NBA Analyst Debunks Conspiracy Theory On Lakers Wild Free Throw Differential

The conspiracy theory of the Lakers getting more favorable calls than the rest of the league has been tackled intelligently.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

The Los Angeles Lakers have been a massive talk point all week after a journalist showed the Lakers’ incredible +1017 free throw differential over the last two seasons, including the playoffs. But Zach Kram of The Ringer has shown how those numbers are entirely plausible given the Lakers play-style.

“Here is ample reason to believe this Lakers team should draw many more fouls than it commits. On offense, the Lakers rank 29th in 3-point attempt rate, per Cleaning the Glass, and are tied for second in the rate of shots they attempt at the rim. In other words, L.A. takes a larger proportion of its shots in the area most likely to draw foul calls.”

Kram also explained how the Lakers’ defense ends up restricting free throws given to opposing teams.

“The Lakers allow the fourth-lowest frequency of shots at the rim and the fifth-highest frequency of 3-pointers, meaning they funnel opposing teams into the sorts of shots that don’t draw fouls. Teams with similar defensive shot charts include the Celtics, who rank second in lowest opponent free throw rate, and the Heat, who rank fourth.”

Kram has pointed out excellent historical indicators as to why the Lakers have the free throw advantage they have. Does the fact they’re the big-market Lakers with LeBron James on the roster help? Probably, but nothing is indicating that the Lakers or James-led teams will always historically receive help on free throws. 

The Lakers over the last two seasons have bought into this as their identity, prompting players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis to be better shooters. However, getting more free throws isn’t a silver bullet to success given some of the teams who have held similar advantages in the past and the Lakers’ position as the No. 9 seed this year.


How Historic Is The Lakers 23-24 Free Throw Advantage?

The Ringer also pulled together data behind other league leaders in free throw differential, which shows how the Lakers are completely in line with historical trends. As a matter of fact, the Lakers are not even close to being a team with a historic free-throw advantage.

The team that ended the season with the biggest free throw disparity in the 21st century is the 2017-18 Charlotte Hornets, with a +722 in their favor. The team missed the playoffs with a 36-46 record but had players like Dwight Howard who would draw a lot of free throws.

The team with the second biggest advantage was the James Harden-led 2013-14 Houston Rockets, who were +705 and were first-round exits despite winning 54 games.

The third-largest free throw differential over a season comes from the 2012-13 Lakers with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Steve Nash at +695. They won 45 games in the regular season and like the Rockets, were a first-round exit. 

The 2022-23 Lakers ended the season with a +476, which ranks for 10th-most in the 21st century. The 2023-24 Lakers could surpass that, who currently sit at +451 with 10 games remaining.

The Lakers have more than double the advantage from the line than their contemporaries, which is the issue that people are illustrating. This will continue to be a polarizing topic for NBA fans going forward, especially if the Lakers make a playoff run.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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