Lebron James isn’t clutch at free-throws
Lebron James isn’t clutch at free-throws
In spite of having almost all the necessary skills that a basketball player can achieve, King James has a big problem: the free-throws. During the entire career, he missed more than 2500 shots from the foul line which makes him a mediocre NBA player on this category.
Lebron James has an average of 73.7% at free-throws in his 15th NBA season. Maybe some might say that is not so bad but if you look at the clutch free-throws he missed – for instance, at the end of the last night game against New Orleans Pelicans -, you will understand the meaning. After scoring an “and-one” and a 3 pointer in the last 2 minutes of the game, Lebron was fouled again by the Pelicans in order to put him at the free-throw line. He missed both shots. Fortunately, the Lakers had already an important margin and eventually, they won the game without problems, but the problem of Lebron James shooting from the foul line can appear in other clutches games.
Now I understand why Lebron prefers to take step-back 3s in the most important moments of the game, instead of going every time aggressively to the basket. Because if he would be fouled, he wouldn’t score so much from the free-throw line. He avoids the “Hack-a-Lebron” strategy because this is exactly his weakest point: the free-throws. This season with Los Angeles Lakers he has 67.70% at this category.
Even if he tried during the years different routines in order to improve his percentage from the foul line, Lebron is still the same: an excellent player who sucks at this category. I hope he could do something about it. For such a great talent, who is included more and more in the GOAT debate, this is a big MINUS.
Gratian Cormos, info@brainbasketball.net
