List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders explained

This article provides two lists:

A list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff free throws made.

A progressive list of playoffs free throws made leaders showing how the record has increased through the years.^[1]

Free throw scoring leaders

This article provides a list of National Basketball Association players by total career playoff free throws made.

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.

^	Active NBA player
	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame	-	†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration^[2]
§	1st time eligible for Hall of Fame in 2024^[3] -->

Rank	Player	Position(s)	Playoff team(s) played for (years)^[4]	Total free throws made	Total free throws attempted	Free throw percentage	Free throws made per game
1	^	SF	Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2015–2018) Miami Heat (2011–2014) Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023–2024)	1,836	2,479	.741
2		SG	Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998)	1,463	1,766	.828	8.17
3		SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012)	1,320	1,617	.816	6.00
4		PF	Utah Jazz (1986–2003) Los Angeles Lakers (2004)	1,269	1,725	.736	6.58
5	^	SF/PF	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2014, 2016) Golden State Warriors (2017–2019) Brooklyn Nets (2021–2022) Phoenix Suns (2023–2024)	1,251	1,441	.868
6		PF/C	San Antonio Spurs (1998–1999, 2001–2016)	1,217	1,766	.689	4.85
7		PG/SG	Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974)	1,213	1,506	.805	7.93
8		C	Orlando Magic (1994–1996) Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004) Miami Heat (2005–2007) Phoenix Suns (2008) Cleveland Cavaliers (2010) Boston Celtics (2011)	1,168	2,317	.504	5.41
9	^	SG/PG	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012) Houston Rockets (2013–2020) Brooklyn Nets (2021) Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023) Los Angeles Clippers (2024)	1,088	1,250	.870
10		PF	Dallas Mavericks (2001–2012, 2014–2016)	1,074	1,204	.892	7.41
11		PG	Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996)	1,068	1,274	.838	5.62
12	^[5]	C	Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974) Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1989)	1,050	1,419	.740	4.43
13		SG	Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018) Chicago Bulls (2017)	951	1,220	.780	5.37
14		SF/PF	Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992)	901	1,012	.890	5.49
15		SF	Boston Celtics (1963–1969, 1972–1977)	874	1,046	.836	5.08
16		SF	Boston Celtics (2002–2005, 2008–2013) Brooklyn Nets (2014) Washington Wizards (2015) Los Angeles Clippers (2016–2017)	860	1,036	.830	5.06
17		SF	Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1959–1970)	847	1,101	.769	6.32
18		SG	San Antonio Spurs (2003–2008, 2010–2018)	818	1,001	.817	3.75
19		PG	Minnesota Timberwolves (2001–2002) Detroit Pistons (2003–2008) Denver Nuggets (2009–2010) New York Knicks (2011) Los Angeles Clippers (2013)	785	892	.880	5.38
20		SF	Chicago Bulls (1988–1998) Houston Rockets (1999) Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003)	772	1,067	.724	3.71
21		SG	Indiana Pacers (1990–1996, 1998–2005)	770	862	.893	5.35
22		PF	Boston Celtics (1981–1993)	766	972	.788	4.53
23		C	Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1960–1962, 1964) Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968) Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1973)	757	1,627	.465	4.73
24		PG	Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980) Phoenix Suns (1981–1983) Boston Celtics (1984–1990)	756	943	.802	4.20
25		PF	Philadelphia 76ers (1985–1987, 1989–1991) Phoenix Suns (1993–1996) Houston Rockets (1997–1999)	751	1,048	.717	6.11
Rank	Player	Position(s)	Playoff team(s) played for (years)	Total free throws made	Total free throws attempted	Free throw percentage	Free throws made per game

Progressive list of playoff free throw scoring leaders

This is a progressive list of free throw scoring leaders showing how the record increased through the years.^[6]

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.^[7]

^	Active NBA player
	Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame	-	†	Not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration
§	1st time finalist for Hall of Fame in 2024^[8] -->

+Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.

BAL		DET	Detroit Pistons	NYK		POR		SYR
BOS	Boston Celtics	HOU	Houston Rockets	OKC	Oklahoma City Thunder	ROC	Rochester Royals	TOR
CHI		LAL		ORL		SAS		UTA
CIN	Cincinnati Royals	MIA		PHI		SEA		WAS	Washington Wizards
CLE	Cleveland Cavaliers	MIL		PHO		SFW		WSB	Washington Bullets
DAL	Dallas Mavericks	MNL		PHW		STL

