Jimmer Fredette facts for kids
Fredette with the Sacramento Kings in 2013
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1989 Glens Falls, New York, U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Glens Falls (Glens Falls, New York) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | BYU (2007–2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selected by the Milwaukee Bucks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2011–2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2014 | Sacramento Kings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Chicago Bulls | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | New Orleans Pelicans | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | Westchester Knicks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | New York Knicks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Shanghai Sharks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Panathinaikos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Shanghai Sharks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | Sagesse SC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medals
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette (born February 25, 1989) is an American basketball star. He used to play professionally and now helps lead the USA Basketball 3x3 Men’s National Team.
In 2011, he was named the best college basketball player in the country. He was the top scorer in NCAA Division I for the BYU Cougars. After college, he was chosen as the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA draft.
Jimmer played for several teams in the NBA and its minor league, the NBA Development League. He also played internationally. In 2017, he was named the CBA Most Valuable Player in China. In 2020, he won a championship with his team in Greece.
Starting in 2022, Jimmer began playing 3x3 basketball, a faster version of the game. He won two gold medals and one silver medal in international competitions. In 2024, he represented Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He was part of the first USA Basketball 3x3 Men's National Team to play in the Olympics. Jimmer Fredette officially retired from playing basketball on April 23, 2025.
Contents
- Jimmer Fredette's Early Life
- High School Basketball Career
- College Basketball Journey
- Professional Basketball Career
- NBA: Sacramento Kings (2011–2014)
- NBA: Chicago Bulls (2014)
- NBA: New Orleans Pelicans (2014–2015)
- NBA D-League: Westchester Knicks (2015–2016)
- NBA: New York Knicks (2016)
- Return to Westchester (2016)
- International: Shanghai Sharks (2016–2019)
- NBA: Phoenix Suns (2019)
- International: Panathinaikos (2019–2020)
- Return to Shanghai (2020–2021)
- The Basketball Tournament
- 3x3 Basketball and Olympics
- Executive Career
- Playing Style and Personality
- Personal Life
- Images for kids
- See also
Jimmer Fredette's Early Life
Jimmer Fredette was born in Glens Falls, New York. He was the youngest of three children. His mother gave him the unique nickname "Jimmer."
From a young age, Jimmer was very dedicated to sports. His older brother, TJ, said Jimmer was the most determined four-year-old he had ever seen. TJ, who was seven years older, helped Jimmer train for basketball even before kindergarten. They often played on their backyard court with TJ's friends. Jimmer could make three-pointers by age five. He learned special moves to get around bigger players. TJ believed Jimmer would make it to the NBA from the time he was 10.
Other family members also helped Jimmer. His father, a financial adviser, had Jimmer play against adults at age eight. As Jimmer grew, his father took him on trips to places like Hartford and New York City for tougher games. He also helped coach Jimmer's AAU teams. Jimmer's mother let him bounce basketballs all over the house. She even built a special room in their basement for him to practice dribbling. Her brother, Lee Taft, a personal trainer, started Jimmer on running drills when he was five. He still works with Jimmer today.
Jimmer also has an older sister, Lindsay, who was Miss Teen New York 1998. Jimmer and his siblings chose to become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
High School Basketball Career
In high school, Jimmer Fredette was considered one of the top 75 shooting guards in the country by ESPN.com. He became the all-time leading scorer for Glens Falls High School. He ranked 16th on New York's all-time scoring list with 2,404 points.
Jimmer had many memorable moments in high school. In his senior year, he scored 40 points in 12 different games. He led his team to a 25–2 record and the Class A State Championship game. They lost the final game 58–48 to Peekskill High School.
Despite his impressive high school achievements, many big basketball colleges did not notice him. He received offers from 12 schools. He decided to attend Brigham Young University (BYU), which was also his sister Lindsay's college.
College Basketball Journey
Jimmer Fredette played college basketball at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 2007 to 2011. He wore jersey number 32 and studied American studies.
Freshman Year at BYU
As a freshman, Jimmer played in all 35 games for the BYU Cougars. He helped BYU achieve a 27–8 record and win the Mountain West Conference championship. He averaged 7.0 points per game and was the team's fifth-highest scorer.
Sophomore Year Success
In his sophomore season, Jimmer played in all 33 games, starting 32 of them. He was second on the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game. He also led the team in steals and assists. Jimmer scored in double figures 29 times and had 20 or more points 8 times. He was named first-team All-Mountain West.
Junior Year Highlights
On December 28, 2009, Jimmer Fredette scored 49 points against the Arizona Wildcats. This set a new BYU record for points in a single game.
On March 11, 2010, he scored 45 points against TCU. He made 23 of 24 free throws, setting a new Mountain West Conference tournament record.
