As a loyal Warriors fan and avid NBA watcher, I‘ve seen Stephen Curry hit shot after improbable shot from long range over the years. But even the greatest shooters have an off night occasionally. So I was curious – has the sharpshooting Curry ever bricked two free throws in a row? I decided to dig into the data and find out.
The short answer is yes, Curry has missed two consecutive free throw attempts a few times in his career. But it‘s extremely rare for him compared to other players. After analyzing his overall foul shooting numbers, it‘s clear Curry is one of the most consistent and accurate free throw snipers the league has ever seen.
Curry‘s Career Free Throw Shooting Stats
Before looking at specific games, let‘s review Curry‘s foul shooting prowess in general:
90.6% career free throw percentage – 3rd highest in NBA history behind Steve Nash and Mark Price
Over 90% FT% in 6 different seasons – including an NBA record 90.8% in 2015-16
8th all-time in free throws made with 5,624
Only 325 career misses out of over 3,500 free throw attempts
79 consecutive made free throws is his personal best stretch
As you can see, Curry‘s lifetime free throw shooting stats are exceptional. Converting 90% of your foul shots over a 13 year career is impressive. But doing it while attempting as many free throws as Curry puts him in truly elite company.
Curry‘s Free Throw Shooting Volume and Efficiency Are Extremely Rare
Very few players have managed to remain as accurate as Curry on high free throw attempt totals every season:
| Season | Free Throws Made | Free Throw % |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 525 | 90.8% |
| 2016-17 | 324 | 89.4% |
| 2018-19 | 352 | 91.6% |
| 2020-21 | 267 | 91.6% |
To shoot over 90%, while taking 525+ free throws like Curry did in 2015-16 is historic. His efficiency on high volume sets him apart from almost every other player.
Specific Games Where Curry Missed Consecutive Free Throws
Okay, now that we‘ve established Curry‘s overall foul shooting excellence, let‘s look at some actual games where he failed to convert two freebies in a row:
Nov 18, 2022 – Missed 2 free throws against the Knicks, his most recent back-to-back misses.
May 18, 2022 – Missed 2 consecutive free throws in Game 1 vs. the Mavericks.
2012-13 Season – Missed 2 free throws over the course of 262 attempts.
So despite his stellar career numbers, Curry has missed two straight free throws a few times. Even the most automatic shooters are not totally immune to the occasional lapse in concentration at the line.
But looking at his long-term stats, these blips are very rare for someone with Curry‘s shot-making polish. Let‘s quantify how unusual consecutive misses are for him.
Quantifying Curry‘s Infrequent Consecutive Free Throw Misses
Since 2013, Curry has attempted over 200 free throws in a season 8 times.
Yet he‘s missed 2 in a row only 3 times in that span.
Curry has had 6 seasons shooting over 90% on 200+ free throw attempts. That level of volume and efficiency is historic.
He‘s attempted 3,539 total free throws since 2012-13 and missed consecutively only a handful of times.
So while Curry has occasionally misfired on two straight free throws, it‘s happened just barely 1% of the time over his whole career. For Curry, back-to-back bricks are an exceptionally uncommon sight based on the numbers.
Curry vs. Other Great Shooters – Free Throw Streaks
Another way to gauge Curry‘s foul shooting consistency is to compare his longest free throw make streaks versus other sharpshooters:
| Player | Longest FT Make Streak |
|---|---|
| Stephen Curry | 79 |
| Larry Bird | 71 |
| Reggie Miller | 69 |
| Mark Price | 69 |
| Rick Barry | 60 |
Curry has the longest recorded personal streak without a free throw miss compared to some of the most accurate shooters ever like Bird, Miller, and Barry. His 79 straight freebies show how infrequently he misses consecutively.
Reasons for Curry‘s Free Throw Brilliance
Watching Curry nail free throw after free throw, his technique and mentality stand out:
Repetition – Has practiced free throws relentlessly since childhood. Muscle memory is locked in.
Routine – Steps to the line, dribbles a few times, smooth release. The pinnacle of consistency.
Concentration – Focuses intently on each free throw attempt, never takes them for granted.
Confidence – Expects to make every free throw. Unwavering self-belief.
Curry‘s fanatical preparation, concentration, and confidence at the foul line are why he‘s converted over 90% of his 3,500+ career free throw tries.
Conclusion
After diving into the data, it‘s clear that Stephen Curry missing two consecutive free throws is a very uncommon occurrence. Across his 13 year career, he‘s only flubbed back-to-back freebies a handful of times.
Considering he‘s attempted over 3,500 free throws with machine-like precision, these isolated incidents are an insignificant blip. Curry‘s lifelong repetition, intensity, and competitive spirit have made him one of the most reliably brilliant foul shooters the game has ever witnessed.
