San Antonio Spurs all-time leaders in free throw attempts

Most basketball fans probably think of thunderous slams or timely three-pointers as the breathtaking sequences that can shift the momentum of a matchup in the blink of an eye, but a run-of-the-mill free throw can be just as consequential. Championships have been won and lost at the charity stripe, with a singular make or miss sealing an insurmountable lead or leaving the door open for a comeback.

The free throw is an indispensable weapon every elite scorer must have in their arsenal. Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James blended unfathomable athleticism with unmatched skill. But their ability to draw fouls and live at the line helped them cement their names in NBA history at the peak of the all-time points leaderboard. The same is true for practically any celebrated bucket-getter.

The San Antonio Spurs have seen numerous dominant forces suit up for them over the years, and it is no surprise that some of their superstars made routine ventures to the free throw line. When you're as physically imposing and brilliant as Tim Duncan and David Robinson, opponents often have no choice but to wrap you up or risk relinquishing guaranteed points. So who else made a living off freebies?

San Antonio Spurs all-time leaders in free throw attempts

1. Tim Duncan (8,468)
2. David Robinson (8,201)
3. George Gervin (5,061)
4. Tony Parker (4,401)
5. Manu Ginobili (4,089)
6. Sean Elliott (2,643)
7. Artis Gilmore (2,370)
8. Mike Mitchell (1,888)
9. Mark Olberding (1,815)
10. LaMarcus Aldridge (1,612)

The Big Fundamental and The Admiral are two of only 21 players in league history with at least 8,000 attempts at the charity stripe. To put their remarkable numbers into perspective, you would fall short of both Hall of Famers even if you took 10 free throws per game and never sat out of a single contest for 10 straight seasons. While that is a tall task, perhaps Victor Wembanyama is up to the challenge.