An impressive 84-77 victory for Slovenia over Italy in the Round of 16 at EuroBasket 2025 highlighted a very important improvement for Luka Doncic. His free throw shooting is finally where it needs to be.
Doncic went off for 42 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals in the win. Luka shooting 11-of-19 from the field and 5-of-11 from beyond the arc was a big part of that. However, both pale in comparison to the impressive 15-of-16 that Doncic knocked down from the free throw line.
Many love to point out the defensive side of the basketball court as the biggest flaw to the game of the Lakers superstar. There is some truth to that. Albeit, it is tremendously overblown to the capacity of how much it is actually a problem.
The most notable drawback for Doncic offensively has always been his inconsistent free throw shooting. It may be a small sample size, but if this is what can be expected from the superstar point guard moving forward, the Lakers are poised to reap the benefits.
Luka Doncic's major improvement should pay dividends quickly for Lakers
Through the first six games of the EuroBasket tournament, Doncic is averaging 34.0 points per game. A big part of that has come from the charity stripe.
Doncic is averaging 13.8 attempts per game. The ability to draw fouls has been on full display. It is made all the more impressive considering FIBA officiating tends to allow for more contact.
Not only has Doncic been a master of getting to the free throw line, but the Slovenian superstar has made teams pay when he's gotten there. Luka is shooting 89.2 percent on his free throw attempts, the fifth highest mark in EuroBasket.
Luka Doncic averages now through 6 Eurobasket games:
- 34 points
- 8. 3 rebounds
- 7.2 assists
- 3.2 steals
- 36.7 efficiency
- 89.2 FT%
Playing at an INSANE level right now 🔥🔥🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/M7DBLVr8Ie
— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) September 7, 2025
All of this should be music to the ears of the Lakers. They will need Doncic's rim pressure to make their offense hum in 2025-26. If defenders are forced to foul in the efforts of slowing down the five-time All-NBA member, there will be less comfort with what that means for the opposing teams.
Doncic has shot 75.1 percent from the free throw line throughout his career. His career high came in the 2023-24 season when Luka converted 78.6 percent of his attempts.
Those are modest numbers. Considering how often Doncic goes to the line, one would certainly want an uptick in that production.
The seven-year pro has averaged 8.2 free throw attempts per game throughout his time in the NBA. Doncic has even enjoyed a season in 2022-23 where he was getting to the line 10.5 times a night.
Converting those attempts at a number closer to 90 percent is such a small detail that goes such a long way. The Lakers will take every advantage in their push towards exceeding expectations in 2025-26. Doncic's improved free throw shooting will certainly help in that department.