On Wednesday February 12th right before All-Star Weekend, the Sacramento Kings played the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden and Jimmer Fredette put on a little show. Fredette scored a career high 24 points and hit 6-8 from downtown. This game brought up the conversation again, about Fredette and if he could be productive with more minutes or on another team. I started thinking about Jimmer and how he is still such a story as a backup point guard on the worst team in the West. For this reason I believe that Fredette is the Tim Tebow of the NBA. Let’s take a look at both of these guys and how their careers are similar both on and off the court/field.
Jimmermania
In 2011 Jimmer Fredette was the man in college basketball. He was a senior guard for the Brigham Young University Cougars; he averaged 29 points per game and was named the College Basketball Player of the Year. Now during this season Fredette became a star when he scored 43 points against the undefeated San Diego State Aztecs for a 71-58 win. After the game people started to use the word “Jimmered” to mean Fredette schooled them on the court.
Furthermore, on YouTube Fredette became a hit with a highlight reel with “Teach Me How to Jimmer” playing in the background. Even the President acknowledged Fredette as the “best scorer in the country” during his bracket reveal. Jimmermania played out throughout NCAA tournament, and even through the draft process. Fredette was not considered a great prospect coming out in the 2011 draft.
He was considered slow, very weak on defense, and not athletic enough for the NBA. But, Fredette was drafted 10th overall in the 2011 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks then traded to the Kings. However, Fredette never really got a chance to play. During the first two months of his rookie season Fredette averaged 24 minutes per game, and averaged just under nine points during that span. Now he did shoot over 40% from three, but shot under 40% overall from the field. After the first two months he only averaged 16 minutes for the rest of the season.
Then his second season he only averaged 14 minutes per game, and this season it is down to 11.3 minutes. Now games like Wednesday vs. the Knicks, make many believe that Fredette could contribute in the NBA if given the chance. In addition there are others who believe that he will never make an impact in the NBA, especially with his play on the defensive end. Fredette is going to be a free agent this upcoming season, and it will be interesting to see who gives him a chance next year.