List of NBA career playoff free throw scoring leaders

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 April 25, 2024.

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) [2]	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)	1,829	2,470	.740	6.42
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)	1,236	1,423	.869	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	Dirk Nowitzki *	PF	Dallas Mavericks (2001–2012, 2014–2016)	1,074	1,204	.892	7.41
10	Magic Johnson *	PG	Los Angeles Lakers (1980–1991, 1996)	1,068	1,274	.838	5.62
11	James Harden ^	SG/PG	Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012) Houston Rockets (2013–2020) Brooklyn Nets (2021) Philadelphia 76ers (2022–2023) Los Angeles Clippers (2024)	1,073	1,233	.870	6.62
12	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar * [3]	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) [2]	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. ^[4]

Statistics accurate as of April 25, 2024. ^[5]

^	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

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*000 PHW	74	Joe Fulks*000 PHW	74	Joe Fulks*000 PHW	74	Joe Fulks*000 PHW	74	1946–47
1947–48		98		172		172		98	1947–48
1948–49	George Mikan*000 MNL	97							1948–49
1949–50		134	George Mikan*000 MNL	231	George Mikan*000 MNL	231	George Mikan*000 MNL	134	1949–50
1950–51	Arnie Risen*000 ROC	87		275		275			1950–51
1951–52	George Mikan*000 MNL	109		384		384			1951–52
1952–53		82		466		466			1952–53
1953–54	Dolph Schayes*000 SYR	80		544		544			1953–54
1954–55		89	Dolph Schayes*000 SYR	362					1954–55
1955–56	Paul Arizin*000 PHW	83	George Mikan*000 MNL	554		554			1955–56
1956–57	Bob Pettit*000 STL	102	Dolph Schayes*000 SYR	484					1956–57
1957–58		86		514					1957–58
1958–59	Dolph Schayes*000 SYR	98		612	Dolph Schayes*000 SYR	612			1958–59
1959–60	Bob Pettit*000 STL	107		640		640			1959–60
1960–61	Elgin Baylor*000 LAL	117		703		703			1960–61
1961–62		130		712		712			1961–62
1962–63	Oscar Robertson*000 CIN	133		723		723			1962–63
1963–64		109							1963–64
1964–65	Jerry West*000 LAL	137	Bob Pettit*000 STL	708			Jerry West*000 LAL	137	1964–65
1965–66	Sam Jones*000 BOS	114	Elgin Baylor*000 LAL	633					1965–66
1966–67	Rick Barry*000 SFW	127		648					1966–67
1967–68	Jerry West*000 LAL	132		724	Elgin Baylor*000 LAL	724			1967–68
1968–69		164	Jerry West*000 LAL	856	Jerry West*000 LAL	856		164	1968–69
1969–70		170		1,026		1,026		170	1969–70
1970–71	Earl Monroe*000 BAL	107							1970–71
1971–72	Gail Goodrich*000 LAL	97		1,114		1,114			1971–72
1972–73	Jerry West*000 LAL	99		1,213		1,213			1972–73
1973–74	John Havlicek*000 BOS	89							1973–74
1974–75	Phil Chenier*000 WSB	102	John Havlicek*000 BOS	795					1974–75
1975–76	Jo Jo White*000 BOS	78		833					1975–76
1976–77	Julius Erving*000 PHI	110		874					1976–77
1977–78	Dennis Johnson*000 SEA	112							1977–78
1978–79	Bob Dandridge*000 MIL	91	Elvin Hayes*000 WSB	412					1978–79
1979–80	Julius Erving*000 PHI	108	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar*000 LAL	493					1979–80
