ‡ *F/CSt. Louis Hawks726679.26.759 *FMinneapolis Lakers705648.06.732 * (2)FLos Angeles Lakers736769.26.783 ‡ *CPhiladelphia Warriors8083510.44.613 * (2)F/CSt. Louis Hawks796858.67.774 *GCincinnati Royals7980010.13.853 * (2)GCincinnati Royals756658.87.839 *GLos Angeles Lakers7984010.63.860 ‡ *FSan Francisco Warriors787539.65.884 * (3)GCincinnati Royals655768.86.873 * (4)GCincinnati Royals796438.14.838 ‡ * (2)GLos Angeles Lakers746478.74.824 *GDetroit Pistons826157.50.797 *GCincinnati Royals766778.91.822 ‡ * (2)GKansas City-Omaha Kings806638.29.847 ‡ *C/FBuffalo Braves744596.20.793 * (3)GKansas City-Omaha Kings826527.95.872 ‡ * (2)C/FBuffalo Braves785597.17.762 ‡ *GNew Orleans Jazz735016.86.835 *FIndiana PacersLos Angeles Lakers795416.85.796 GSan Diego Clippers786548.38.756 (2)GSan Diego Clippers685728.41.753 (3)GGolden State Warriors655288.12.814 * (2)FUtah Jazz816488.00.792 *CPhiladelphia 76ers786007.69.761 ‡ * (3)FUtah Jazz7981310.29.859 * (2)CPhiladelphia 76ers797379.33.815 * (3)CPhiladelphia 76ers746178.34.787 ‡ *GChicago Bulls8283310.16.857 *FPhiladelphia 76ers807148.93.751 *FUtah Jazz807038.79.766 * (2)FUtah Jazz826968.49.762 * (3)FUtah Jazz826848.34.770 * (4)FUtah Jazz816738.31.778 * (5)FUtah Jazz826197.55.740 ‡ *CSan Antonio Spurs806938.66.749 * (2)CSan Antonio Spurs816568.10.774 * (3)CSan Antonio Spurs826267.63.761 * (6)FUtah Jazz825216.35.775 * (7)FUtah Jazz816287.75.761 * (8)FUtah Jazz493787.71.788 G/FDetroit Pistons826187.54.815 (2)G/FDetroit Pistons806668.33.822 ‡ * GPhiladelphia 76ers604757.92.812 ‡ *G/FOrlando Magic755767.68.793 G/FLos Angeles Clippers735267.21.848 ‡ * (2)GPhiladelphia 76ers756568.75.835 * (3)GPhiladelphia 76ers726759.38.814 ‡ *GLos Angeles Lakers776678.66.868 GSacramento Kings615028.23.869 ‡ *GMiami Heat795907.47.765 ‡ ^FOklahoma City Thunder827569.22.900 ‡ ^ (2)FOklahoma City Thunder785947.62.880 ^FMinnesota Timberwolves553796.89.824^GHouston Rockets786748.64.851 ‡ ^ (3)FOklahoma City Thunder817038.68.873^ (2)GHouston Rockets817158.83.868 ^ (3)GHouston Rockets827208.78.860 ^ (4)GHouston Rockets817469.21.847 ‡^ (5)GHouston Rockets726248.67.858 ‡ ^ (6)GHouston Rockets787549.67.879 ‡ ^ (7)GHouston Rockets6869210.18.865 ^CPhiladelphia 76ers514719.24.859 ‡ ^ (2)CPhiladelphia 76ers686549.62.814 ‡ ^ (3)CPhiladelphia 76ers6666110.02.857 ^GOklahoma City Thunder755677.56.874 ‡ ^ (2)GOklahoma City Thunder766017.91.898 ^ (3)GOklahoma City Thunder685407.94.879
Multiple-time leaders RankPlayerTeamTimes leaderYears1Karl MaloneUtah Jazz8, , , , , , , 2James HardenHouston Rockets7, , , , , , 3Neil JohnstonPhiladelphia Warriors4, , , Oscar RobertsonCincinnati Royals, , , 5Tiny ArchibaldCincinnati Royals/Kansas City-Omaha Kings 3, , Adrian DantleyLos Angeles Lakers (1) / Utah Jazz (2), , Kevin DurantOklahoma City Thunder, , Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers, , World B. FreeSan Diego Clippers (2) / Golden State Warriors (1), , Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City Thunder, , Allen IversonPhiladelphia 76ers, , George MikanMinneapolis Lakers, , Moses MalonePhiladelphia 76ers, , David RobinsonSan Antonio Spurs, , 15Elgin BaylorMinneapolis Lakers/Los Angeles Lakers2, Joe FulksPhiladelphia Warriors, Bob McAdooBuffalo Braves, Bob PettitSt. Louis Hawks, Jerry StackhouseDetroit Pistons, Jerry WestLos Angeles Lakers,
See also NBA records List of NBA career free throw percentage leaders List of NBA career free throw scoring leaders List of NBA annual field goal percentage leaders List of NBA annual scoring leaders
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