Kevin Durant and the Free Throw Line

[slick_watts]

I wanted to make a post about this. Kevin Durant is on pace to make some history at the free throw line this year.

With 8 FTA this game (making all 8), Durant is now averaging exactly 10 FTA per game, and he's currently shooting 89.3% from the line. Not only would that be the highest percentage of anyone ever who shot 10FTA/g (surpassing even Rick Barry) in a season, but KD is within striking distance of becoming the first NBA player to shoot 90% from the line while shooting it that much.

Since 1960, the most free throw attempts a player has attempted in a season while shooting 90% or better is Reggie Miller, who shot 600 FTA in 1990 at 91.8%. Kevin Durant is on pace to shoot 820 free throws this season. If he makes it to 90%, very possible considering he's red hot right now from the stripe, this would blow away everyone else historically and would be in contention for one of the best foul shooting seasons ever.

Even if he doesn't make it to 90%, Kevin Durant may surpass 700 FTM this year, which would be the first time it's been done since Karl Malone in 1989. If he keeps his percentage going, Durant would have the highest FT% ever of anyone who made 700 free throws in a season, again surpassing Rick Barry.

Of all the things Kevin Durant does well, consistently getting to the line, and making them, might just be his best quality. He's having one of the best FT shooting seasons of all time. Having your best player and scorer with this quality will be huge when he's making playoff runs..

[Jimmy76]

its pretty amazing

i wonder if he will keep this up, my gut says it will drop a little but he'll make up for it from 3

[Clangus]

you just blew my mind....

[Big_Mac79]

to get 700 FTM at 90% he would have to be 74 for the next 77
That's gonna be tough but I have faith

[slick_watts]

to get 700 FTM at 90% he would have to be 74 for the next 77
That's gonna be tough but I have faith

If he keeps up his current pace of 10FTA per game, he'll need to go 112/120 (93.3%) to get there..

[mcmokken]

I wanted to make a post about this. Kevin Durant is on pace to make some history at the free throw line this year.

Interesting. I just hope that you aren't cheering against him again slick like you were when you hoped his 25+ pt streak would quickly end for the betterment of the team.

[Big_Mac79]

Somebody listens to Slick

KD’s potentially historic season at the free throw line
March 25th, 2010 Royce Young
16 comments

For a third-year player at the age of 21, Kevin Durant is having quite the season, as we all know. But one underrated facet of his game is his free throw shooting. It’s phenomenal. And it could be potentially historic. In the comments, reader Justin said it extremely well:

I can’t get over how good Durant’s been from the line. He’s now shooting .894 from the line after tonight’s game, and is one pace for 820 free throw attempts. If Kevin Durant manages to shoot 93.3% the rest of the way, assuming his FTA stay the same (possible, he’s shooting almost 95% in march) he’ll be at exactly 90% for the year. Reggie Miller shot 91.8% on 600 attempts in 1991 for the modern (post 1960) record for attempts while making 90%+. Durant will blow that out of the water if he keeps this up.

Barring a collapse at the line, I think it’s likely we’re witnessing arguably the best season ever from the foul line, certainly the best in the last 20 years. It may not be an exciting thing to keep track of, but it’s pretty amazing.

Indeed it is. EXTREMELY amazing. And an underrated accomplishment, I say. And as we all know, KD is entrenched in the scoring title battle with LeBron. LeBron is averaging 29.8 ppg and KD is at 29.7. Durant averages 10 free throws a game and LeBron takes 10.1. So they’re similar. But Durant is at 89.4 percent while LeBron is at 77.4 percent. Durant has made 78 more free throws than LeBron. That’s 78 more points. Subtract those and Durant is averaging just 28.5 ppg. Add 78 more makes for LeBron and he’s at 30.9 ppg. I find this interesting. KD takes full advantage of his freebies.

The most free throws KD has missed in one game this year is four. And he’s only missed more than two eight times. That blows me away for a guy that’s attempted 700 free throws this year.

[Clangus]

Somebody listens to Slick

KD’s potentially historic season at the free throw line
March 25th, 2010 Royce Young
16 comments

For a third-year player at the age of 21, Kevin Durant is having quite the season, as we all know. But one underrated facet of his game is his free throw shooting. It’s phenomenal. And it could be potentially historic. In the comments, reader Justin said it extremely well:

I can’t get over how good Durant’s been from the line. He’s now shooting .894 from the line after tonight’s game, and is one pace for 820 free throw attempts. If Kevin Durant manages to shoot 93.3% the rest of the way, assuming his FTA stay the same (possible, he’s shooting almost 95% in march) he’ll be at exactly 90% for the year. Reggie Miller shot 91.8% on 600 attempts in 1991 for the modern (post 1960) record for attempts while making 90%+. Durant will blow that out of the water if he keeps this up.

Barring a collapse at the line, I think it’s likely we’re witnessing arguably the best season ever from the foul line, certainly the best in the last 20 years. It may not be an exciting thing to keep track of, but it’s pretty amazing.

Indeed it is. EXTREMELY amazing. And an underrated accomplishment, I say. And as we all know, KD is entrenched in the scoring title battle with LeBron. LeBron is averaging 29.8 ppg and KD is at 29.7. Durant averages 10 free throws a game and LeBron takes 10.1. So they’re similar. But Durant is at 89.4 percent while LeBron is at 77.4 percent. Durant has made 78 more free throws than LeBron. That’s 78 more points. Subtract those and Durant is averaging just 28.5 ppg. Add 78 more makes for LeBron and he’s at 30.9 ppg. I find this interesting. KD takes full advantage of his freebies.

The most free throws KD has missed in one game this year is four. And he’s only missed more than two eight times. That blows me away for a guy that’s attempted 700 free throws this year.

Somebody IS SLICK!

[slick_watts]

Yeah I posted this (not as detailed) in the comments on DT also.

[realfung]

great

[Big_Mac79]

1 short
oh well
89.9% is still pretty good

[slick_watts]

1 short
oh well
89.9% is still pretty good

By my count he made it (I was wrong about 6/6 it was 5/5)

He's 756 for 840 which comes to 90 PERCENT EXACTLY. Couldn't have scripted that better.

Best FT shooting season in NBA history, IMO.

[TheOGJabroni]

Incredible season for KD.

[magee]

Damn. That's ridiculous. On top of that, I was stoked to see KD stick up for himself after seeing what Phil Jackson said.