On Friday January 15th, Giannis Antetokounmpo shot 1-10 from the free throw line. Not every player is expected to shoot with the accuracy of Steph Curry, who sports a career 90.6 percent from the line, but 1-10 is historically bad.
Anyone reading this article would have bested him that night.
Yes, even you buddy.
While his performances are often unforgettable, this night wasn’t memorable for insane breakaway dunks or a block into the crowdless stands, but instead for a tragically bad evening at the charity stripe.
Has any player ever had a worse game from the line over the years? Let’s peruse the history books and take a look at the worst free throw shooting games in NBA history.
More from The Touchback: What a long, statistically strange trip it’s been for Bill Walton
A look at the worst free throw shooting games in NBA history
Andre Drummond: March 1, 2017
Matching Giannis, Andre Drummond also had a game in which he shot 1-10 from the free throw line.
Even more incredibly, Drummond once had a game in which he only made 13 of 36 attempts night. While 36 percent from the stripe may not be as bad as 10 percent, this one is enjoyable simply on volume.
Shaquille O’Neal: December 8, 2000
Shaquille O’Neal once missed all 11 of his free throw attempts in a single game. This is clearly among the worst free throw shooting games in NBA History. That being said, it isn’t really a huge surprise as Shaq was famous for his inability to shoot from 15 feet.
Al Horford: November 21, 2012
Matching Giannis, Horford also once had a pathetic 1-10 game from the free throw line.
But that isn’t nearly as interesting as the fact that Horford, throughout his career, was known for flinching in fear of the basketball.
That’s no joke, take a look!
And that wasn’t a single-game mental glitch! Here is a short compilation of Horford flinching throughout his career. If you can make it through this video without laughing you are a more mature man than I.
Horford later stated that he would intentionally flinch for the entertainment of his teammates. Nice try Al, The Touchback isn’t buying it!
Chris Dudley: April 14, 1990
Chris Dudley once shot 1-18 from the line, blowing his competition out of the water. That record is going to stand for a long time even as Giannis and Drummond brick their way to some of the worst free throw shooting games in NBA history.
Amazingly, Dudley also had the all-time worst single trip to the free throw line. ESPN described the incredible moment as follows:
“Dudley got fouled, stepped to the line and missed both shots. NBD. But the ref called a lane violation on a Bullets guard, so Dudley shot a third. Which he missed. Another lane violation (this one by Bullets center Dave Feitl) brought another attempt and another miss (that’s four for those counting at home). Amazingly, Feitl was called for another lane violation. And amazingly, Dudley missed his fifth and final (of the series) free throw attempt, becoming the first player to miss five free throws in one trip.”
Yes, Dudley missed FIVE free throws in a single trip to the line. He truly is the king of free throw failure.
Another tall white guy: Wait, Rik Smits was an NBA All-Star?
Wilt Chamberlain / Cliff Barker: The Dark Ages of Basketball
No matter how you slice it, Wilt Chamberlain scored a lot. However, he is also responsible for one of the worst free shooting games in NBA history going 0-10 during the 1960-61 season. He still managed to score 44 points and grab 39 rebounds in that contest so no one really cared. Also going 0-10 from the charity strip was some guy named Cliff Barker playing for some team called the Indianapolis Olympians in 1951.
Ben Wallace Bonus Video!
Every kid dreams of getting fouled with the game on the line, stepping up to the line and knocking them both down. No one dreams of air-balling both of them and losing the game in the process.
