Officiating has become a massive part of the sports discussion online, particularly when it comes to free throws in an NBA game.
Fans believe that two teams in a single game must have a similar number of free throw attempts. If there is any disparity, itโs a sign of favoritism or bias.
Of course, several factors contribute to a team attempting more free throws, such as play style, shot selection, or even the game’s score.
With that said, hereโs a look at the teams with the best free throw differential entering the 2025 NBA postseason:
NBA Teams With the Best Free Throw Differential
| Team | Average FT Differential |
|---|---|
| Spurs | +2.7 |
| Lakers | +2.6 |
| Heat | +2.5 |
| Nuggets | +2.1 |
| Bucks | +2.1 |
| Mavericks | +1.7 |
| Celtics | +1.5 |
| 76ers | +1.5 |
| Rockets | +1.3 |
| Knicks | +1.3 |
Which NBA Team Has the Best Free Differential This Season?
As of early April, the San Antonio Spurs lead the league with an average of 2.7 more free throw attempts per game. The Los Angeles Lakers are second with an average of 2.6 more attempts per contest, while the Miami Heat are third at +2.5.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Atlanta Hawks lead the league with an average of 23.4 free throw attempts per game this season, but both are giving up more than 22 attempts per contest on the other end.
The Miami Heat surrender the fewest free throw attempts (17.7) in the NBA.
Which NBA Team Had the Best Free Differential Last Season?
The Lakers posted the best free throw differential in 2023-24, averaging 6.1 more attempts than their opponent each game. The Boston Celtics were a distant second last year at +2.8.
Los Angeles also led the NBA with a +5.8 average free throw differential in 2022-23 but had a negative differential (-0.3) in 2021-22.
This suggests that Darvin Hamโs coaching philosophy influenced the Lakers as head coach from 2022-2024, along with Anthony Davisโ presence in the lineup. Davis played only 40 games in 2021-22 and was traded away this year.
Which NBA Team Has the Worst Free Differential This Season?
The Toronto Raptors have the lowest free throw differential in the NBA, allowing their opponents 3.8 more attempts per game.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are 29th at -3.2, despite point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranking second among all players with an average of 8.9 attempts per contest.
Which NBA Team Had the Worst Free Differential Last Season?
The Indiana Pacers, who eventually made last yearโs Eastern Conference finals, ranked 30th in free throw differential during the 2023-24 regular season. They posted a -5.4 free throw differential last year.
Where do the Lakers Rank in Free Throw Rate After the Luka Donฤiฤ Trade?
Since trading for Luka Donฤiฤ in early February, the Lakers rank fourth in the NBA with an average of 23.8 attempts from the charity stripe. They trail the Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers over that span.
Interestingly, the Warriors lead the NBA with an average of 20.6 free throws per game since Jimmy Butler joined the lineup after the trade deadline.
Related Articles
NBA Odds at BetMGM
Take your NBA experience to the next level with daily NBA odds at BetMGM!
Whether you’re a first-time bettor browsing moneylines for the New York Knicks, a casual basketball fan building parlays, and a longtime diehard breaking down shooting trends for Steph Curry prop bets, there are odds for everyone.
If you don’t have a sportsbook account, register today with BetMGM’s welcome bonus. And check back for the best sportsbook promotions each day of the year.
