Did Hack a Shaq Work?

Because of the Hack-a-Shaq tactic, O'Neal was the third ranked player all-time in free throws, as he had shot 11.252 free throws in 1.207 games. ... That game, this new tactic didn't work out, as Rodman made 9 out of 12 free throws though his normal FT percentage was below 40 percent.

Was Hack-a-Shaq effective?

Application against other players. The Hack-a-Shaq strategy is most effective against a player who shoots free throws poorly, but who is so effective in other areas that the coach is reluctant to simply remove them from the game. Few players other than O'Neal meet those criteria.

Is Hack-a-Shaq still legal?

While the NBA's memo on Tuesday will scare teams from jumping on the backs of opposing players, Hack-A-Shaq remains legal. "Players remain free to commit deliberate fouls during free throw attempts, but such fouls will be assessed as Flagrant if they meet the applicable criteria," the memo said.