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NBA: 10 strangest free throw routines of all time

By John W. Butler III

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 1: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the LA Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 1: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the LA Clippers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 1, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images /

10. Wilt Chamberlain 

Wilt Chamberlain was certainly a great player, but he struggled from the free throw line so much that he went to a psychiatrist for help. You can’t expect a player to be legendary in every aspect of the game. The guy scored 100 points in a single game, averaged 50.4 points per game for a season and 22.9 rebounds a night for his entire career. He had to have a flaw somewhere, and free throw shooting happened to be it.

Wilt tried everything to improve. He started by taking off from behind the free throw line for a layup, causing the NBA to enforce a rule that the shooter must remain behind the white line. It was just one of the many ways during his career that the league was forced to make changes in order make the game fair for the competition.

There was also the underhand shot that Wilt tried for a brief stint. But the toughest attempts to watch included a quick flick of the wrist that would send the ball hurling toward the basket.

In all, Wilt’s attempts to fix his free throw woes didn’t go as planned. He shot 50.1 percent from the line for his entire career. No wonder he led the league in free throw attempts nine times in his career.