Ben Wallace Worst FT Shooter Ever?

[srjunkacct]

I think that Shaq's biggest problem is that he fractured his right wrist when he was a kid, and it never really healed correctly. That's why when he shoots a hook shot, he tends to shot-put it into the hoop instead of flicking his wrist. You can see the exact same thing when he shoots free throws.

I have no idea what Ben Wallace's problem is, though.

[Jack of Arcades]

The bigger you are, the harder it tends to be - but then again, Dirk Nowitzki's one of the best free throw shooters in the league, and Tim Duncan's a respectable 68% for his career.

[Bulldog]

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Ben Wallace isn't that horrible.

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Ben Wallace has the lowest FT% of anyone with 1000 attempts (.418)

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[TheNoodleMan]

Rick Barry has said that he had agreed to teach Shaq to shoot FT underhanded several years ago but Shaq backed out at the last minute, presumably because he was concerned about how he would be percieved.
Barry has stated that he could have easily gotten Shaq in to the 75% range, would would make him considerably more dominant as a player.

[Hack]

Myself to make 5 out of 10 FTs easily.

I was an 85% free throw shooter in 3 years of high school basketball, and although I haven't shot it much since then, I guarantee I could still hit 7 out of 10.

There's no excuse for big guys like Wallace and Shaq to not be able to make at least 70% of their free throws. Dirk is 7 feet and drains them at a 90% clip. Hakeem and David Robinson were good too, as well as Kareem and Ewing.

[capone0]

I think the bigger issue is Ben Wallace is a horrible shooter in general.

http://www.82games.com/0506/05DET16A.HTM is a detailed rundown of his stats.

31% of his shots are dunks, 80% are inside where he shoots 58% from the field. He shoots the occasional jump shot where he is 22% from the field. He's just not a good shooter for a "big man."

In contrast, Brad Miller shoots 47.5 efg as a jump shooter as a big man. He is also a good free throw shooter. He is a good shooter in general for a big man.

Another example of a horrid jump shooter is Desagana Diop. If he doesn't have the worst hands in the league, he's close.

He shoots 21% from jumpers although he doesn't dunk as readily as Ben Wallace. His free throw percent is also slightly higher (54%).

Brad Miller type examples in the NBA:

Okur
Kristic (fts aren't that great)
Ming (kinda, jump isn't as good but great free throw shooter)
Blount

Ben Wallace type examples in the NBA

Diop
Ostertag
Chandler (not as bad at jumpers as BW)

As you can see there is a mixed bag, but the common correlation is good shooters are good shooters. If you can't shoot from the field you definitely can't shoot from the line. Ben Wallace is horrible from both. His field goal percentage isn't bad b/c he is very efficient from close range and dunking.

[FUJItheFISH]

wasn't dennis rodman pretty horrible?

[namknils]

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wasn't dennis rodman pretty horrible?

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58.4% career, pretty bad, but not as bad as Wallace

[Vincent]

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It should be for a professional. If I had all day and all night to practice shooting, I'd imagine it wouldn't be all that tough. Ben Wallace is a highly paid athlete. He can afford to practice, get coaches and do whatever. Obviously he hasn't or can't but you figure a finely tuned athlete should be able to atleast get over 50%.

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I don't understand what keeps him from developing any offensive skills. He's athletic and apparently has good work ethic when it comes to building his body. Can't he go out for a couple hours and develop a shot or a hook or anything?

All that said, I'd rather have Ben Wallace as my center over everyone outside Shaq & Yao and whomever else I'm forgetting.

[offTopic]

No one outside the Bay Area has probably seen this, but Andris Biedrins is probably the worst foul shooter I've ever seen. Just sick...he gets his body in good position at the line, and then puts the ball out about 10-12" to the left of his left ear (he's left-handed). Ugly.