It’s impossible not to hear it every day. “Player A is only performing at that level because he gets such a good whistle from the referees” . Even this past weekend, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards took a subtle jab at Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, stating that you “can’t touch him at any time during the game” without it being called a foul, referencing Gilgeous-Alexander’s favorable whistle during his 2023-24 All-NBA campaign.
Given Edwards’ accusations, we decided to investigate and check into the players who have received the best whistles from officials this season. The usual foul-baiting suspects appear, as do some unexpected newcomers. They made our list because of the number of free throw attempts per game, total free throws, and their ability to manipulate their way to the foul line almost instantly.
- Joel Embiid
Free Throw Stats: 10.8 FTM-12.2 FTA (88.7%)
Joel Embiid is easily the worst offender when it comes to looking for severe foul calls and frequently getting rewarded for it. Just five minutes into any Philadelphia 76ers game will provide you with a rudimentary idea of his approach to the game, as well as aggravation owing to the frequency with which Embiid hits the floor for no apparent reason.
As of 2023-24, Embiid is third in the NBA with 391 total attempts in 32 games played. What makes this even more incredible considering that Embiid has also missed 10 games due to injuries.
His 12.2 free throw attempts per game lead the NBA this season, and the 76ers are one of only five teams to have received more than 1,100 total attempts.
We now understand why Embiid, an 88.7% charity stripe shooter, loves to go to the line so frequently. However, it is more than a little depressing to watch such a powerful force in today’s game rely so much on luring referees into making foul rulings.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
Free Throw Stats: 7.5 FTM-11.3 FTA (66.9%)
Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is the only player with a whistle that compares to Joel Embiid’s. Giannis’ aggressive and muscular style of play undoubtedly draws a lot of contact from opponents. Despite his toughness on the offensive side of the ball, the number of times he has been sent to the line has gotten out of control.
In 2023-24, Antetokounmpo attempted 471 free throws, more than any other player in the NBA by 80. His 11.5 attempts per game are second in the NBA, trailing only Joel Embiid’s 12.2.. This season, Embiid and Antetokounmpo are the only two NBA players to average more than 10.0 free throw attempts per game.
Given his abysmal 66.9% foul shooting percentage, Giannis would most likely prefer a less favorable whistle. As long as his game is based on his strength and ability to barrel through the paint, his whistle will likely deteriorate before improving.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Free Throw Stats: 8.1 FTM-9.1 FTA (89.0%)
In many ways, Anthony Edwards was correct in criticizing the referees for their handling of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the court. Once past a certain level of defense, Gilgeous-Alexander’s shiftiness and smart footwork play a significant role. There is a lot to say about how he has seen officials call the game on him as well, urging unnecessary movement into the defenders because he knows the call is usually in his favor.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is attempting 9.1 free throws per game in 2023-24, ranking third in the NBA. He is one of six players that try more than 8.0 free throws per game, with a total of 392 this season. That’s only three fewer attempts per game than a 7’0” center, who makes contact on almost every play.
There is a lot to be said about Gilgeous-Alexander’s ability to reach the second and third levels, and preventing that will likely reduce the number of times he is sent to the line. But is Shail Gilgeous-Alexander getting a better reception because of his rise to prominence over the last two seasons? Perhaps, but it was worse last season, when they sent him to the line 10.9 times per game.
- Trae Young
Free Throw Stats: 7.0 FTM-8.2 FTA (85.8%)
Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks may be the most thrilling and frustrating point guard in basketball to watch play. Young has enthralled fans with his remarkable long-distance shooting range and ability to involve all four of his teammates on the court. He has also become a target for fans owing to his outrageous attempts to go to the foul line, particularly when he finds himself in the paint and attempting his trademark floater.
Young now has 318 total free throw attempts, ranking sixth in the NBA. He also has the sixth highest number of attempts per game in the NBA, with 8.2. As a player whose entire game begins on the perimeter, it is extremely irritating to watch Young chase fouls when his talent and performance rarely warrant them. Young’s play may push him into the paint more than he would like, but seeing a foul called almost every time for contact instigated by him is the most aggravating part.
What’s more incredible is that the 2023-24 season is one of Young’s lowest in terms of free throw attempts per game. He averaged more than 8.6 attempts per game in 2020 and 2021, as well as 8.8 in 2022-23. Even though his numbers are down, he remains one of the most awarded players in the game, indicating that the whistle has been more than friendly to him for some time.
- Luka Doncic
Free Throw Stats: 6.8 FTM-8.9 FTA (76.9%)
If Luka Doncic had his way, he’d be sent to the free throw line every time he tried a shot. Doncic has created a habit of drawing contact whenever he gets to the rim, whether on a pass or a shot, and then annoyingly looking and shouting at the ref for a call, regardless of whether the possession went well for his Mavericks team.
