Jimmer Fredette, the forgotten college basketball star who Kevin Durant called ‘best scorer in world,’ shoots for career-defining gold in Olympics
Jimmer Fredette has the best shot of his basketball career.
After bouncing around the NBA and failing to find a lasting place in the league, one of the greatest shooters in college history is set to take the court in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Once hailed by Kevin Durant as the "best scorer in the world," the 35-year-old Fredette will represent the United States in the country's first 3-on-3 men's competition in the Olympics.
Team USA takes on Serbia on Tuesday in pool play.
Fredette scored 52 points for BYU and dropped in 75 points for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis will also be on the trendsetting US squad.
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"Representing your country at the Olympics is the ultimate honor," Team USA coach Joe Lewandowski said. "I am so happy for these guys after all the hard work and dedication they have put into 3x3 basketball. USA Basketball has the highest of standards and now the hard work begins to reach our gold-medal dream."
'Jimmermania' was a serious thing in 2011, when Fredette dominated college basketball and was in line to be the next Steph Curry.
Fredette averaged 28.9 points and sank 39.6 percent of his 3-pointers during his senior season with the Cougars.
He wowed fans during the NCAA Tournament, scoring more than 30 points multiple times and lighting up March Madness.
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Losing teams were "Jimmered," while then-US President Barack Obama heaped praise on the BYU phenom.
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"Unbelievable," Obama said. "Best scorer obviously in the country. Great talent."
Fredette was drafted No. 10 overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2011.
But his NBA career never gained traction and he was soon bouncing around the league from Chicago to New Orleans, New York and Phoenix.
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During six seasons, Fredette averaged just 6 points on 40.9 percent shooting in 241 games (seven starts).
He was limited by his defense and eventually found a better basketball home overseas, where he broke 50 points several times.
Winning a gold medal for Team USA in Paris would be the highlight of Fredette's career, which has seen him travel from Salt Lake City and Sacramento to NYC and Shanghai.
Olympic 3X3 basketball is played on one half of a court, with two teams of three players competing.
Both teams attack and defend the same hoop.
The winner is the team with the highest score at the end of 10 minutes or the first team to reach 21 points.
The normal 3‑point line serves as the 2-point line in 3X3 basketball, with shots made outside the line earning two points and those inside scored as one point.
Fredette was born in Glens Falls, New York.
He played in the NBA from 2011-16 with Sacramento, Chicago, New Orleans and New York.
After a two-year run in China, he returned to the NBA in 2018-19 and spent six games with Phoenix.
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Team USA's 3x3 squad is hoping to follow a strong debut by the 5x5 team, which blew out Serbia by 26 points on Sunday.
Durant returned to action but coach Steve Kerr kept Jayson Tatum on the bench.
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