Getty Image / Mike Coppola
Life seemed a lot simpler back in early 2011. Social media was mostly still for young people, the news was mundane, and Utah was in the Mountain West Conference. And, BYU’s Jimmer Fredette was one of the biggest basketball stars in America, captivating audiences with his long-range shooting and scoring prowess.
While he flamed out of the NBA after being picked in the lottery by the Sacramento Kings, Jimmer Fredette is still a name that will invoke a lot of reactions by people old enough to remember him. And, it’s a name that you’re going to be hearing a lot more about in the next few weeks.
After years out of the domestic spotlight, he’s re-entering as a member of the Team USA Men’s Basketball 3v3 team at the Paris Olympics He will join teammates Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis in Paris, France, with opening ceremonies scheduled to take place on Friday.
While this is the second time that 3v3 basketball will be in the Olympic Games, it will be the first time that the USA has qualified a men’s team, as obviously our top players don’t play 3v3. But, Fredette and his teammates are pretty good! They won the silver medal at last year’s World Championships.
If you’re unfamiliar with the rules of 3v3 basketball, here’s a primer.
Jimmer Fredette last played in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns in 2019, and for his career, he averaged 6.0 points a game on unimpressive shooting numbers
But, he was star in China, averaging over 30 points a game in four seasons with the Shanghai Sharks. He might have been the most popular in the league over there when he played from 2017-2021.
Still, it’s his time at BYU he’s most known for. He averaged 28.9 points per game in that senior season in 2011, and was famous for his long-range shots. In a way, he was Caitlin Clark before Caitlin Clark.
It would be awesome if Jimmer Fredette could bring home a gold medal for Team USA and bring his career full-circle. At 35-years-old, this may be one of the final acts of his basketball career. He hasnt’ played for a 5v5 team since he left the Sharks after the 2020-2021 season.