What if Wilt and Shaq were great at free throw shooting

[coastalmarker99]

The two most dominant players in Nba history could do anything on the basketball court besides shoot free throws for some strange reason.


But if in a hypothetical situation where both players were good at free throw shooting and shot about 85 percent from the foul line


Who you do think would have been the more dominant player in their respective eras Shaq or Wilt?



Wilt would have been utterly even more unstoppable in the 1960s if he was an 85 per cent foul shooter from the line. And maybe that would have been the difference for Wilt and his teams during some of those close series losses to the Celtics and New York which would give Wilt about 6 to 8 rings for his career.




Likewise for Shaq as he would have more scoring titles regular-season MVPs and better career scoring averages plus he might have 5 peated from 2000 to 2004 if he was a better free throw shooter putting him in the goat discussion nowadays alongside Jordan and Lebron.

[KobesFinger]

Shaq would've averaged 33 PPG in 2000 if he made the extra free throws.

Wilt would've averaged 54.4 PPG in 1962. Insane to think both could've been even better, but imo no way to know if they would've won more rings etc

[coastalmarker99]

Shaq would've averaged 33 PPG in 2000 if he made the extra free throws.

Wilt would've averaged 54.4 PPG in 1962. Insane to think both could've been even better, but imo no way to know if they would've won more rings etc

Imo Shaq didn't lose out on any Championships because of his lack of FT shooting. He got 4 and those the series' he lost they weren't gonna win anyways

Wilt on the other hand has a lot of cases.

1960 Playoffs:

Game 6 vs Boston, loss by 2 points where Wilt shot 10/16 (63%) from the line that game, Wilt shot below 50% from the line that entire series. If he shot say 85% maybe they would have won?

1961 Playoffs

Swept by the Nationals, all single digits losses. The last 2 games combined Wilt shot 13/24 (54%) from the line and they lost by 1 point and 3 points.

1965 Playoffs

Lost in 7 to the Celtics, in-game 7 Wilt shot 6/13 (46%) from the line and they lost by just 1 point. He shot 58% from the line for the series, and the last 2 losses were single digits

1968 Playoffs

Lost in 7 to the Celtics, in-game 7 Wilt shot 6/15 (40%) in free throws and lost by 4. In game 6 he shot 8/22 (36%) and lost by 8. He shot 42% that whole series

1969 Playoffs

Lost in 7 to the Celtics, all losses were single digits. In game 4 he shot 2/11 from the line and the Lakers lost by just 1 point. In game 7 he shot 4/13 and they lost by 2. Shot 36% from the line that series

1970 Playoffs

Lost in 7 to the Knicks, shot 34% from the line that series. Including being 1/11 in game 7 and 7/13 in game 3 which was a 3 point loss that could have out him up 2-1.

Therefore we can see that Wilt might have lost out on multiple finals trips and potentially Championships due to his awful FT shooting

[Micku]

Imo Shaq didn't lose out on any Championships because of his lack of FT shooting. He got 4 and those the series' he lost they weren't gonna win anyways



They might've beat the Spurs in 03. They probably would've pushed it to game 7 at least, and I dunno what would happen from there.

And Shaq's and Wilts numbers would be even better than what they are. Teams won't try to hack a Shaq tho.

I haven't watched that many playoff games of Wilt to say if he would've won tho.

[FKAri]

They might've beat the Spurs in 03. They probably would've pushed it to game 7 at least, and I dunno what would happen from there.

And Shaq's and Wilts numbers would be even better than what they are. Teams won't try to hack a Shaq tho.

I haven't watched that many playoff games of Wilt to say if he would've won tho.

Not to mention that the dynamic of the matchup and the defense completely changes with an 85% FT shooting Shaq.

You could go so far as to say that if Shaq could shoot FTs at that clip a several big men of the time wouldn't be in the league.

[coastalmarker99]

Not to mention that the dynamic of the matchup and the defense completely changes with an 85% FT shooting Shaq.

You could go so far as to say that if Shaq could shoot FTs at that clip a several big men of the time wouldn't be in the league.


That actually is true and I can't believe that Shaq's free throw shooting woes made several big men of that time millions of dollars that they otherwise wouldn't have gone if Shaq was a great free throw shooter.