Jimmer Fredette in the NBA? A look back at the 3×3 basketball star's pro basketball career

Jimmer Fredette is set to revive his basketball career and compete as a member of the U.S. 3×3 team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

It's been a long road to get to this point for the 35-year-old Fredette, a college basketball superstar who averaged 28.9 points per game as a senior at BYU and won the Naismith Trophy in 2011.

He was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Kings (over the Bucks), but his career didn't pan out. After bouncing around from team to team, Fredette opted to take his talents overseas, where he became a Chinese Basketball Association legend with the Shanghai Sharks.

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Fredette was an MVP and three-time CBA All-Star before the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to return to the U.S. He was selected to USA Basketball's 3×3 team in 2022 and won two gold medals in FIBA ​​competition before making his Olympic debut in France.

For more on how his failure in the NBA led to a bit of a career change in the same sport, check out The Sporting News below.

Read more: Ranking the best NBA players at the Olympics

Jimmer Fredette's NBA career

Kings (2011-14)

Fredette was selected 10th overall by the Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft. Last year's National Player of the Year was expected to be an immediate asset to the NBA as a 22-year-old rookie, but that didn't happen in his first season.

Fredette came off the bench as Sacramento's sixth man behind starting guards Tyreke Evans and Marcus Thornton, averaging just 7.6 points in 18.6 minutes per game as a rookie while shooting 36.1 percent from the 3-point line.

In his second season, Isaiah Thomas overtook Fredette in the depth charts, leaving the top-10 pick without a clear role with the Kings. Fredette's scoring and playing time averages regressed, averaging 7.2 points in 14.0 minutes per game.

By his third year, he was out of Sacramento's starting rotation and was released by the Kings midway through the 2013-14 season.

Bulls (2014)

The Bulls signed Fredette to a contract for the remainder of the 2013-14 season after he was released by the Kings.

Chicago is a playoff team and its guard rotation that includes Jimmy Butler, Kirk Hinrich, DJ Augustin and Mike Dunleavy hasn't seen a ton of playing time.

Fredette appeared in just eight games, averaging four points in seven minutes, and the Bulls did not offer him a new contract in the offseason.

Read more: Ranking Team U.S.'s biggest threats at the Paris Olympics

Pelicans (2014-15)

The Pelicans took a chance on Fredette, a former top 10 pick in 2014-15, signing him to a one-year contract in hopes of replacing shooter Anthony Morrow, who signed with the Thunder that offseason.

Fredette appeared in 50 games and was given the opportunity to carve out a role, but his 3-point shooting struggled, averaging 3.6 points in 10.2 minutes and making just 9 of 48 (18.8%) from the field.

New Orleans did not re-sign Fredette after the season.

Spurs, Pelicans (2015)

The Spurs tried to give Fredette a chance to make the roster during the preseason, but he was waived after two exhibition games. The Pelicans gave him another chance on a non-guaranteed contract, but he was waived after four games.

Knicks, Westchester Knicks (2015-16)

After being released by the Spurs and Pelicans, Fredette was demoted to the D-League at the time. He signed with the Westchester Knicks, where he began to regain his confidence.

Fredette was named to the D-League All-Star team after averaging 21.1 points, 5.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 41.1% from the 3-point line. He was named the D-League All-Star Game MVP after scoring 35 points.

The New York Knicks gave Fredette a 10-day contract, but he played just five minutes in five games, and although he was eventually named to the All-D League Second Team, he did not sign as an NBA free agent that offseason.

Suns (2018-19)

Fredette took his talents overseas and was an MVP-caliber player for three seasons with the Shanghai Sharks in 2016. He signed a two-year contract with the Suns in an attempt to return to the NBA for the 2018-19 season.

Fredette's return was short-lived, appearing in just six games. He averaged 3.7 points in 10.8 minutes per game, and Phoenix opted not to exercise the second-year option on his contract at the end of the season.

His final NBA game was April 9, 2019.

Read more: Kevin Durant's return to Team USA ranks as one of the best Olympic performances

Jimmer Fredette's NBA stats

Fredette spent six seasons in the NBA, averaging 6.0 points, 1.4 assists and 1.0 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game. He appeared in 241 NBA games but started only seven of them, all as a rookie with the Kings.

Fredette has scored 20 or more points just three times in his career, including a career-high 24 points on six 3-pointers in an overtime win over the Knicks in 2014.

Fredette's year-by-year statistics can be found below.