BYU basketball: Jimmer Fredette agrees to deal with Sharks to remain in Shanghai

BYU basketball’s greatest player ever isn’t attempting a NBA comeback yet, as Jimmer Fredette agreed to a deal with the Shanghai Sharks.

Jimmer Fredette nearly brought BYU basketball to the promised land. But that was six years ago.

It feels like an eternity.

Unfortunately for the BYU basketball GOAT, Jimmer was unable to really catch on in the NBA. He dominated the Chinese Basketball Association last year en route to the league’s MVP Award, and he’s agreed to a deal to return to China.

Jimmer has inked a two-year deal worth $3.6 million.

ESPN and others have confirmed the signing, but not the cash.

In 41 games last season, Jimmer averaged 37.6 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game and 4.2 assists per game.

Next: The Case For Jimmer's NBA Return

He even dropped 73 points in a game, which – besides being bonkers – put him back on basketball fans’ radars.

Jimmer is 28-years old, so he still has time for a NBA run should he choose to make one. But it is hard to see something like that happening.

Jimmer is only effective with the ball in his hands. He slows down and mucks up NBA offenses. There are only a select few players that can handle that kind of responsibility – and those players are the greatest on the planet.

Unfortunately, Jimmer isn’t that.

I always thought he’d be able to develop into a better spot up shooter – and there’s still plenty of time for him to do that. That seems to be the only way he’d be able to latch on with a NBA team.

But at the same time, why would he want to do that? He’s a whale in a puddle in China. A return to the NBA would make him a benchwarmer at worst and a 15-minute-per-night guy at best.

Can’t blame him for wanting to chase success.

Besides, it isn’t like Fredette had the best coaching/teammates after leaving BYU basketball. That’s not to say they were responsible for his lack of success, but there’s no denying things may have been different if he worked with better coaches.