Some of the all-time greats know how to get to the free-throw line. They find a way to get easy points over and over again. It forces defenses to collapse, racks up fouls on key opponents, and, most importantly, gives them the simplest shot in basketball: an open 15-footer.
This list isn’t just about who scored the most or won the most MVPs—it’s about who owned the free-throw line like no other. Here are the 10 NBA MVPs with the most free throws per game between the 1999-00 season and 2023-24, and it is very interesting to see who cracks the list.
1. Joel Embiid – 11.7 FTA
2022-23 Stats: 33.1 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.7 BPG, 3.4 TOV, 85.7 FT%, 54.8 FG%, 33.0 3P%
Joel Embiid won his first and only MVP in 2022-23 for the Philadelphia 76ers by owning the paint like few big men in modern NBA history. Averaging an insane 11.7 free throw attempts per game, Embiid showcased his mix of brute force and finesse, making him nearly impossible to guard without sending him to the line.
His 85.7% free-throw shooting as a center made those trips even more punishing. In an era where bigs are expected to stretch the floor, Embiid still dominated the old-school way, relentlessly attacking inside while also mixing in mid-range jumpers.
His physicality made him one of the most whistle-friendly superstars in the league, and his free-throw game played a massive role in him securing the MVP trophy. Few players in NBA history—let alone centers—have ever averaged nearly 12 free throw attempts a night.
2. Shaquille O’Neal – 10.4 FTA
1999-00 Stats: 29.7 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, 3.0 BPG, 2.8 TOV, 52.4 FT%, 57.4 FG%, 0.0 3P%
Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t just dominant in the 1999-00 season – he was unstoppable. His MVP year saw him become the most physically overwhelming force of his era, bulldozing defenders in the paint and drawing fouls at an absurd rate.
His 10.4 free throw attempts per game were a direct result of teams having no other option but to hack him, hoping he’d miss at the line. Unfortunately for them, even Shaq’s 52.4% free throw shooting couldn’t slow him down—he still put up 29.7 points per game while carrying the Lakers to a championship.
O’Neal didn’t need a jumper, and he definitely didn’t need a three-pointer—everything he did came within a few feet of the basket, where he was virtually unguardable. “Hack-a-Shaq” may have been born out of his free-throw struggles, but the fact that teams had to resort to it speaks volumes about his dominance.
3. Russell Westbrook – 10.4 FTA
2016-17 Stats: 31.6 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 10.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.4 BPG, 5.4 TOV, 84.5 FT%, 42.5 FG%, 34.3 3P%
Russell Westbrook’s 2016-17 MVP season was pure chaos in the best way possible. He averaged a triple-double, led the league in scoring, and was an absolute menace in transition. Thanks to Kevin Durant leaving him high and dry in OKC, Westbrook was on a mission to prove he was the best player in the world.
But what made him truly lethal? His ability to get to the free-throw line at will. Westbrook attempted 10.4 free throws per game, and if defenders tried to stay in front of him, they’d end up getting blown by. They were getting called for a foul if they stepped in his way.
While many MVPs relied on finesse, Westbrook’s MVP campaign was built on sheer aggression. No one in the league played with more energy, and no one drew more whistles off of explosive drives to the basket.
4. LeBron James – 10.2 FTA
2009-10 Stats: 29.7 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 3.4 TOV, 76.7 FT%, 50.3 FG%, 33.3 3P%
LeBron James in 2009-10 was a different kind of beast. His mix of size, strength, and speed forced defenders into impossible situations, leading to 10.2 free throw attempts per game.
LeBron wasn’t settling for jumpers; he was putting his head down and attacking the basket, daring defenders to stop him. Most of the time, they couldn’t. While his 76.7% free-throw shooting wasn’t elite, it was still good enough to make defenses pay.
The combination of his elite finishing, mid-range game, and transition dominance made fouling him the only real way to slow him down. But even that wasn’t enough—LeBron still averaged nearly 30 points per game while leading the Cavaliers to the NBA’s best record (61-21).
5. Allen Iverson – 10.1 FTA
2000-01 Stats: 31.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 4.6 APG, 2.5 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 3.3 TOV, 81.4 FT%, 42.0 FG%, 32.0 3P%
Allen Iverson was 6 feet tall on paper, but on the court, he played like a giant. His 2000-01 MVP season was a masterclass in that aspect, as he led the league in scoring while absorbing contact on nearly every possession. Averaging 10.1 free throw attempts per game, Iverson made a living at the line, using his quickness and craftiness to keep defenders off balance.
