The Los Angeles Lakers tower ahead of the entire NBA when it comes to free throw differential.

Free throws are one of the easiest ways to rack up points in an NBA game, with the word ‘free’ being the defining aspect. Teams always complain about free throws, but the NBA has seen one team dominate free throws over the last season (including the 2023 playoffs), the Los Angeles Lakers. They have nearly 700 more net free throw attempts than any other team in the NBA.

Complete list of NBA teams by net free-throw attempts since the start of last season, including the playoffs.

*Net Free Throw Attempts: Free throw Attempts minus Opponnent Free Throws Attempt

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1. Los Angeles Lakers (+1017)

2. New York Knicks (+358)

3. Milwaukee Bucks (+344)

4. Orlando Magic (+311) 

5. Boston Celtics (+271)

6. Miami Heat (+263)

7. Los Angeles Clippers (+226)

8. New Orleans Pelicans (+198)

9. Toronto Raptors (+160)

10. Philadelphia 76ers (+129)

11. Atlanta Hawks (+85)

12. Dallas Mavericks (+64)

T13. Utah Jazz (+24)

15. Memphis Grizzlies (-10)

16. Houston Rockets (-54)

17. Chicago Bulls (-65)

18. Cleveland Cavaliers (-85)

19. Minnesota Timberwolves (-115)

20. Portland Trail Blazers (-134)

21. Phoenix Suns (-140)

22. Denver Nuggets (-143)

23. Washington Wizards (-195)

24. Charlotte Hornets (-244)

25. Brooklyn Nets (-262)

26. Oklahoma City Thunder (-270)

27. San Antonio Spurs (-285)

28. Detroit Pistons (-293)

29. Indiana Pacers (-533)

30. Golden State Warriors (-646)

(Source: Andrew Bailey)

Naturally, news like this will infuriate fans around the league. Everyone has joked about referees being biased towards the Lakers, but facts like this make it more than a laughing matter. The Lakers are among the bottom 10 in drives per game and paint touches, which makes this matter even more curious.

They do rank among the top of the NBA when it comes to rim frequency, rim accuracy, post-up attempts, cuts to the baskets, and possessions finished by a roll man through contact, but even that cannot account for how lopsided the statistic is in their favor.

Multiple players and coaches have publicly called the Lakers out when it comes to this topic. One of the most explosive anti-referee rants of the years came because of lopsided officiating in the Lakers’ favor from Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic because of limited calls on Scottie Barnes.

“How is it possible that Scottie Barnes, who is an All-Star caliber player in this league, he goes every single time to the rim with force without flopping, he gets two free throws for the whole game. How is that possible? How will you explain that to me? They had to win tonight. If that’s the case, just let us know so we don’t show up for the game. That was not fair tonight. It’s not happening for the first time with us… What’s happening right now this season, it’s complete crap.”

Since then, coaches like Rick Carlisle have raised similar concerns after facing the Lakers. Players are also discussing this, with Anthony Edwards raising his voice.

LeBron James is extremely aware of how he and his team are being perceived around the league because of their free-throw attempts. After the Darko Rajakovic rant brought a lot of negative attention to the Lakers free throw numbers, James tried to explain the situation away by bluntly telling everyone that the disparity exists because the Lakers don’t foul while their opponents do.

James was forced to be more elaborate with his response on this front after a game where the Lakers shot more free throws than the Suns.

“That’s who we are. A lot of coaches and teams say ‘All the Lakers do is get to the free-throw line.’ That’s the narrative out there… I mean we have attackers, that’s what we do. We shoot the ball from the perimeter but we’re not shooting 40-50 3’s a game, we’re not that team and we don’t have the luxury of being that team… I know I was hit a couple of times in the paint but it wasn’t called.”

The Lakers’ play style does warrant them leading the league in a stat like this, but not to this extent. The Lakers give up the least free throw attempts in the NBA, but players like Anthony Davis are 11th when it comes to individual free throw attempts (6.7). LeBron James ranks behind players like Alperen Sengun and Jerami Grant when it comes to FTA per game (5.5).

There is a pattern that shows referees are suppressing their whistle when the Lakers play. All the reasons why they should be atop a list like this are valid, but the scale at which they lead the league in net free throw attempts is pretty shocking.

With the league-wide crackdown on free throws likely further reducing the number of free throws the Lakers give up every game, hopefully it leads to fairer officiating as we enter the business end of the season. So many coaches and players have complained while the statistics also prove there’s a cause for concern, so it has to be addressed eventually.