Playoff free throw scoring leader at the end of every season

width=8%	Season	Year-by-year leader	FT	Active player leader	FT	Career record	FT	Single-season record	FT	width=8%	Season
1946–47	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	74	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	74	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	74	Joe Fulks PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	74	1946–47
1947–48	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	98	172	172	98	1947–48
1948–49	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	97	1948–49
1949–50	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	134	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	231	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	231	George Mikan MNL	134	1949–50
1950–51	Arnie Risen ROC	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	87	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	275	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	275	1950–51
1951–52	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	109	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	384	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	384	1951–52
1952–53	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	82	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	466	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	466	1952–53
1953–54	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	80	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	544	544	1953–54
1954–55	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	89	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	362	1954–55
1955–56	Paul Arizin PHW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	83	George Mikan MNL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	554	554	1955–56
1956–57	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	102	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	484	1956–57
1957–58	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	86	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	514	1957–58
1958–59	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	98	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	612	Dolph Schayes SYR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	612	1958–59
1959–60	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	107	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	640	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	640	1959–60
1960–61	Elgin Baylor LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	117	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	703	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	703	1960–61
1961–62	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	130	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	712	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	712	1961–62
1962–63	Oscar Robertson CIN	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	133	723	723	1962–63
1963–64	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	109	1963–64
1964–65	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	137	Bob Pettit STL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	708	Jerry West LAL	137	1964–65
1965–66	Sam Jones BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	114	Elgin Baylor LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	633	1965–66
1966–67	Rick Barry SFW	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	127	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	648	1966–67
1967–68	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	132	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	724	Elgin Baylor LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	724	1967–68
1968–69	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	164	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	856	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	856	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	164	1968–69
1969–70	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	170	1,026	1,026	170	1969–70
1970–71	Earl Monroe BAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	107	align=center	1970–71
1971–72	Gail Goodrich LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	97	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,114	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,114	align=center	1971–72
1972–73	Jerry West LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	99	1,213	1,213	align=center	1972–73
1973–74	John Havlicek BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	89	1973–74
1974–75	Phil Chenier WSB	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	102	John Havlicek BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	795	1974–75
1975–76	Jo Jo White BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	78	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	833	1975–76
1976–77	Julius Erving PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	110	874	1976–77
1977–78	Dennis Johnson SEA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	112	1977–78
1978–79	Bob Dandridge MIL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	91	Elvin Hayes WSB	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	412	1978–79
1979–80	Julius Erving PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	108	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	493	1979–80
1980–81	Moses Malone HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	148	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	513	1980–81
1981–82	Julius Erving PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	124	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	568	1981–82
1982–83	Moses Malone PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	86	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	648	1982–83
1983–84	Larry Bird BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	167	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	738	1983–84
1984–85	Larry Bird BOS Kevin McHale BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	121	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	818	1984–85
1985–86	Hakeem Olajuwon HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	127	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	866	1985–86
1986–87	Larry Bird BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	176	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	963	Larry Bird BOS	176	1986–87
1987–88	Adrian Dantley DET	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	140	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,019	1987–88
1988–89	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	183	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,050	Michael Jordan CHI	183	1988–89
1989–90	Terry PorterPOR	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	139	Magic Johnson LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	883	1989–90
1990–91	Magic Johnson LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	157	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,040	1990–91
1991–92	Karl Malone UTA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	169	Larry Bird BOS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	901	1991–92
1992–93	Charles Barkley PHO	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	168	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	942	1992–93
1993–94	Hakeem Olajuwon HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	128	Moses Malone PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	576	1993–94
1994–95	Shaquille O'Neal ORL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	149	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,006	1994–95
1995–96	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	153	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,159	1995–96
1996–97	Karl Malone UTA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	144	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,282	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,282	1996–97
1997–98	Michael Jordan CHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	181	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,463	1,463	1997–98
1998–99	Latrell SprewellNYK	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	113	Karl Malone UTA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,070	1998–99
1999–00	Shaquille O'Neal LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	135	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,134	1999–00
2000–01	Allen Iverson PHI	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	161	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,173	2000–01
2001–02	Shaquille O'Neal LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	135	Michael Jordan WAS	1,463	2001–02
2002–03	Tim Duncan SAS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	157	2002–03
2003–04	Kobe Bryant LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	135	Karl Malone LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,269	2003–04
2004–05	Tim Duncan*SAS Manu Ginóbili*SAS	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	147	Shaquille O'Neal MIA 2004–07 PHO 2007–09 CLE 2009–10	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,028	2004–05
2005–06	Dirk Nowitzki DAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	205	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,096	Dirk Nowitzki DAL	205	2005–06
2006–07	LeBron James^CLE	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	148	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,105	2006–07
2007–08	Kobe Bryant LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	157	1,137	2007–08
2008–09	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	174	2008–09
2009–10	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	154	Kobe Bryant LAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,191	2009–10
2010–11	Dirk Nowitzki DAL	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	175	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,241	2010–11
2011–12	LeBron James^MIA	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	173	1,320	2011–12
2012–13	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	136	2012–13
2013–14	Russell Westbrook^OKC	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	145	2013–14
2014–15	James Harden^HOU	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	163	2014–15
2015–16	Kevin Durant^OKC	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	130	LeBron James^ CLE 2015–18 LAL 2018–24	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	1,355	2015–16
2016–17	LeBron James^CLE	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	113	1,468	LeBron James^ CLE 2016–18 LAL 2018–24	1,468	2016–17
2017–18	align=center style="border-right: solid blue"	159	1,627	1,627	2017–18
2018–19	Kawhi Leonard^TOR	191	2018–19
2019–20	Jimmy Butler^MIA	164	1,735	1,735	2019–20
2020–21	Devin Booker^PHO	133	1,749	1,749	2020–21
2021–22	Jayson Tatum^BOS	136	2021–22
2022–23	Jimmy Butler^MIA	150	1,819	1,819	2022–23
2023–24	Jayson Tatum^BOS	118	1,836	1,836	2023–24
width=8%	Season	Year-by-year leader	FT	Active player leader	FT	Career record	FT	Single-season record	FT	width=8%	Season

See also

• Basketball statistics
• NBA post-season records

External links

• Basketball-Reference.com enumeration of NBA career playoff leaders in free throws made

Notes and References

1. Web site: NBA & ABA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Free Throws . Sports-Reference . Basketball-Reference.com . 12 January 2016.
2. A player is not eligible for induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for three calendar years.
3. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . 2019-04-12.
4. [American Basketball Association]
5. Known as Lew Alcindor prior to May 1, 1971.
6. Web site: NBA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Free Throws . Basketball-Reference.com . 25 March 2015.
7. Web site: 2024 NBA Playoffs Leaders . Basketball-Reference.com . 24 April 2024.
8. Web site: 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates . basketball-reference.com . 2019-04-12.