Despite his small frame, AI thrived on physicality, absorbing hits and bouncing back up like it was nothing. His 81.4% free throw shooting made those trips count, allowing him to carry a Sixers team that lacked a true second-scoring option. Iverson was the entire offensive engine of the team and his MVP season was iconic because of that.
6. James Harden – 10.1 FTA
2017-18 Stats: 30.4 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 8.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 4.4 TOV, 85.8 FT%, 44.9 FG%, 36.7 3P%
James Harden’s 2017-18 MVP season was the definition of offensive manipulation. Few players in NBA history have been better at drawing fouls than Harden, and in his prime, he turned it into an art form. He averaged 10.1 free throw attempts per game, forcing defenders into awkward positions with his elite handle, deceptive first step, and signature step-back three.
What made Harden so dangerous was his efficiency at the line. He shot 85.8% from the stripe, turning those foul calls into easy points. Combine that with his elite three-point shooting, and Harden became an impossible cover. Of course, his ability to manipulate defenses (and the refs) wasn’t just frustrating for opposing fans but it was flat-out dominant.
7. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 10.0 FTA
2019-20 Stats: 29.5 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 3.7 TOV, 63.3 FT%, 55.3 FG%, 30.4 3P%
When Giannis Antetokounmpo won MVP in 2019-20, he was a one-man wrecking crew. His ability to get downhill and finish at the rim made him an impossible matchup, and defenders had no choice but to foul him. That led to 10.0 free throw attempts per game, an absurd number for a player who wasn’t even a primary ball-handler.
The only knock on Giannis that season? His 63.3% free throw shooting. Opposing teams knew they had to send him to the line, hoping his struggles would keep Milwaukee from fully capitalizing on his dominance. Even so, Giannis still managed to put up nearly 30 points per game while leading the Bucks to the best record in the NBA (56-17).
8. Kevin Durant – 9.9 FTA
2013-14 Stats: 32.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 3.5 TOV, 87.3 FT%, 50.3 FG%, 39.1 3P%
Kevin Durant’s 2013-14 MVP season was nothing short of historic. He averaged 32 points per game, shooting efficiently from everywhere on the floor, but what truly made him lethal was his ability to get to the line. Durant attempted 9.9 free throws per game, showcasing his underrated physicality in addition to his elite shooting touch.
With his 87.3% free throw shooting, every trip to the stripe was basically automatic. Defenders had no answer—if they played him too close, he’d blow by them for a foul, and if they sagged off, he’d drain a jumper. KD’s ability to draw fouls was a major reason he became the first player since Allen Iverson to average over 32 points per game.
9. Giannis Antetokounmpo – 9.5 FTA
2018-19 Stats: 27.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 1.3 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 3.7 TOV, 72.9 FT%, 57.8 FG%, 25.6 3P%
Before his 2019-20 dominance, Giannis was already showing flashes of being a free-throw machine in 2018-19. His first MVP campaign saw him average 9.5 free throw attempts per game, largely due to his freakish ability to get to the rim whenever he wanted. Defenders simply had no answer for his blend of power, speed, and length.
Though his 72.9% free throw shooting wasn’t elite, it was enough to make teams pay for sending him to the line. His relentless attacking style made him the focal point of Milwaukee’s offense, and his ability to live at the free-throw line helped him take his scoring to the next level.
10. LeBron James – 9.4 FTA
2008-09 Stats: 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 3.0 TOV, 78.0 FT%, 48.9 FG%, 34.4 3P%
LeBron James’ first MVP season in 2008-09 was one of the most complete individual campaigns of all time. His mix of scoring, playmaking, and defense was elite, but one of the most overlooked aspects of his game that year was his ability to get to the free-throw line.
He averaged 9.4 free throw attempts per game, using his unmatched combination of speed and strength to bully defenders into fouling him. While his 78.0% free throw shooting wasn’t automatic, it was good enough to make those trips count. His ability to generate free throws played a huge role in him averaging 28.4 points per game and leading Cleveland to an NBA-best 66 wins.
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