1980–81	Moses Malone*000 HOU	148		513					1980–81
1981–82	Julius Erving*000 PHI	124		568					1981–82
1982–83	Moses Malone*000 PHI	86		648					1982–83
1983–84	Larry Bird*000 BOS	167		738					1983–84
1984–85	Larry Bird*000 BOS Kevin McHale*000 BOS	121		818					1984–85
1985–86	Hakeem Olajuwon*000 HOU	127		866					1985–86
1986–87	Larry Bird*000 BOS	176		963			Larry Bird*000 BOS	176	1986–87
1987–88	Adrian Dantley*000 DET	140		1,019					1987–88
1988–89	Michael Jordan*000 CHI	183		1,050			Michael Jordan*000 CHI	183	1988–89
1989–90	Terry Porter 000 POR	139	Magic Johnson*000 LAL	883					1989–90
1990–91	Magic Johnson*000 LAL	157		1,040					1990–91
1991–92	Karl Malone*000 UTA	169	Larry Bird*000 BOS	901					1991–92
1992–93	Charles Barkley*000 PHO	168	Michael Jordan*000 CHI	942					1992–93
1993–94	Hakeem Olajuwon*000 HOU	128	Moses Malone*000 PHI	576					1993–94
1994–95	Shaquille O'Neal*000 ORL	149	Michael Jordan*000 CHI	1,006					1994–95
1995–96	Michael Jordan*000 CHI	153		1,159					1995–96
1996–97	Karl Malone*000 UTA	144		1,282	Michael Jordan*000 CHI	1,282			1996–97
1997–98	Michael Jordan*000 CHI	181		1,463		1,463			1997–98
1998–99	Latrell Sprewell 000 NYK	113	Karl Malone*000 UTA	1,070					1998–99
1999–00	Shaquille O'Neal*000 LAL	135		1,134					1999–00
2000–01	Allen Iverson*000 PHI	161		1,173					2000–01
2001–02	Shaquille O'Neal*000 LAL	135	Michael Jordan*000 WAS	1,463					2001–02
2002–03	Tim Duncan*000 SAS	157							2002–03
2003–04	Kobe Bryant*000 LAL	135	Karl Malone*000 LAL	1,269					2003–04
2004–05	Tim Duncan*000 SAS Manu Ginóbili*000 SAS	147	Shaquille O'Neal* 000 MIA 2004–07 000 PHO 2007–09 000 CLE 2009–10	1,028					2004–05
2005–06	Dirk Nowitzki*000 DAL	205		1,096			Dirk Nowitzki*000 DAL	205	2005–06
2006–07	LeBron James^000 CLE	148		1,105					2006–07
2007–08	Kobe Bryant*000 LAL	157		1,137					2007–08
2008–09		174							2008–09
2009–10		154	Kobe Bryant*000 LAL	1,191					2009–10
2010–11	Dirk Nowitzki*000 DAL	175		1,241					2010–11
2011–12	LeBron James^000 MIA	173		1,320					2011–12
2012–13		136							2012–13
2013–14	Russell Westbrook^0 OKC	145							2013–14
2014–15	James Harden^000 HOU	163							2014–15
2015–16	Kevin Durant^000 OKC	130	LeBron James^000 00 CLE 2015–18 000 LAL 2018–24	1,355					2015–16
2016–17	LeBron James^000 CLE	113		1,468	LeBron James^000 00 CLE 2016–18 000 LAL 2018–24	1,468			2016–17
2017–18		159		1,627		1,627			2017–18
2018–19	Kawhi Leonard^000 TOR	191							2018–19
2019–20	Jimmy Butler^000 MIA	164		1,735		1,735			2019–20
2020–21	Devin Booker^000 PHO	133		1,749		1,749			2020–21
2021–22	Jayson Tatum^000 BOS	136							2021–22
2022–23	Jimmy Butler^000 MIA	150		1,819		1,819			2022–23
2023–24	Joel Embiid^000 PHI	38		1,829		1,829			2023–24
Season	Year-by-year leader	FT	Active player leader	FT	Career record	FT	Single-season record	FT	Season

See also

• Basketball statistics
• NBA post-season records

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.

External links

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