PROVO, Utah, Aug. 4, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — Jimmer Fredette‘s Olympic experience didn’t go the way he or his Team USA 3×3 basketball teammates had hoped.
The former BYU star and 2011 National Player of the Year suffered a thigh/hip injury early in Team USA’s second game of the Paris Olympics and was sidelined for the remainder of the tournament.
Without the top-ranked 3×3 player in the world, Team USA made an early exit from the Games, falling 21-6 to the Netherlands on Sunday to finish with a 2-5 record in Paris.
Fredette shared the details of his injury on social media Sunday, as well as his disappointment in not being able to compete.
“First off, I am so grateful to have been an Olympian and to represent Team USA in 3×3 basketball. Thank you to all my coaches, and the USAB staff that put trust in me to help with get to this stage. To wear USA across my chest was an honor,” Fredette’s Instagram post says.
“I had an injury that took place in the beginning minutes of our second game against Poland. I tore two different ligaments completely in my adductor, which prevented me from being able to compete. This will lead me to have a recovery of around 6 months.
“This is devastating for me as I have put two years into qualifying for the Olympics with this group who are my brothers.
“In that time we went from a no name team to the number 1 team in the world this year — and did things that no American team has ever done. I also became the #1 ranked player in the world on the same day i was injured. Pretty crazy coincidence. But We were fully prepared and excited to make a medal run here in Paris.
“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. And something this has taught me is to enjoy the journey. You never know what can happen once you reach your destination but if you don’t enjoy getting there — you are missing the point.
“I’m sorry to all the fans who supported me and our team as I wish it could have gone differently. But thank you for your support and love. Always keep the faith and smile through the bad.”
Fredette, 35, teamed with Canyon Barry, the son of NBA legend Rick Barry, as well as Kareem Maddox and Dylan Travis, to make Team USA the top-ranked 3×3 men’s basketball team in the world and a favorite to win the gold in Paris.
That foursome won the 2022 AmeriCup and 2023 Pan American Games titles, and finished second at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Fredette played four seasons at BYU (2007-11), setting multiple school and Mountain West Conference records — including most points scored in a game (52 vs. New Mexico on March 11, 2011) and in a single season (1,068 in 2010-11).
The 6-foot-2 sharpshooter also led the NCAA in scoring as a senior in 2010-11, averaging 28.9 points per game.
The Cougars (32-5) reached the Sweet 16 in Fredette’s final season before falling 83-74 to Florida in overtime.
The Glens Falls, New York, native was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings.
Fredette spent nearly three seasons with the Kings (2011-14), and also played with the Chicago Bulls (2014), New Orleans Pelicans (2014-15), New York Knicks (2016) and Phoenix Suns (2019).
He also played internationally with the Shanghai Sharks (2016-19 and 2020-21) in the Chinese Basketball Association, as well as Panathinaikos (2019-2020) in the Greek Basket League and EuroLeague.
