Big men in the NBA have done it all—blocked shots, grabbed rebounds, and dominated the paint. But when it came time to stand all alone at the charity stripe, some of them just couldn’t make it work.
Free throws are supposed to be the easiest points in basketball, but these guys turned them into an adventure. Whether it was nerves, mechanics, or just plain bad luck, these big men turned every trip to the line into a nail-biter.
13. Clint Capela
Capela has been a force around the rim, but his free-throw shooting has often made coaches cringe. Defenders weren’t afraid to foul him and send him to the line, where points were anything but guaranteed.
12. Rony Seikaly
Known for his athleticism and rebounding, Seikaly didn’t exactly bring that same energy to the free-throw line. His percentages never quite matched his talent in other areas.
11. Ben Wallace
Wallace was a defensive beast and rebounding machine, but his free-throw stroke was a different story. His low percentages made him a frequent target for intentional fouls late in games.
10. Steven Adams
Adams is one of the toughest guys in the league, but that toughness didn’t extend to free throws. He’s improved slightly over the years, but for a long stretch, it was a real liability.
9. Larry Smith
Nicknamed “Mr. Mean,” Smith played tough inside but never found a rhythm at the line. His bricklaying free-throw attempts were almost expected every time he stepped up.
8. Chris Dudley
Dudley’s free-throw attempts often looked like trick shots gone wrong. He was so bad that clips of his misses are still floating around the internet today.
7. Andris Biedriņš
Biedriņš had a sharp decline in confidence at the free-throw line, and it showed. His shooting form fell apart to the point where even single-digit percentages became a reality.
6. Bismack Biyombo
Biyombo brought hustle and energy to the court, but his free throws always came with a cringe. His shot mechanics have been all over the place, making him a prime target for the “Hack-a” strategy.
5. Andre Drummond
Drummond has led the league in rebounds, but his free throws were often hard to watch. Teams routinely fouled him on purpose, knowing his chances of making both were slim.
4. Wilt Chamberlain
Yes, even one of the greatest players of all time struggled at the line. Chamberlain’s dominance in every other area of the game made his free-throw woes all the more glaring.
3. Dwight Howard
Howard was so poor at free throws that “Hack-a-Dwight” became a league-wide trend. His powerful dunks didn’t translate into finesse from 15 feet away.
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2. DeAndre Jordan
Jordan has had seasons where he shot worse than 40% from the stripe. Opposing teams weren’t shy about taking advantage of it, especially in close games.
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1. Shaquille O’Neal
No one embodies the phrase “can’t hit free throws” more than Shaq. His struggles from the line became legendary, and “Hack-a-Shaq” is now a permanent part of basketball vocabulary.
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