Basketball Star Jimmer Fredette Announces Retirement
An icon in the world of basketball is calling it a career. Jimmer Fredette, a longtime NBA and overseas veteran, announced his retirement from the sport on Wednesday after a professional career that spanned roughly 14 years. A former star at BYU before being selected 10th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, he became an icon for basketball fans. Experiencing his most success overseas, Fredette’s career took him all over the world.
Fredette last played in the NBA during the latter half of the 2018-19 season when he played for the Phoenix Suns. In total, he played parts of six seasons in the NBA, where he averaged 6.0 points, 1.4 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in 241 games played.
Fredette’s Career
After starring at BYU for four seasons, including putting together a senior season where he averaged 28.9 points and won National College Player of the Year, Fredette became a highly touted prospect heading into the 2011 draft. After the Milwaukee Bucks selected him with that 10th pick, he was immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings. It was a deal that involved big-name players including Shaun Livingston and Stephen Jackson. Once he arrived in Sacramento, Fredette became a big role player as he averaged a career-high 7.6 points per game on 36% three-point shooting. During his time in California’s capital, he became a fan favorite in Sacramento.
After spending time in Sacramento, Fredette became a journeyman player, spending time with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, and the Suns. During his time away from the NBA however, Fredette played in the Chinese League. He was dominant averaging 37.3 points in 2016-17, 37.4 in 2017-18, 36.9 in 2018-19, and 27.3 in 2020-21. During his time in China, he was named a three-time All-Star and won the league MVP in 2017. He also played in the Greek league in 2019-20 where he won a league championship with Panathinaikos.
On the International Stage
In the latter stage of his career, Fredette left standard basketball and shifted his focus to 3×3. During his 3×3 career, he earned a spot on the United States National Team. He played for them during the 2022 3×3 AmeriCup and the 2023 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup. During the 2022 tournament, Fredette was the clear-cut star of the team and helped guide USA to a gold medal. He also helped them win gold at the 2023 Pan American Games and silver at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. His performance led to him winning USA Basketball 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year in 2023.
Then came Paris. The top-ranked 3×3 player in the world heading into the Olympics, Fredette was the headlining player on Team USA’s squad. While Team USA was expected to compete for the gold medal, Fredette suffered an injury early on in the tournament that kept him out. With the USA unable to replace him, they went the rest of the tournament playing with only three players and no subs as they failed to even medal.
Final Thoughts
While Fredette may not have been the greatest player to ever play and did not fully live up to the hype while in the NBA, there is no denying that he was a star on the court. A sharpshooter who is very good with the ball, he brought value to every team that he was on and was a very well-respected player throughout his career. Now officially retired, it is time for Fredette to begin the next chapter of his life.
