2
Oct
By the Numbers
'Charity Gripe': NBL27 free throws worst in 14 seasons
Adelaide 36ers import Nick Rakocevic reacts after fouling out following a contest with Melbourne United’s Sam Waardenburg during their round one NBL match at John Cain Arena in Melbourne on September 19, 2026. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
NBL27's free throw percentage is 71.9 per cent, the worst it's been in the past 13 years
- The league is shooting 71.9 per cent at the line after 16 games
- Aliir and Mays lead at 10-from-11; Rakocevic trails at 5-from-14
- Three NBL27 results would flip at the 20-season free-throw analysis
- Opinion: No excuse for not being a good free throw shooter
NBL27 free throw shooting has started cold.
After 16 games the league is shooting 71.9 per cent from the line, below the past 20 seasons' average of 73.1 per cent, and the misses are already deciding games.
It's the worst percentage since the 2012-13 season (71.8%) but there is still a long way to go. Between 2007 and 2009, the league average was 70.6%.
Bryce Cotton ($473,900) sets the standard for volume in NBL27. The Adelaide star has made 22 of 25 (88.0 per cent), while Kendric Davis ($436,000) has gone to the line 26 times and made 21, level with Cole Anthony ($300,000) for the most attempts among the 20 players below.
South East Melbourne Phoenix pair Akech Aliir ($125,300) and Skylar Mays ($277,000) top the list at 10 from 11 (90.9 per cent), just ahead of Illawarra's Milton Doyle ($274,700) (9 from 10) and the Breakers' Parker Jackson-Cartwright ($405,200) (15 from 17).
At the other end, Nick Rakocevic ($188,400) has made five of 14 (35.7 per cent), the worst return of any player with at least 10 attempts. Sam Waardenburg ($277,500) (5 from 12) and Arnas Velicka ($277,000) (8 from 17) are next, and Velicka's Bullets are shooting 62.5 per cent as a team.
Nobody has paid for it more than Melbourne United. Waardenburg and Anthony are a combined 22 from 38, and United's 66.2 per cent has left them 5.1 points short across three games of what the same attempts return at the 20-season rate. Thursday night's 84-82 loss in Hobart, where United made 25 of 41, is one of three NBL27 results that would flip if both teams had shot the long-term average.
Taran Armstrong ($304,700), who hit the winner in that game, is 7 from 14 himself.
Cairns are the best club at the line at 80.0 per cent, but Sydney have gained the most from it, 3.9 points above the long-term rate. Illawarra are last at 60.7 per cent, and they are the only club yet to win a game.
.png)