There isn’t a more skin-crawling tradition in sports right now than Luka Doncic’s complaints to officials. The officials must have become weary of hearing it as well, because Doncic has been rewarded handsomely with a “superstar” whistle in 2023-24. This season, he ranks fourth in the NBA with 8.9 foul line attempts per game and fifth overall with 329 attempts.
As a true Luka Doncic fan, my main complaints with his game are his obvious desire for fouls and his whining when things don’t go his way. Perhaps if he was compensated less, it might tone down.
- Damian Lillard
Free Throw Stats: 7.5 FTM-8.1 FTA (92.2%)
Damian Lillard’s ability to get to the free-throw line has been consistent in his debut season with the Milwaukee Bucks after 11 years in Portland. Lillard has more free throw attempts in his first season with Milwaukee than at any other time in his career, with the exception of the 2022-23 season.
Lillard’s whistle has been more than favorable this year, with the 92.2% free throw shooter going to the line 8.1 times a game. He is one of just six players sent to the line that many times a game, including teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo. Most of them come on uncommon drives to the rim in which he appears to be looking for the call rather than attempting to finish a play.
His 332 total foul line attempts rank fourth in the NBA this season, and Lillard has inherited Giannis’ ability to get the refs to make the right rulings.
- Kevin Durant
Free Throw Stats: 6.1 FTM-7.0 FTA (87.3%)
Kevin Durant has received favorable whistles from NBA officials for years, but the last three seasons have been especially noticeable. The most absurd way he achieves this is with his famed sweep-through on mid-range jumpers, which appears to be a shot preparation but is actually an exaggerated shooting form that rewards the shooter for initiating the contact.
Durant’s approach has been consistent since he transitioned from a three-level scorer to a mid-range and three-point shooter. Durant is attempting 7.0 foul shots per game in 2023-24 for the third season in a row, after going well below 7.0 for the previous six. Durant is presently ranked 10th in the NBA in free throw attempts per game with 7.0, and he is one of 12 players that receive 7.0 or more attempts per game.
- Devin Booker
Free Throw Stats: 6.1 FTM-6.9 FTA (88.1%)
If Kevin Durant makes this list, Devin Booker must be right with him. Booker’s flair for the theatrical and maneuvering his way to the foul line is on full show now, especially as he plays more point guard than ever before in his career. With his new position, Booker has become even more of a foul-baiter on the court, frequently eliciting a superstar whistle.
A mild breeze might send Booker to the foul line in 2023-24, depending on how much he sells it to the refs. Even a tiny touch of the elbow sends his entire body spinning in all directions. Booker’s 6.9 foul-line attempts per game are the most he’s had since 2020.
The only reason Booker has gotten to the foul line fewer times than teammate Kevin Durant this season is because of injuries. Give it a month, and everything should settle down at this rate.
- Anthony Davis
Free Throw Stats: 5.7 FTM-7.0 FTA (81.5%)
The only person on offense this season who has been more frustrating to watch than Joel Embiid is Anthony Davis. Davis has been experiencing this since joining the Lakers in 2020. What makes his play so intriguing while also making you want to pull your hair out is seeing him be dominant and unstoppable for a stretch then crashing to the ground for no apparent reason, risking injury and hoping for a favorable decision from referees.
Davis’ defensive trickery has resulted in 7.0 free throw attempts per game this season, for a total of 303. Nobody is denying that Davis makes contact with the paint. Contact that prioritizes catching the referee’s attention. Absolutely not. Davis is not entirely to fault. Since topping the league in foul calls in 2022-23 with over 2,100 free throw attempts, the Lakers have a reputation for getting a fair shake from the NBA officials.
I just miss the days when big men didn’t have anything to say to the refs after every non-call.
- Julius Randle
Free Throw Stats: 5.2 FTM-6.7 FTA (77.1%)
I remember when the offensive player got called 99 percent of the time for barreling through the lane with no control over what was going on. When watching Julius Randle of the Knicks play, it appears as if that rule does not apply and he can be as out of control as he wants while being sent to the line as a reward.
I do not want to ruin Randle’s day. He is on track to be an All-Star again this season, but his obvious look for contact on practically every drive to the basket needs to be addressed. It’s not just how he looks for contacts, but how he goes about it that makes it so absurd. If Randle doesn’t make contact with his first step, he flails his off arm out at the nearest defender, hoping for a call.
If you don’t believe me, just look. There’s a reason he’s seeing the foul line at the second-highest rate of his career and is ranked tenth with 296 total free throw attempts this season.
