<P> Free throws can normally be shot at a high percentage by good players . In the NBA, most players make 70--80% of their attempts . The league's best shooters (such as Steve Nash, Rick Barry, Ray Allen, José Calderón, Stephen Curry, Reggie Miller, Kevin Durant, and Dirk Nowitzki) can make roughly 90% of their attempts over a season, while notoriously poor shooters (e.g. Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Andre Drummond, Andris Biedrins, Chris Dudley, Ben Wallace, Shaquille O'Neal, and Dennis Rodman) may struggle to make 50% of them . During a foul shot, a player's foot must be completely behind the foul line . If a player lines up with part of his or her foot on the line, a violation is called and the shot doesn't count . Foul shots are worth one point . </P> <P> There are many situations when free throws can be awarded . </P> <P> The first and most common is when a player is fouled while in the act of shooting . If the player misses the shot during the foul, the player receives either two or three free throws depending on whether the shot was taken in front of or behind the three - point line . If, despite the foul, the player still makes the attempted shot, the number of free throws is reduced to one, and the basket counts . This is known as a three - point or four - point play, depending on the value of the made basket . </P> <P> The second is when the fouling team is in the team bonus (or foul penalty) situation . This happens when, in a single period, a team commits a set number of fouls whether or not in the act of shooting . In FIBA, (W) NBA and NCAA women's play, the limit is four fouls per quarter; in the NBA, starting with the fifth foul (4th in overtime), or the second in the final 2 minutes if the team has less than 5 fouls (4 in OT), the opposing team gets two free throws . In the WNBA, the fouled player shoots two free throws starting with the opponent's fifth foul (4th in overtime), or second team foul in the final minute if that team has committed under 5 fouls in a period (4 in overtime). In FIBA and NCAA women's basketball, the fouled player also shoots two free throws starting with the opponent's fifth foul in a period, considering that team fouls accrue from the fourth period on, as all overtimes are extensions of it for purposes of accrued team fouls . In NCAA men's basketball, beginning with the seventh foul of the half, one free throw is awarded; if the player makes the free throw, another is given . This is called shooting a "one - and - one". Starting with the tenth foul of the half, two free throws are awarded . In addition, overtime is considered an extension of the second half for purposes of accumulated team fouls . Free throws are not awarded for offensive fouls (most often charging fouls), even if the team fouled is in the bonus . The number of fouls that triggers a penalty is higher in college men's basketball because the game is divided into two 20 - minute halves, as opposed to quarters of 12 minutes in the NBA or 10 minutes in the WNBA, college women's basketball, or FIBA play (note that the college women's game was played in 20 - minute halves before 2015--16). As in professional play, a foul in the act of shooting is a two - or three - shot foul, depending on the value of the shot attempt, with one free throw being awarded if the shot is good . </P>

When do you get 3 free throws in basketball