On March 18, 2010, Jimmer helped BYU win their first-round game in the NCAA tournament. He scored 37 points and made two three-pointers in double-overtime. This led to a 99–92 win over Florida. It was the first time BYU reached the second round of the tournament in 17 years.
After his junior year, Jimmer thought about entering the NBA draft. Experts expected him to be picked between 25th and 30th. However, he decided to stay at BYU for his senior year.
Senior Year and "Jimmermania"
Jimmer was named co-captain of his team. He was ranked the top point guard in the nation. He led the country in points per game, even though opponents often used two or three players to guard him. This allowed his teammates to get open shots.
On January 11, 2011, Jimmer scored a season-high 47 points against rival Utah. He scored 32 points in the first half, including a 40-foot shot at the buzzer.
On December 8, 2010, he played in his hometown of Glens Falls. The game was called "The Hometown Classic." He scored 26 points, and 6,300 people came to watch.
On January 26, 2011, Jimmer scored 43 points against undefeated San Diego State. BYU won 71–58. This was his third game that season with over 40 points.
He became the Mountain West Conference's all-time leading scorer on February 5, 2011. On March 7, 2011, Jimmer was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.
On March 11, 2011, Jimmer broke BYU's career scoring record. He scored a career-high 52 points against New Mexico. He also set BYU's record for most points in one half with 33 points.
On March 17, 2011, Jimmer led BYU with 32 points in the first round of the NCAA tournament. BYU won 74–66 against Wofford. Two days later, he scored 34 points as BYU beat Gonzaga 89–67. This sent BYU to the "Sweet Sixteen" for the first time since 1981. They then lost to the Florida Gators in overtime.
Jimmer was named the 2011 national player of the year by many organizations. He also won the 2011 Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award.
After a game where Jimmer scored 43 points, he became very famous. People started calling the excitement around him "Jimmermania." His name even became a verb: if he scored many points on an opponent, they were "Jimmered." His picture appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Even President Barack Obama said Jimmer was "Unbelievable. Best scorer obviously in the country. Great talent."
College Records
Jimmer holds several records at BYU and in the Mountain West Conference:
- Most points scored in a game (52 pts)
- Most points scored in a season (1068)
- Most free throws made in a game (23)
- Most free throws made in a season (252)
- Most free throws made in a career (627)
- Most field goals made in a game (22)
- Most field goals made in a season (346)
- Most three-point field goals made in a season (124)
- Most three-point field goals made in a career (296)
- Most 30-point games in a career (24)
- Most 40-point games in a career (6)
He also holds Mountain West Conference records for:
- Most points scored in a game (52)
- Most points scored in a season (1068)
- Most points scored in a career (2599)
- Most field goals made in a season (346)
- Most field goals made in a career (838)
- Second most three-point field goals made in a career (296)
Professional Basketball Career
NBA: Sacramento Kings (2011–2014)
On June 23, 2011, the Milwaukee Bucks picked Jimmer Fredette as the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Sacramento Kings.
"Jimmermania" quickly spread to Sacramento. Sales of his jersey increased by 540%. His No. 7 Kings jersey sold out in stores and online. Jimmer played his first NBA game on December 17, 2011, scoring 21 points. He got his first start on January 10, 2012.
On February 12, 2014, Jimmer scored a career-high 24 points in a win against the New York Knicks. On February 27, 2014, his contract with the Kings ended.
NBA: Chicago Bulls (2014)
On March 2, 2014, Jimmer signed with the Chicago Bulls for the rest of the 2013–14 season.
NBA: New Orleans Pelicans (2014–2015)
On July 24, 2014, Jimmer signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. On December 31, 2014, he had a season-best game with 14 points.
He later signed with the San Antonio Spurs in July 2015 but was released in October. On October 31, he was picked by the Westchester Knicks in the NBA Development League draft.
On November 10, 2015, Jimmer re-signed with the Pelicans to help with injuries. However, he was released again on November 19.
NBA D-League: Westchester Knicks (2015–2016)
On November 28, 2015, Jimmer returned to the Westchester Knicks. In his first game back, he scored 37 points and had eight assists. On January 29, 2016, he was named to the NBA D-League All-Star team. On February 13, he led his team to a win and was named the D-League All-Star Game MVP. He scored 35 points in that game.
NBA: New York Knicks (2016)
On February 22, 2016, Jimmer signed a ten-day contract with the New York Knicks. He played his first game for New York that night. On March 2, the Knicks did not offer him another contract.
Return to Westchester (2016)
On March 6, Jimmer returned to Westchester. At the end of the season, he was named to the All-NBA D-League Second Team. He played for the Denver Nuggets in the 2016 NBA offseason but did not sign with an NBA team.
