Former BYU Star Jimmer Fredette Signs With Phoenix Suns
Mar 21, 2019, 9:52 AM | Updated: 4:41 pm
Jimmer Fredette #32 of the Brigham Young Cougars handles the ball against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the third round of the 2011 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Pepsi Center on March 19, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette will make his return to the NBA, signing a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns.
Fredette’s contract is guaranteed through the rest of this season and the Suns will have a team option on the second season. Phoenix has 10 games left in their regular season.
It was first reported by arizonasports.com’s John Gambadoro that Fredette is joining the Suns for the rest of this season.
The former BYU star was playing for the Shanghi Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association and is averaged 36.9 points per game. Their season is over as the Sharks were eliminated from the postseason.
Fredette will see the Utah Jazz in two of their last ten games. The next meeting is on Monday in Salt Lake City. The Suns have had injuries in their backcourt with Tyler Johnson missing four straight games. They now have a full roster with 15 players.
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Fredette was drafted in 2011 to the Sacramento Kings with the 10th overall pick. He played for the Kings from 2011-14 before joining the Chicago Bulls for the rest of the 2014 season. He spent one season with the New Orleans Pelicans after his stint in Chicago. Fredette went on to play for the Westchester Knicks of the G-League, where he was called up by the New York Knicks in 2016. Since then, he has been in China.
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— John Gambadoro (@Gambo987) March 21, 2019
Gambadoro joined KSL’s Unrivaled to discuss what Fredette can bring to the Suns.
“In all honestly it is a free look for the rest of the season. The Suns have an open roster spot and it is just a free look,” he said. “He is ready to play right away and get a free look for 10 games and see if he fits along with Devin Booker as a shooter. The Suns want to get guys who can knock down shots in the Kokoškov system. He is a guy to see if they want to have him on the roster next year,” Gambadoro added.
His time at BYU was memorable as he led the nation in scoring in 2011 and was awarded National College Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. He averaged 28.9 points per game during his senior season for the Cougars, where he led the team to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament and lost to Florida in overtime.
The Suns currently hold the second-worst record in the NBA at 17-55.
If Fredette can get his option picked up by the Suns next season, he would likely replace Troy Daniels.
“The Suns may want to replace Troy Daniels with Jimmer,” he said. “He would be a perfect replacement for Troy. Troy is a shooter, a free agent and doesn’t play a lot. If Jimmer were to come in, I could see him replace Troy Daniels. A guy who is a knock down shooter who could come in to play a little bit here and a little bit there and fit in with Booker as a shooter,” Gambadoro added.
