Rick Barry, an NBA Hall of Famer known for his distinctive underhanded free throws, has offered his expertise to Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks. Barry believes Robinson could significantly improve his free-throw shooting by adopting the same technique that made him a standout in the 1970s.
Speaking to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Barry expressed his frustration over Robinson’s struggles at the line. The Knicks’ center is currently shooting just 28.9% from the free-throw line during the 2024-25 playoffs, a percentage that Barry considers unacceptable for a professional player. “It’s crazy. It’s so sad that guys are so bad and not proficient at the easiest part of the game,” Barry said.
Robinson’s free-throw struggles have been evident during the season and playoffs. Despite his impressive rebounding (averaging 6.3 rebounds per game in the playoffs), his free-throw shooting remains a liability for the Knicks.
In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Robinson went 4-for-12 from the line as the Celtics exploited this weakness, making intentional fouls to limit his impact on the game.
Barry believes switching to an underhanded shooting style could be the solution. He has long been an advocate for the granny-style free throw, having made it a hallmark of his career. “Free throws are a critical part of the game. It’s sad. He’s definitely a candidate to me [to shoot underhanded]. He’s got to make a switch. You can’t be shooting 30, 40 percent,” Barry added.
Though underhanded free throws are rarely seen in today’s game, they have proven to be effective. Barry himself shot over 90% from the line during his career using this method. Robinson, who has a career free-throw percentage of 52.2%, could benefit from adopting a technique that ensures greater consistency and accuracy at the charity stripe.
