By John Rammas/ irammas@eurohoops.net
It’s the only moment in the sport where there is no opponent. Or, at least, that’s what one would like to believe. The stress of success and the fear of failure are more than enough to make up for the absence of an opponent’s physical presence. In that moment, talent alone is not enough and the need for concentration and composure is imperative.
This season, the players of the 18 teams have that concentration and composure – and then some. A record-pace season in free-throw accuracy is the biggest confirmation.
In 131 games so far, 227 players have found themselves at least once behind the free throw line to shoot 4,408 times and make 3,488 of them. With an accuracy rate of 79.1%, the top spot in the history of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague is all theirs.
This record is no accident. It’s the fifth consecutive season with an increase in the percentage of made free throws, which means all the seasons with the new format (2016-present). This season, however, the rate of change is higher than any previous record, since it’s close to 2% (+1.79%). That’s 5.01% higher than the overall average of EuroLeague free-throw shooters over the previous 20 seasons.
|
EUROLEAGUE FREE THROW SHOOTING % (2000-01 to 2020-21) |
||||
|
SEASON |
GAMES |
MADE |
ATTEMPTED |
% |
|
2020-21 |
131 |
3488 |
4408 |
79.12% |
|
2019-20 |
252 |
6899 |
8921 |
77.33% |
|
2018-19 |
260 |
7129 |
9302 |
76.64% |
|
2017-18 |
260 |
7545 |
9881 |
76.36% |
|
2016-17 |
259 |
6998 |
9243 |
75.71% |
|
2011-12 |
188 |
5351 |
7145 |
74.89% |
|
2008-09 |
188 |
5727 |
7648 |
74.88% |
|
2015-16 |
250 |
6853 |
9176 |
74.68% |
|
2010-11 |
189 |
5490 |
7406 |
74.13% |
|
2014-15 |
251 |
6870 |
9300 |
73.87% |
|
2009-10 |
188 |
5771 |
7819 |
73.81% |
|
2013-14 |
253 |
6370 |
8662 |
73.54% |
|
2012-13 |
253 |
6690 |
9100 |
73.52% |
|
2007-08 |
231 |
6771 |
9232 |
73.34% |
|
2003-04 |
219 |
7363 |
10050 |
73.26% |
|
2004-05 |
229 |
7527 |
10331 |
72.86% |
|
2006-07 |
230 |
7295 |
10036 |
72.69% |
|
2020-03 |
220 |
7204 |
9948 |
72.42% |
|
2001-02 |
274 |
9633 |
13351 |
72.15% |
|
2000-01 |
158 |
5692 |
7900 |
72.05% |
|
2005-06 |
231 |
7017 |
9851 |
71.23% |
|
TOTAL |
4714 |
139683 |
188710 |
74.01% |
To set this record it took the presence of eight teams in the all-time top 20 in terms of accuracy at the foul line.
Zalgiris Kaunas is currently the all-time best in terms of percentage in made free throws (88.07%), Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade sits in third place (84.95%), while last season’s Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2019-20) are between them and second place (86.04%).
Zenit St Petersburg is in eighth place (82.49%), Valencia Basket in tenth (82.20%), Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in 11th (82.20%), ALBA Berlin in 15th (81.96%), FC Bayern Munich in 17th (81.62%), while Real Madrid are the last team from this season in the top 20, ranking 18th (81.48%).
|
EUROLEAGUE FREE THROW SHOOTING % (SINGLE SEASON) |
|||
|
TEAM |
GAMES |
% |
SEASON |
|
Zalgiris Kaunas |
15 |
88.07 |
2020-21 |
|
Anadolu Efes Istanbul |
28 |
86.04 |
2019-20 |
|
15 |
84.05 |
2020-21 |
|
|
Valencia Basket |
30 |
82.79 |
2017-18 |
|
Zagreb |
10 |
82.64 |
2011-12 |
The name that stands out and tops the list of players could only be from this season’s Zalgiris squad.
Marius Grigonis is having a career-high season in several statistical categories, but there is no other record in the history of the competition like his 97.67% accuracy in free throws (42/43 in 15 games). The Lithuanian team’s Super Marius is also second in terms of career overall average, with 93.17% (150 of 161 in 59 games).
First on the all-time list is Nando De Colo with 94.12% (801 of 851 in 202 games), who is also third in terms of percentage in a single season, the current one with Fenerbahce (96.97% with 32 of 33 in 10 games).
|
EUROLEAGUE FREE THROW SHOOTING % (SINGLE SEASON) |
|||||
|
PLAYER |
TEAM |
GAMES |
% |
TOTAL |
SEASON |
|
Marius Grigonis |
Zalgiris Kaunas |
15 |
97.67% |
42/43 |
2020-21 |
|
Marcelinho Huertas |
FC Barcelona Regal |
31 |
97.22% |
35/36 |
2012-13 |
|
Nando De Colo |
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul |
10 |
96.97% |
32/33 |
2020-21 |
|
Tyler Cavanaugh |
ALBA Berlin |
19 |
96.97% |
32/33 |
2019-20 |
|
Nikolaos Chatzis |
20 |
96.97% |
32/33 |
2005-06 |
|
|
Uros Tripkovic |
Partizan |
14 |
96.88% |
31/32 |
2004-05 |
|
Klemen Prepelic |
Valencia Basket |
15 |
96.67% |
29/30 |
2020-21 |
|
Anadolu Efes Istanbul |
29 |
96.67% |
29/30 |
2017-18 |
|
|
Brian Roberts |
32 |
96.49% |
55/57 |
2017-18 |
|
|
Vasilije Micic |
Anadolu Efes Istanbul |
24 |
96.36% |
53/55 |
2019-20 |
It’s needless to emphasize the importance of making a free throw. Even though it’s the shot that counts for the fewest points, it can decide everything. Already this season, seven out of 131 games have been decided by a single point and a made free throw could have been the difference in perhaps the most exciting season in history.
At the same time, EuroLeague finals have been won and lost on the free throw line, so time will tell if the best free-throw shooting in competition history will yet decide a champion, as well.