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 | 2011–2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medals
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James Taft "Jimmer" Fredette (born February 25, 1989) is an American basketball player. He was named the best college player in the U.S. in 2011. This was after he became the top scorer in NCAA Division I during his senior year at BYU. Later, he was picked 10th overall in the 2011 NBA draft.
Fredette has played for many professional teams. These include teams in the NBA and the NBA Development League. He also played for teams in other countries. In 2017, Fredette was named the CBA Most Valuable Player in China. He also won a championship with a team in Greece in 2020. Since 2022, Fredette has been playing 3x3 basketball. He has won two gold medals and one silver medal in international games. In 2024, he played for 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.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Jimmer Fredette was born in Glens Falls, New York. His parents are Al and Kay Fredette. He is the youngest of three children. His mother gave him the unique nickname "Jimmer."
From a young age, Jimmer loved sports. His older brother, TJ, helped him train for basketball. TJ was seven years older. They often played on the family's backyard court. Jimmer could shoot three-pointers when he was only 5 years old. He learned special moves to get around bigger players. TJ believed Jimmer would make it to the NBA.
Other family members also helped Jimmer. His father, a financial adviser, had him play against adults at age eight. His father also took him on trips for tougher games. Jimmer's mother even built a special room in their basement for him to practice dribbling. Her brother, Lee Taft, a personal trainer, helped Jimmer with running drills.
Jimmer also has an older sister, Lindsay. She 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
Fredette was one of the top 75 shooting guards in the country during high school. He became the all-time leading scorer for Glens Falls High School. He scored 2,404 points in total. This placed him 16th on New York's all-time scoring list.
He had many great moments in high school. In his senior year, he scored over 40 points in 12 different games. He led his team to a 25–2 record. They reached the Class A State Championship game. They lost to Peekskill High School, which had future Syracuse University player Mookie Jones.
Fredette also played for the Albany City Rocks, an AAU team. He averaged 25 points per game. This helped his team finish third at the 2006 AAU National Championships.
Even with all his success, bigger basketball schools didn't notice him much. He received offers from 12 schools. He decided to go to BYU, which was his sister Lindsay's college.
College Basketball Success
Fredette played college basketball at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 2007 to 2011. He wore jersey number 32. He studied American studies.
Freshman and Sophomore Years
As a freshman, Fredette played in all 35 games for BYU. He helped the team win the Mountain West Conference championship. He averaged 7.0 points per game.
In his second year, he started 32 of 33 games. He was second on the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game. He was also first in steals and assists. He scored double figures in 29 games. 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 was a new record for BYU. It was also a record for points scored in Arizona's McKale Center.
In March 2010, Fredette scored 45 points against TCU. He made 23 of 24 free throws. This broke records for the Mountain West Conference tournament.
He also helped BYU win their first game in the NCAA tournament. He scored 37 points against Florida. BYU won 99–92 in double-overtime. This was the first time BYU reached the second round in 17 years.
After his junior year, Fredette thought about leaving college early for the NBA draft. But he decided to stay at BYU for his senior year.
Senior Year and "Jimmermania"
Fredette was a co-captain of his team. He was ranked the top point guard in the country. He led the nation in points per game. Even when two or three players guarded him, he still scored a lot. This also helped his teammates get open shots.
He scored a season-high 47 points against rival Utah in January 2011. He scored 32 points in the first half alone. He even hit a 40-foot shot at the buzzer.
On January 26, 2011, Fredette 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 in February 2011. He broke BYU's career scoring record in March 2011. This record was held by Danny Ainge. Fredette scored a career-high 52 points against New Mexico. He also set a record for most points in one half with 33.
In the NCAA tournament, Fredette led BYU to the "Sweet Sixteen" for the first time since 1981. He scored 32 points against Wofford. Then he scored 34 points against Gonzaga. BYU eventually lost to the Florida Gators in overtime.
For his amazing senior year, Fredette was named the 2011 national player of the year. He won awards from many sports organizations. He also won the 2011 Best Male College Athlete ESPY Award.
After his game against San Diego State, Fredette became very famous. People called it "Jimmermania." His name even became a verb. If he scored a lot of points on an opponent, they were "Jimmered." His picture was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Even President Barack Obama said Fredette was "Unbelievable. Best scorer obviously in the country. Great talent."
