Charles Barkley Career Free Throw Percentage
Charles Barkley FT percentage is 73.5% over his regular-season NBA career, based on the latest public totals from Basketball Reference and NBA.com. He attempted 4,519 free throws and made 3,324, ranking him among the more efficient big men of his era. His career field goal percentage is 54.1%, reflecting his ability to score inside while maintaining strong overall shooting efficiency. For deeper historical context, see the NBA official stats page NBA Official Stats.
In the playoffs, Barkley shot 73.5% from the free throw line on 1,215 attempts, converting 894 attempts. His playoff field goal percentage sits at 51.3%, showing a slight dip compared to regular-season efficiency. These figures are sourced from Basketball Reference and NBA.com playoff data, which provide the most up-to-date splits by postseason performance.
Charles Barkley FT Percentage by Season and Team
Barkley's best single-season free throw percentage came in 1990-91 with the Philadelphia 76ers, when he shot 83.3% from the line. His lowest career FT percentage was 68.5% in 1986-87, also with Philadelphia. His field goal percentage peaked at 59.4% in 1986-87, the same season his free throw shooting was at its lowest. For team-level shooting splits, see the Philadelphia 76ers official stats page Philadelphia 76ers Stats.
With the Houston Rockets, Barkley averaged 74.1% from the free throw line, while with the Phoenix Suns his FT percentage rose to 75.3%. His Suns teams in the mid-1990s benefited from his improved shooting touch, including a 76.9% FT season in 1993-94. These splits are drawn from NBA.com team and player pages, which provide the most current season-level breakdowns.
Charles Barkley FT Percentage Compared to Other NBA Stars
Barkley's career 73.5% FT percentage places him above many power forwards and small-ball centers of his generation, including Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone. His shooting efficiency ranks him in the top third among Hall of Fame forwards in NBA history. For a broader comparison of NBA shooting leaders, see the Basketball Reference Hall of Fame stats page Basketball Reference Hall of Fame.
Among modern NBA stars, Barkley's FT percentage is lower than elite shooters like Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant but higher than many traditional big men. His career field goal percentage of 54.1% remains a strong benchmark for versatile forwards who relied on driving and mid-range shooting. For current NBA shooting leaders and advanced splits, see the NBA Advanced Stats page NBA Advanced Stats.