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Free throw
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==Technique== [[File:1 kawhi leonard 2019 nba finals.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kawhi Leonard]] at the free-throw line during Game 2 of the [[2019 NBA Finals]]]] To shoot a free throw, a player must position their body with both feet fully behind the free throw line. Players will either position both feet square to the line or will have one foot forward in a split stance. While standing as close to the line as possible is typically advantageous, players like [[Nick Van Exel]] have been known to take a few steps (1β2 feet) back from the line to shoot from a farther distance. Many players perform a "ritual" before shooting free throws; this can range from bouncing the ball off the floor or touching their shoes to more unusual and iconic rituals, such as [[Gilbert Arenas]] wrapping the ball around his waist 3 times or [[Jeff Hornacek]] touching his face once for each of his children.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Corpuz |first1=D.S. |title=NBA's Best: The Top 10 Free Throw Shooting Routines of All-Time |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/553751-nba-rituals-the-top-10-free-throw-shooting-routines-or-lack-of-of-all-time |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref> Once prepared, the player will bend his legs to generate power, extend the ball over his head, and shoot in a form similar to the typical basketball [[jump shot (basketball)|jump shot]], although they will not always leave the ground during a free throw.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your Guide To Free Throws, According to Basketball Coaches and Pros |url=https://www.nike.com/a/how-to-shoot-free-throw |website=Nike |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref> Nearly every adult professional player shoots free throws in this overhand style, despite both theoretical and practical demonstrations that the underhand style (aka "granny-style") usually produces better average results.<ref name=discover>{{cite web |url=http://discovermagazine.com/2008/the-body/07-physics-proves-it-everyone-should-shoot-granny-style |first=Curtis |last=Rist |title=Physics Proves It: Everyone Should Shoot Granny-Style |publisher=[[Discover (magazine)|Discover]] |date=2008-08-07 |access-date=2017-01-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202012458/http://discovermagazine.com/2008/the-body/07-physics-proves-it-everyone-should-shoot-granny-style |archive-date=2017-02-02 }}</ref><ref name=CT>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/ct-granny-shot-nba-free-throw-20161228-story.html |first=Adam |last=Kilgore |title='Granny' shot master Rick Barry is glad someone had the guts to bring it back to the NBA |publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=2016-12-28 |access-date=2017-01-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119125235/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/ct-granny-shot-nba-free-throw-20161228-story.html |archive-date=2017-01-19 }}</ref> NBA player and underhand free-throw shooter [[Rick Barry]] retired in 1980 while ranked 1st in NBA history at the time with a 90.0% average of successful free throws.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/history/players/barry_bio.html |title=Rick Barry Bio |publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. |work=NBA.com |access-date=2017-01-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317133934/http://www.nba.com/history/players/barry_bio.html |archive-date=2010-03-17 }}</ref> There have been very few professional players who have used this technique since; the vast majority of players decline to use the technique for fear of ridicule or for similar reasons unrelated to performance. Famously bad free throw shooter [[Shaquille O'Neal]] once said in an interview, "I told Rick Barry I'd rather shoot 0% than shoot underhand. I'm too cool for that."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/shaq-on-free-throws-i-told-rick-barry-id-rather-shoot-0-than-shoot-underhand |date=December 11, 2017 |title=Shaq on free throws: 'I told Rick Barry I'd rather shoot 0% than shoot underhand' |first=Dan |last=Feldman |publisher=NBC Sports Group |access-date=2023-07-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129221730/https://www.nbcsports.com/nba/news/shaq-on-free-throws-i-told-rick-barry-id-rather-shoot-0-than-shoot-underhand |archive-date= Jan 29, 2024 }}</ref> Professionals who have adopted the style include [[Chinanu Onuaku]]<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Reichert|url=https://2ways10days.com/chinanu-onuaku-is-revitalizing-the-underhand-free-throw-300d0a4ede22|title=Chinanu Onuaku is revitalizing the underhand free throw|date=June 27, 2017|accessdate=May 5, 2024}}</ref> and Barry's son [[Canyon Barry|Canyon]].<ref name=discover/><ref name=CT/>
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