Andrew Bogut is a career 56% free throw shooter. For big men in the league, free throw shooting has often been a struggle. For example, Detroit Pistons center, Ben Wallace, who shot 41% for his career.
Ever since his gruesome right elbow injury sustained in 2010 with the Milwaukee Bucks, Bogut has contemplated switching to his left hand while at the line. Although he is naturally right handed, the 7-foot, 245-lb center has said that he is comfortable shooting with both.
In an interview in 2012, before Bogut’s first season with the Golden State Warriors, he spoke to Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News about the possibility of switching up his stroke.
“I’ve always been comfortable with my left,” Bogut told Kawakami, “I can shoot free throws with my left. When my elbow was all messed up I was seriously considering changing to a left-handed stroke.”
“There were days in practice where I was shooting the piss out of the ball with my left hand. It is a big change”
This year, it seems like he has made the switch, again. This preseason, Bogut has been shooting free throws exclusively with his left hand. In an interview on KNBR 680 with Bob Fitzgerald and Rod Brooks, Bogut talked about the change.
“I’ve done that my whole career, I mean I like to shoot with my left a little bit. It’s more so to just keep touch,” Bogut said, “Its obviously not a strength of mine, but I’m working at it every day.
“That’s the biggest thing. It’s more just getting to the line and being confident with it.”
Bogut was 1-for-2 from the line in the Warriors 116-75 preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers. With those being his only two free throw attempts of the preseason, it is hard to tell if the hand switch can be effective on a permanent basis.
As the preseason goes on, look for Bogut to continue to experiment with this free throw style, in hopes of finding a more consistent stroke.
Bogut and the Warriors will be back in action Thursday, October 16, when they face the Denver Nuggets at 4:00PM PST.
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