Top 5 3-point shooting specialists in the NBA who have low free-throw shooting percentage 

Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles has the lowest free-throw percentage among 3-point shooting specialists in the NBA.
Utah Jazz's Joe Ingles has the lowest free-throw percentage among 3-point shooting specialists in the NBA.

Three-point shooting specialists have been in demand in the NBA of late. It's always a luxury to have players who can convert the ball at an efficient rate from beyond the arc. That helps coaches create better offensive strategies and opens up the floor for other players to drive to the rim.

One area where a few elite shooters tend to struggle is the free-throw line. Free-throw shooting isn't as easy as it seems from the outside. Along with getting the fundamentals right, players also have to be calm when they get to the foul line. It isn't easy to stay composed, considering the pressure that builds up during an NBA game.

On that note, here's a look at five three-point shooters with a career average of 40% (minimum four attempts) with the lowest free-throw shooting percentage in the NBA.


#5 Michael Porter Jr.

Michael Porter Jr. in action during the Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets - Game Four
Michael Porter Jr. in action during the Phoenix Suns vs Denver Nuggets - Game Four

Michael Porter Jr.'s three-point shooting has been exceptional in both his first two seasons in the NBA. The Denver Nuggets forward made 42.2% of his three-pointers in his rookie season, doing so on 2.7 attempts. He improved on that in his sophomore year, converting 44.5% of his three-pointers on 6.3 attempts.

Porter's 6' 10" frame allows him to shoot over defenders with ease. His jump-shot technique is exquisite. Porter, though, struggles with his free-throw shooting at times. He doesn't have the worst conversion rate (80.6% on 1.8 attempts per game). But it is something he can always look to improve on.


#4 Danny Green

Danny Green in action during the 2020 NBA Finals - Game Six
Danny Green in action during the 2020 NBA Finals - Game Six

Three-time NBA champion Danny Green is one of the best three-point shooting specialists in the league. Even at 34, he continues to be coveted by title-contending teams. Green has shot 40.1% from the deep throughout his 12-season career, attempting 4.9 shots on average.

As he usually operates from the perimeter, Green doesn't go much to the free-throw line during games. However, he has been a tad inconsistent in his limited attempts from the foul line. Green has converted 80.5% of his shots from the charity stripe, which is quite respectable in the NBA, though.

#3 Bryn Forbes

Bryn Forbes in action during the Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns game
Bryn Forbes in action during the Milwaukee Bucks vs Phoenix Suns game

Bryn Forbes has developed a reputation as a pure three-point shooting specialist in the NBA. Almost 75% of his field-goal attempts during his five-season career have come from beyond the arc. Forbes has converted 41.2% of his three-point shots from the deep, doing so on 4.3 attempts per game.

Like Danny Green, Forbes isn't a frequent visitor to the free-throw line. In his limited trips to the foul line, he has converted around 79.5% of his attempts. It's the third-lowest in the NBA among three-point shooters who have converted at least 40% shots from beyond the arc on a minimum of four attempts per game.


#2 Joe Harris

Joe Harris at Brooklyn Nets' Media Day
Joe Harris at Brooklyn Nets' Media Day

Joe Harris has been one of the top three-point specialists in the NBA for the last four seasons. The Brooklyn Nets forward is highly efficient from long range, having converted 43.8% three-pointers on 4.8 attempts per game during his career. The sharpshooter has converted 77.9% of his free-throw attempts.

Harris' free-throw shooting isn't one of his best traits. Except for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, he has never averaged more than 80% from the free-throw line during his seven-season career.


#1 Joe Ingles

Australia vs Slovenia Men's Basketball - Olympics: Day 15
Australia vs Slovenia Men's Basketball - Olympics: Day 15

Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles is one of the most versatile forwards in the NBA. The Australian has shot 41.4% from the three-point line in his career, doing so on 4.4 attempts per contest.

He attempts nearly 80% of his field goals from beyond the arc. Ingles is coming off a career-high season in the league. He averaged 12.1 points on 48.9% shooting from the field, including 45.1% from beyond the arc.

Ingles' free-throw shooting hasn't been great since the start of his career, though. He has had just one season where he shot over 80% from the foul line. Ingles has made 76.7% of his shots from the free-throw line in his seven-season career. Nevertheless, he converted a career-high 84.4% of his shots from the foul line during the last NBA campaign.

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