If you watched college basketball in any capacity during the early 2010s, you are probably familiar with former BYU star Jimmer Fredette — the headliner of the U.S. 3×3 men’s basketball team in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Fredette will be a first-time Olympian this summer when he takes the floor for Team USA’s opening game against Serbia on Tuesday in Paris just over 13 years after earning Naismith and CBS Sports player of the year honors for the 2010-11 season.
That season Fredette helped BYU reach the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive time. Fredette was drafted No. 10 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft and had an up-and-down career in the association before finding a role playing overseas.
Fredette and Team USA will compete in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Olympics for the first time after failing to qualify for the event at the 2020 games in Tokyo. The 2024 games will mark the second Olympics 3×3 basketball is recognized as an official Olympic event. Fredette is joined on the Team USA 3×3 roster by Kareem Maddox, Dylan Travis and Canyon Barry, the son of former NBA star Rick Barry.
“Obviously the NBA career was very up-and-down, but that doesn’t just happen to just me,” Fredette told the Denver Post ahead of the games. “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. 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.”
The Americans finished second at the 2024 World Cup behind Serbia, which sits fourth on the world leaderboard after capturing the bronze medal in Tokyo. Latvia, the reigning Olympic Champion, is considered one of the strongest contenders to win the gold medal again after finishing third at the 2023 World Cup.
Fredette was named the 2023 USA Basketball 3×3 Male…
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