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List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders

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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.

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.
LeBron James has made the most free throws in NBA playoff history.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
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
1 LeBron James^ SF Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010, 2015–2018)
Miami Heat (2011–2014)
Los Angeles Lakers (2020–2021, 2023–2024) 		1,836 2,479 .741 6.40
2 Michael Jordan* SG Chicago Bulls (1984–1993, 1995–1998) 1,463 1,766 .828 8.17
3 Kobe Bryant* SG Los Angeles Lakers (1997–2004, 2006–2012) 1,320 1,617 .816 6.00
4 Karl Malone* PF Utah Jazz (1986–2003)
Los Angeles Lakers (2004) 		1,269 1,725 .736 6.58
5 Kevin Durant^ 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 7.36
6 Tim Duncan* PF/C San Antonio Spurs (1998–1999, 2001–2016) 1,217 1,766 .689 4.85
7 Jerry West* PG/SG Los Angeles Lakers (1961–1970, 1972–1974) 1,213 1,506 .805 7.93
8 Shaquille O'Neal* 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 James Harden^ 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 6.55
10 Dirk Nowitzki* PF Dallas Mavericks (2001–2012, 2014–2016) 1,074 1,204 .892 7.41
11 Magic Johnson* PG Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996) 1,068 1,274 .838 5.62
12 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar* C Milwaukee Bucks (1970–1974)
Los Angeles Lakers (1977–1989) 		1,050 1,419 .740 4.43
13 Dwyane Wade* SG Miami Heat (2004–2007, 2009–2014, 2016, 2018)
Chicago Bulls (2017) 		951 1,220 .780 5.37
14 Larry Bird* SF/PF Boston Celtics (1980–1988, 1990–1992) 901 1,012 .890 5.49
15 John Havlicek* SF Boston Celtics (1963–1969, 1972–1977) 874 1,046 .836 5.08
16 Paul Pierce* 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 Elgin Baylor* SF Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers (1959–1970) 847 1,101 .769 6.32
18 Manu Ginóbili* SG San Antonio Spurs (2003–2008, 2010–2018) 818 1,001 .817 3.75
19 Chauncey Billups* 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 Scottie Pippen* SF Chicago Bulls (1988–1998)
Houston Rockets (1999)
Portland Trail Blazers (2000–2003) 		772 1,067 .724 3.71
21 Reggie Miller* SG Indiana Pacers (1990–1996, 1998–2005) 770 862 .893 5.35
22 Kevin McHale* PF Boston Celtics (1981–1993) 766 972 .788 4.53
23 Wilt Chamberlain* C Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors (1960–1962, 1964)
Philadelphia 76ers (1965–1968)
Los Angeles Lakers (1969–1973) 		757 1,627 .465 4.73
24 Dennis Johnson* PG Seattle SuperSonics (1978–1980)
Phoenix Suns (1981–1983)
Boston Celtics (1984–1990) 		756 943 .802 4.20
25 Charles Barkley* 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.

Statistics accurate as of the 2024 NBA playoffs.
^ Active NBA player
* Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame


