Real Reason Lakers Shoot More Free Throws Than Other NBA Teams

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle made headlines last week when he claimed that the Los Angeles Lakers’ free throw differential over their opposition is a distinct advantage for LeBron James and Co.

The implication was clear: L.A. gets favorable, undeserved treatment from officials.

A quick look at the numbers certainly backs up the idea that Los Angeles gets to the charity stripe more.

“Over the course of the season the Lakers have a league leading +420 free throw attempt differential,” CBS Sports reported.

“For comparison, the Milwaukee Bucks who rank second in that category, are far behind at +222. And on the other end of the spectrum, the Pacers are last in the league in free-throw differential with a -377.”

This week, an answer as to why the Lakers actually shoot more free throws than other NBA teams emerged. As noted by Zach Kram of The Ringer , nothing nefarious is going on here.

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“Here is ample reason to believe this Lakers team should draw many more fouls than it commits,” he wrote.

“On offense, the Lakers rank 29th in 3-point attempt rate, per Cleaning the Glass, and are tied for second in the rate of shots they attempt at the rim. In other words, L.A. takes a larger proportion of its shots in the area most likely to draw foul calls.”

Kram then went on to point out that the type of defense the Lakers play also plays a role.

“The Lakers allow the fourth-lowest frequency of shots at the rim and the fifth-highest frequency of 3-pointers, meaning they funnel opposing teams into the sorts of shots that don’t draw fouls,” he continued.

“Teams with similar defensive shot charts include the Celtics, who rank second in lowest opponent free throw rate, and the Heat, who rank fourth.”

Carlisle also conveniently ignored the fact that the Pacers send their opponents to the free throw line more than anyone else in the NBA. Beyond that, they rank 23rd in the free-throw attempts. Meaning, they never get to the free throw line.

Conspiracy theories involving the Lakers aren’t unusual. But as usual, this free throw one is just a bunch of bunk.

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Jennifer Withers Hoey

Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.