Jimmer Fredette's Basketball Odyssey: From College Stardom to 3x3 Pioneer
Jimmer Fredette's basketball journey has taken him from the heights of college stardom to the unique challenges and opportunities of the 3x3 format. Fredette, who once captured the Naismith College Player of the Year award at BYU and led his team to consecutive Sweet 16 appearances, reflects on a career that has been anything but conventional.
After an illustrious college career that culminated in being selected as the 10th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft, Fredette's professional journey has seen its ups and downs. "Obviously the NBA career was very up-and-down, but that doesn’t just happen to just me," Fredette explained. "It's about trying to find the right fit at the right time in the right situation, and that didn’t quite happen the way it could have for me."
Despite the unpredictability of his NBA tenure, Fredette's passion for basketball never waned, leading him to the dynamic world of 3x3 basketball. Recently named USA Basketball 3x3 Male Athlete of the Year in 2023, Fredette has been instrumental in qualifying Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. This marks a notable accomplishment, especially since the Americans did not make the cut for the 2020 Tokyo games.
The inclusion of 3x3 basketball as an official Olympic event for the second time in 2024 underscores its growing popularity. The sport features a fast-paced, half-court setup with a 12-second shot clock, rewarding field goals with one point and shots beyond the arc with two points. Unlike traditional basketball, possession changes after each basket, regardless of whether the shot is successful. The first team to reach 21 points or the team with the most points after a single 10-minute quarter wins the game, with overtime being decided by the first team to score two points.
"The way this sport works, you either really like it or you don’t like it at all," Fredette said. "That people love it or hate it, I see the reasons why. It's difficult, there's a lot of travel involved all across the world. Sometimes you travel 36 hours for a tournament and if you lose two games you’re done in like 20 minutes. There's just so much emotion in 3×3 basketball and it’s different than five-on-five."
Fredette's Team USA roster for the 3x3 competition includes notable players such as Kareem Maddox, Dylan Travis, and Canyon Barry. The team will face fierce competition in the Olympic pool play, squaring off against formidable opponents from Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, France, China, and the Netherlands. The top two teams from the group will advance automatically to the semi-finals, while those placed third to sixth will vie for a spot in the final four through the quarterfinals. The medal rounds are scheduled for August 5.
Serbia, currently ranked fourth globally after clinching the bronze medal in Tokyo, remains a formidable opponent, having finished first at the 2024 World Cup, just ahead of Team USA. Latvia, the reigning Olympic Champion, continues to be a strong contender, having placed third at the 2023 World Cup. These statistics highlight the competitive environment Team USA will face as they pursue Olympic glory in 2024.
For Fredette, the transition from traditional five-on-five basketball to the 3x3 format has been both a professional revival and a new challenge. "But as one door closes, another door opens, and I always tried to take full advantage of that by working hard and being prepared and believing in myself," he emphasized.
As Team USA prepares for the 2024 Olympics, the team's journey and Fredette's personal story exemplify the ever-evolving world of professional basketball. Through highs and lows, and across various formats, Fredette's commitment and resilience continue to shine, inspiring fans and athletes alike.