Team abbreviations Team(s) listed is the one player was on when he established the record.
BAL Baltimore Bullets DET Detroit Pistons NYK New York Knicks POR Portland Trail Blazers SYR Syracuse Nationals
BOS Boston Celtics HOU Houston Rockets OKC Oklahoma City Thunder ROC Rochester Royals TOR Toronto Raptors
CHI Chicago Bulls LAL Los Angeles Lakers ORL Orlando Magic SAS San Antonio Spurs UTA Utah Jazz
CIN Cincinnati Royals MIA Miami Heat PHI Philadelphia 76ers SEA Seattle SuperSonics WAS Washington Wizards
CLE Cleveland Cavaliers MIL Milwaukee Bucks PHO Phoenix Suns SFW San Francisco Warriors WSB Washington Bullets
DAL Dallas Mavericks MNL Minneapolis Lakers PHW Philadelphia Warriors STL St. Louis Hawks
Dirk Nowitzki holds the record for the highest free-throw percentage in a single playoffs.
Playoff free throw scoring leader at the end of every season
Season Year-by-year leader FT Active player leader FT Career record FT Single-season record FT Season
1946–47 Joe Fulks*000PHW 74 Joe Fulks*000PHW 74 Joe Fulks*000PHW 74 Joe Fulks*000PHW 74 1946–47
1947–48 98 172 172 98 1947–48
1948–49 George Mikan*000MNL 97 1948–49
1949–50 134 George Mikan*000MNL 231 George Mikan*000MNL 231 George Mikan*000MNL 134 1949–50
1950–51 Arnie Risen*000ROC 87 275 275 1950–51
1951–52 George Mikan*000MNL 109 384 384 1951–52
1952–53 82 466 466 1952–53
1953–54 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 80 544 544 1953–54
1954–55 89 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 362 1954–55
1955–56 Paul Arizin*000PHW 83 George Mikan*000MNL 554 554 1955–56
1956–57 Bob Pettit*000STL 102 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 484 1956–57
1957–58 86 514 1957–58
1958–59 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 98 612 Dolph Schayes*000SYR 612 1958–59
1959–60 Bob Pettit*000STL 107 640 640 1959–60
1960–61 Elgin Baylor*000LAL 117 703 703 1960–61
1961–62 130 712 712 1961–62
1962–63 Oscar Robertson*000CIN 133 723 723 1962–63
1963–64 109 1963–64
1964–65 Jerry West*000LAL 137 Bob Pettit*000STL 708 Jerry West*000LAL 137 1964–65
1965–66 Sam Jones*000BOS 114 Elgin Baylor*000LAL 633 1965–66
1966–67 Rick Barry*000SFW 127 648 1966–67
1967–68 Jerry West*000LAL 132 724 Elgin Baylor*000LAL 724 1967–68
1968–69 164 Jerry West*000LAL 856 Jerry West*000LAL 856 164 1968–69
1969–70 170 1,026 1,026 170 1969–70
1970–71 Earl Monroe*000BAL 107 1970–71
1971–72 Gail Goodrich*000LAL 97 1,114 1,114 1971–72
1972–73 Jerry West*000LAL 99 1,213 1,213 1972–73
1973–74 John Havlicek*000BOS 89 1973–74
1974–75 Phil Chenier*000WSB 102 John Havlicek*000BOS 795 1974–75
1975–76 Jo Jo White*000BOS 78 833 1975–76
1976–77 Julius Erving*000PHI 110 874 1976–77
1977–78 Dennis Johnson*000SEA 112 1977–78
1978–79 Bob Dandridge*000MIL 91 Elvin Hayes*000WSB 412 1978–79
1979–80 Julius Erving*000PHI 108 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000LAL 493 1979–80
1980–81 Moses Malone*000HOU 148 513 1980–81
1981–82 Julius Erving*000PHI 124 568 1981–82
1982–83 Moses Malone*000PHI 86 648 1982–83
1983–84 Larry Bird*000BOS 167 738 1983–84
1984–85 Larry Bird*000BOS
Kevin McHale*000BOS		 121 818 1984–85
1985–86 Hakeem Olajuwon*000HOU 127 866 1985–86
1986–87 Larry Bird*000BOS 176 963 Larry Bird*000BOS 176 1986–87
1987–88 Adrian Dantley*000DET 140 1,019 1987–88
1988–89 Michael Jordan*000CHI 183 1,050 Michael Jordan*000CHI 183 1988–89
1989–90 Terry Porter000POR 139 Magic Johnson*000LAL 883 1989–90
1990–91 Magic Johnson*000LAL 157 1,040 1990–91
1991–92 Karl Malone*000UTA 169 Larry Bird*000BOS 901 1991–92
1992–93 Charles Barkley*000PHO 168 Michael Jordan*000CHI 942 1992–93
1993–94 Hakeem Olajuwon*000HOU 128 Moses Malone*000PHI 576 1993–94
1994–95 Shaquille O'Neal*000ORL 149 Michael Jordan*000CHI 1,006 1994–95
1995–96 Michael Jordan*000CHI 153 1,159 1995–96
1996–97 Karl Malone*000UTA 144 1,282 Michael Jordan*000CHI 1,282 1996–97
1997–98 Michael Jordan*000CHI 181 1,463 1,463 1997–98
1998–99 Latrell Sprewell000NYK 113 Karl Malone*000UTA 1,070 1998–99
1999–00 Shaquille O'Neal*000LAL 135 1,134 1999–00
2000–01 Allen Iverson*000PHI 161 1,173 2000–01
2001–02 Shaquille O'Neal*000LAL 135 Michael Jordan*000WAS 1,463 2001–02
2002–03 Tim Duncan*000SAS 157 2002–03
2003–04 Kobe Bryant*000LAL 135 Karl Malone*000LAL 1,269 2003–04
2004–05 Tim Duncan*000SAS Manu Ginóbili*000SAS 147 Shaquille O'Neal*
000MIA 2004–07
000PHO 2007–09
000CLE 2009–10		 1,028 2004–05
2005–06 Dirk Nowitzki*000DAL 205 1,096 Dirk Nowitzki*000DAL 205 2005–06
2006–07 LeBron James^000CLE 148 1,105 2006–07
2007–08 Kobe Bryant*000LAL 157 1,137 2007–08
2008–09 174 2008–09
2009–10 154 Kobe Bryant*000LAL 1,191 2009–10
2010–11 Dirk Nowitzki*000DAL 175 1,241 2010–11
2011–12 LeBron James^000MIA 173 1,320 2011–12
2012–13 136 2012–13
2013–14 Russell Westbrook^0OKC 145 2013–14
2014–15 James Harden^000HOU 163 2014–15
2015–16 Kevin Durant^000OKC 130 LeBron James^000
00CLE 2015–18
000LAL 2018–24		 1,355 2015–16
2016–17 LeBron James^000CLE 113 1,468 LeBron James^000
00CLE 2016–18
000LAL 2018–24		 1,468 2016–17
2017–18 159 1,627 1,627 2017–18
2018–19 Kawhi Leonard^000TOR 191 2018–19
2019–20 Jimmy Butler^000MIA 164 1,735 1,735 2019–20
2020–21 Devin Booker^000PHO 133 1,749 1,749 2020–21
2021–22 Jayson Tatum^000BOS 136 2021–22
2022–23 Jimmy Butler^000MIA 150 1,819 1,819 2022–23
2023–24 Jayson Tatum^000BOS 118 1,836 1,836 2023–24
Season Year-by-year leader FT Active player leader FT Career record FT Single-season record FT Season

See also

References

  1. "NBA & ABA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Free Throws". Basketball-Reference.com. Sports-Reference. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  2. ^ American Basketball Association (ABA) teams other than those admitted into the NBA in 1976 are not included; each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season. The years listed are only ones in which the player played in a playoff game.
  3. Known as Lew Alcindor prior to May 1, 1971.
  4. "NBA Progressive Playoff Leaders and Records for Free Throws". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  5. "2024 NBA Playoffs Leaders". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

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