Tuck in elbow. Line up ball. Set feet apart. Balance body. Spread fingers. Snap wrist. Follow through. Swish, rinse, repeat.
Really, kids, is there an easier shot to execute than the 15-foot free throw, the only unguarded shot in team sports?
Why, of course not. As pro basketball continues to gravitate toward entertainment at the expense of fundamentals and competition, the free throw circle has morphed into a grand stage to showcase creativity to put it in a kind way. Which is another way to say, the simple art of the free throw has morphed into a complicated mess in many cases.
For better or for worse, here’s the shortlist of the most unconventional, downright awful and strangely effective free throw styles in NBA history.
