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BYU basketball: The case for Jimmer Fredette’s NBA return

By Nathan Cunningham

Mar 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jimmer Fredette (32) drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 104-85. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Jimmer Fredette (32) drives to the basket past Portland Trail Blazers guard Brian Roberts (2) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 104-85. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Former BYU basketball star Jimmer Fredette is apparently eyeing a return to the NBA. Here’s why it might not be a crazy notion.

Jimmer Fredette was a megastar for BYU basketball. He was a college sensation, he tore up the NBA D-League, and annihilated the Chinese Basketball Association.

Now he’s apparently trying to crack the NBA again.

Okay, okay, I know. I know, he’s already had a plethora of chances. He’s not athletic enough, not a good defender, not (insert Jimmer dig here).

I’ve heard them all. And you have too.

But Jimmer might still have an NBA run in him.

Fredette won the 2011 National College Player of the Year Award after leading BYU basketball to a 32-5 record while averaging 28.9 points and 4.3 assists per game.

He was drafted 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, who traded him to the Sacramento Kings. Jimmer played sporadically in Sacramento, never finding his way. He spent three years with the Kings, who bought him out in Feb. 2014.

He played eight games with the Chicago Bulls in 2014, then spent 2014 and 2015 with the New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks’ D-League affiliate.

With the Westchester Knicks, Fredette was the D-League All-Star Game MVP and a member of the All-D-League Second Team. He was signed to a 10-day contract by New York, but played in just two games.

In 2016 Jimmer signed with the Shanghai Sharks. He was named the MVP after averaging 37.6 points per game, including a 73-point outburst. The Sharks were bounced from the playoffs yesterday, which brings us back to where we started.

One last chance?

Think about this: Jimmer’s NBA coaches have been a cavalcade of calamity.

Paul Westphal: 318-279

Keith Smart: 93-170

Mike Malone: 72-116

Tom Thibodeau we’ll exclude because Jimmer spent just eight games with Chicago.

Monty Williams: 173-221

Kurt Rambis:  65-164

Not to mention, all those teams were train wrecks. There was never any leadership – unless you call DeMarcus Cousins and Carmelo Anthony great leaders – and there was never a competent leader steering the ship.

Next: Jamaal Williams to Philly?

Still, there are things Jimmer needs to figure out. He needs to become a better catch-and-shoot player because teams won’t let him hold the ball for as long as he’d like. He also needs to work on being a capable defender, which he’s shown some flashes of.

But right now, the biggest thing that BYU basketball’s biggest star needs is an opportunity.

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