It may be hard to remember that Jimmer Fredette was a top 10 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The former BYU star was one of the earliest Internet sensations of this decade, shooting from all over the floor and seemingly destined to bring his long-range heroics to the NBA.
But Fredette struggled to even get on the floor in his time with the Sacramento Kings partially due to his lack of size and defensive ability. And by the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, Fredette was out of the NBA. However, he never gave up on his basketball dreams.
After moving to China to play in the Chinese Basketball Association, Jimmer reinvigorated his career. In 45 games with the Shanghai Dongfang Sharks this season, Fredette was averaging 36 points, five assists and nearly six rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the three-point line and adding nearly three steals.
Fredette's performance seemed to demand an NBA contract, and he was once again garnering the attention of the masses on the Internet. On Friday, the Phoenix Suns signed Jimmer for the remainder of the season.
The 30-year-old received his first NBA action in nearly three years last night against the Kings, grabbing a pair of rebounds and missing his only shot in four minutes of run. He spoke with the AP about what it meant to him to return to the league:
“I was just excited to get back out there and try to help the team in any way that I can,” Jimmer Fredette said. “It's the end of the season, but it's my job to come in and try to keep these guys positive. Be that veteran guy, be aggressive, and do what I do out on the floor.”
Time will tell if Fredette can prove enough in this short span to remain in the league.
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