Jimmer Fredette Excited For Summer League Opportunity With Golden State
Jun 27, 2019, 11:04 AM
Phoenix Suns guard Jimmer Fredette (32) smiles at fans before playing in an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City on Monday, March 25, 2019. The Jazz won 125-92. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
(Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette appeared on BYU Sports Nation to talk about his upcoming opportunity to play with the Golden State Warriors during the summer.
Fredette was a legendary figure at BYU and created a national frenzy with his high-level play with the Cougars. In 2011, he won virtually every Player of the Year award while leading BYU to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
From there, Fredette has had several stops with handful of teams in the NBA and also spent time in China with the Shanghai Sharks. He ended the 2018-19 season with the Phoenix Suns and was reported to have signed a summer league deal with the Warriors earlier this week.
Why does @jimmerfredette think his playing style fits best with the Golden State Warriors? What does he feel he does best? #BYUSN pic.twitter.com/q7UV9rgNyg
— BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) June 27, 2019
Speaking to Sports Nation’s Spencer Linton, who also contributes to KSL Sports, Fredette stated that he thinks his playing style is a good match with Golden State, who has dominated the NBA thanks largely to their ability to score from deep.
“It fits right in, obviously they get up and down, they shoot a lot of threes, they’re great in transition, ball screens, catch and shoot whatever it is in transition and then they move and share the basketball and really, really are unselfish with it and try to play the right way. And that’s how I try to play,” Fredette explained.
While Fredette has experienced a number of highs and lows in his pro career, he feels that since being drafted in 2011 he’s grown as a player and teammate. He’s excited for this opportunity.
What's @jimmerfredette's goal for the summer league?
To show them what he can do. pic.twitter.com/bZJsXqrCc4
— BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) June 27, 2019
“You have to show what you can do, show your worth and work on your usage rate from there,” he said.
There might not be a better fit for Fredette, who was a stellar 3-point shooter in college and has been above average from downtown in the NBA. Golden State has electrified the NBA for the last half decade, thanks largely to the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Fredette’s game could pair nicely with the team’s current approach to scoring the basketball.
As far as it’s been reported, Fredette’s deal with the Warriors is just for the summer and not for the upcoming season.
The Warriors are scheduled to play in the new California Classic summer league in Sacramento from July 1-3. From there, they’ll head to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League from July 5-15.