International: Shanghai Sharks (2016–2019)
On August 2, 2016, Jimmer signed with the Shanghai Sharks in China. On November 11, he scored 51 points in a game. On February 19, 2017, Jimmer scored an amazing 73 points in a double-overtime loss. He was named the CBA's International Regular Season MVP for the 2016–17 season. He averaged 37.6 points per game.
On July 23, 2017, Jimmer signed a new two-year deal with the Sharks. On November 11, he scored a career-high 75 points, including 40 points in the fourth quarter.
NBA: Phoenix Suns (2019)
On March 22, 2019, Jimmer signed a two-year contract with the Phoenix Suns. He played his first game back in the NBA a day later. On March 25, he received a standing ovation when he played in Utah. However, he only played in six games. On June 24, the Suns decided not to keep him for the second year of his contract.
International: Panathinaikos (2019–2020)
On July 15, 2019, Jimmer signed a two-year contract with Panathinaikos in Greece. When the Greek League stopped playing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Panathinaikos was named league champion.
The team faced money problems because of the pandemic. On July 4, 2020, they announced that Jimmer's contract was too expensive. So, Jimmer left the team.
Return to Shanghai (2020–2021)
On September 6, Jimmer confirmed he would return to the Shanghai Sharks. He played his first game back on October 18. On October 20, he scored 26 points to lead his team to their first win of the season. On December 29, 2020, Jimmer became the Shanghai Sharks' all-time leader in three-pointers.
Due to the pandemic, Jimmer had to leave China early in 2021. He signed with the Denver Nuggets Summer League team for a second time but quickly withdrew due to personal reasons.
The Basketball Tournament
Jimmer has played in The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a summer tournament with a big cash prize. In TBT 2017, he coached Team Fredette. In TBT 2018, he played for Team Fredette and led them to the semifinals. He returned as a player in TBT 2022.
3x3 Basketball and Olympics
In 2022, Jimmer started playing 3x3 basketball. He helped team NYC Blue win an event in New York. On October 25, 2022, Jimmer was named to the USA Men's 2022 3x3 AmeriCup team. At the 2022 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in Miami, Jimmer and his team won a gold medal. In the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023, Jimmer played for the USA and won a silver medal. He was also chosen for the Team of the Tournament.
In 2024, Jimmer represented Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He was part of the first USA Basketball 3x3 Men's National Team to compete at the Olympics. Jimmer got injured during the second game and missed four games. His team was eliminated after winning two games and losing five.
On April 23, 2025, Jimmer Fredette announced he was retiring from playing basketball.
Executive Career
On April 28, 2025, Jimmer Fredette was named the first managing director of the USA Basketball 3x3 Men’s National Team. This means he will help lead and manage the team.
Playing Style and Personality
In 2011, a writer from Sports Illustrated described Jimmer's playing style:
He faces the best defenders and shoots while moving right or left. He shoots off the dribble, off the wrong foot, off balance, and off the backboard. He can score in crowded areas with many clever moves, including a scoop shot he can make with either hand.
Other basketball players noticed his skills. Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder tweeted that "Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the world!" Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns also praised him.
College coaches also talked about Jimmer's personality. Former Utah coach Jim Boylen said Jimmer's biggest strengths were his "swagger and confidence." Villanova's coach Jay Wright liked Jimmer's aggressive playing style. He compared him to famous player Pete Maravich. However, Jimmer was also described as "fiercely competitive while remaining unassuming and likable."
Jimmer says his older brother TJ is his biggest fan. TJ, who is a rapper, wrote a song called "Amazing" for his brother. TJ said, "I see him play, and it gives me chills sometimes when he hits some of those big shots and the crowd is going crazy."
When Jimmer joined the NBA, he found it hard to adjust. He struggled to change from being the main scorer to a role player.
After signing with the Shanghai Sharks in China, Jimmer became a very strong player in the Chinese Basketball League. He led his team to the playoffs in three of his four years there. Fans in China gave him the nickname "Jimo Dashen," which means "The Lonely Master" or "The Lonely God." Jimmer explained that this means you are "on top, and nobody is around you."
Jimmer became a leader on his team in China. Even though he often needed an interpreter to talk with his teammates, he still connected with them.
Personal Life
Jimmer Fredette is married to Whitney Wonnacott. They have three children. Jimmer met Whitney at BYU, where she was a cheerleader. They got married in 2012 in the Denver Colorado Temple. During the 2017 CBA playoffs, Jimmer missed his team's first playoff game. He traveled home to Denver to be with his wife when their first child was born.
Images for kids
-
Fredette with the Sacramento Kings in 2013
-
Fredette playing for BYU
-
A display in an Orem, Utah, Walmart promoting "Jimmermania"
-
Fredette with Westchester in 2016
See also
In Spanish: Jimmer Fredette para niños
