Is he really a free-throw merchant? Where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks in FTA among MVP winners
We take a look at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s numbers for free-throws.
Whatever side of the controversy you sit on, it’s undeniable that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to make it to the free-throw line is impressive.
In the Western Conference finals he has made a name for himself once again with his supposed ‘foul baiting’, but the numbers are certainly something worth looking at.
Below, we’ve put together the list of all-time NBA MVP free throw attempts. SGA, after being officially named MVP on Wednesday night, makes the list. He led the league in scoring with 32.7 points per game, as well as field goal attempts per game this season with 21.8 - let’s see where he ranks in the all-time list.
NBA MVP Free Throw Attempts:
Rank | Season | Player | FTA/G | FT/G
- 1959-60 | Wilt Chamberlain | 13.8 | 8
- 1965-66 Wilt Chamberlain | 12.4 | 6.3
- 1958-59 | Bob Pettit | 12.2 | 9.3
- 1963-64 | Oscar Robertson | 11.9 | 10.1
- 2022-23 | Joel Embiid | 11.7 | 10
- 1967-68 | Wilt Chamberlain | 11.4 | 4.3
- 1966-67 | Wilt Chamberlain | 10.8 | 4.8
- 1987-88 | Michael Jordan | 10.5 | 8.8
- 1955-56 | Bob Pettit | 10.5 | 7.7
- 1994-95 | David Robertson | 10.5 | 8.1
- 1999-00 | Shaquille O'Neal | 10.4 | 8.8
- 2016-17 | Russell Westbrook | 10.4 | 8.8
- 2009-10 | LeBron James | 10.2 | 7.8
- 1981-82 | Moses Malone | 10.1 | 7.7
- 2017-18 | James Harden | 10.1 | 8.7
- 2000-01 | Allen Iverson | 10.1 | 8.2
- 1982-83 | Moses Malone | 10.1 | 7.7
- 2019-20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 10 | 6.3
- 2013-14 | Kevin Durant | 9.9 | 8.7
- 1978-79 | Moses Malone | 9.9 | 7.3
- 1998-99 | Karl Malone | 9.8 | 7.7
- 1974-75 | Bob McAdoo | 9.7 | 7.8
- 2018-19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 9.5 | 6.9
- 2008-09 | LeBron James | 9.4 | 7.3
- 1971-72 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | 9.5 | 6.9
- 2007-08 | Kobe Bryant | 9 | 7.6
- 2024-25 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 8.8 | 7.9
- 1997-98 | Michael Jordan | 8.8 | 6.9
- 2001-02 | Tim Duncan | 8.5 | 6.8
- 1996-97 | Karl Malone | 8.4 | 6.4
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