Professional Career
NBA Teams (2011–2015)
On June 23, 2011, the Milwaukee Bucks picked Fredette 10th in the 2011 NBA draft. He was then traded to the Sacramento Kings. "Jimmermania" quickly spread to Sacramento. Sales of his jersey went up a lot. His No. 7 Kings jersey sold out in stores.
Fredette played his first NBA game on December 17, 2011. He scored 21 points. On February 12, 2014, he scored a career-high 24 points against the New York Knicks. The Kings later ended his contract.
In March 2014, Fredette signed with the Chicago Bulls. In July 2014, he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. He had his best game with the Pelicans in December 2014, scoring 14 points. He was later waived by the Pelicans in November 2015.
NBA Development League (2015–2016)
Fredette was picked by the Westchester Knicks in the 2015 NBA Development League Draft. In his first game, he scored 37 points. In January 2016, he was named to the NBA D-League All-Star team. He won the MVP award for the All-Star Game. He scored 35 points in that game.
In February 2016, Fredette signed a ten-day contract with the New York Knicks. He played in two games for them. After that, he returned to the Westchester Knicks. He was named to the All-NBA D-League Second Team.
Playing in China (2016–2019, 2020–2021)
On August 2, 2016, Fredette signed with the Shanghai Sharks in China. He became a huge star there. On November 11, he scored 51 points in a game. On February 19, 2017, he 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.
In July 2017, Fredette signed a new two-year deal with the Sharks. On November 11, he scored a career-high 75 points. He even scored 40 points in the fourth quarter of that game. Fans in China called him "Jimo Dashen," which means "The Lonely Master" or "The Lonely God." This means he was at the top, with no one else around him.
Fredette returned to the Shanghai Sharks in 2020. He became the team's all-time leader in three-pointers.
Playing in Greece (2019–2020)
In July 2019, Fredette signed a two-year contract with Panathinaikos in Greece. His team was named league champion in 2020. This was because the league stopped playing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to financial problems from the pandemic, his contract with Panathinaikos ended in July 2020.
The Basketball Tournament
Fredette has also played in The Basketball Tournament (TBT). This is a summer tournament with a big cash prize. In 2018, he played for Team Fredette. He led his team to the semifinals.
3x3 Basketball and the Olympics
In 2022, Fredette started playing 3x3 basketball. This is a faster version of basketball with three players on each team. He helped team NYC Blue win an event in New York. In November 2022, he won a gold medal with the USA Men's 3x3 AmeriCup team. In the FIBA 3x3 World Cup 2023, Fredette won a silver medal with Team USA. He was also chosen for the Team of the Tournament.
In 2024, Fredette played for Team USA at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He was part of the first ever USA Basketball 3x3 Men's National Team to compete in the Olympics. He got an injury during the tournament. Team USA finished with a 2–5 record and was eliminated.
Playing Style
Jimmer Fredette is known for his unique playing style. He can shoot from anywhere on the court. He shoots while dribbling, off balance, and with either hand. He is very good at scoring even when many defenders are trying to stop him.
Other basketball players and coaches have praised his skills. Kevin Durant once tweeted, "Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the world!" Steve Nash also said, "Jimmer Fredette? That name's straight out of Hoosiers. No wonder he never misses."
Coaches also noticed his strong personality on the court. Former Utah coach Jim Boylen said Fredette's biggest strengths were his "swagger and confidence." Fredette is very competitive but also kind. After he scored 49 points against Arizona, their coach Sean Miller even hugged him.
Fredette says his older brother TJ is his biggest fan. TJ is a rapper who wrote a song called "Amazing" for Jimmer. TJ said it gives him "chills" to watch Jimmer play and hit big shots.
When he played in China, Fredette became a leader on his team. He often used an interpreter to talk with his teammates.
Personal Life
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. In 2017, Fredette missed a playoff game in China to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.
Images for kids
-
Fredette with Westchester in 2016
-
Fredette playing for BYU
-
A display in an Orem, Utah, Walmart promoting "Jimmermania"
See also
In Spanish: Jimmer Fredette para niños
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season scoring leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders
- 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
