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Jimmer Fredette News & Rumors

Thomas, Fredette adjust to their first losing seasons
April 18
Sacramento Bee
 
"Isaiah Thomas couldn't remember being a part of one. Neither could Jimmer Fredette. "A losing season?" Fredette said Tuesday. "I don't know if I've ever had a losing season." For the Kings' rookie guards, this has already been a season of adaptation – to the NBA game, its physical toll, the demanding schedule with little time for practice or recovery. As their first season nears an end, they said, the circumstances of the finish are just as new."
Fredette's progress pleases Smart
April 11
Sacramento Bee
 
"Rookie Jimmer Fredette is progressing how Kings coach Keith Smart hoped he would this season. Smart said even though Marcus Thornton is back from a bruised left calf, he plans to keep Fredette in the rotation. Thornton's return from a seven-game absence in January cut into Fredette's playing time significantly. "(Fredette is) moving at the right pace," Smart said. "I just felt earlier in the year, trying to play him a lot when he wasn't there yet, strong physically and mentally, might have slowed him down a bit. But I think where he's at now and continuing from here is going to be good.""
Kings' Fredette goes from mania to murmur
March 25
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"A year ago, this was his week. He scored 32 points one night, 34 points two nights later. He busted NCAA Tournament brackets, electrified crowds with his brazen shotmaking and court presence, and thrust BYU onto the national scene. So what happened to The Jimmer, anyway? Three months into his first NBA season – eight months after being drafted ahead of Klay Thompson, Alec Burks and Kawhi Leonard, among others – Jimmer Fredette is struggling to establish a role, earn consistent minutes, exploit his combination of skills and keep his shoulders squared and attitude straight. "I know exactly what he's going through," Kings coach Keith Smart said. "I went from hitting the winning shot on a"
Fans want to see more of Kings' Fredette
March 13
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Rusty Simmons
"Sacramento head coach Keith Smart is starting three guards, and none of them is named Jimmer Fredette. It's a strategy that is frustrating to Fredette's vociferous flock and maddening to his family, but Smart promises that his plan ultimately is the best move for the rookie and the team. "The unfortunate part is that everybody wants his time to be now, but it's a process," Smart said. "I have no doubt that Jimmer's going to figure this all out, and it's going to all work out the way everyone thought it would. "The tough part is going through the teething with him and all of his followers, and everyone hoping and wanting something for him that just doesn't come that easily.""
Jimmer Fredette's struggles continue with Kings
February 29
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"The last time Jimmer Fredette struggled like this? His freshman season at Brigham Young University. Despite scoring five points against the Jazz during the first half Tuesday, the Sacramento Kings rookie guard also struggled to find a rhythm and appeared overmatched as soon as he entered the contest. The limitations highlighted Fredette's recent struggles, which have seen the No. 10 overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft fall to the bottom of the Kings' rotation. "It's not anything new for me. As far as my freshman year at BYU, it was pretty similar. So it's not a new story or anything," said Fredette, who entered Tuesday's game averaging 8 points, 1.9 assists and 1.2 rebounds while shooting"
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette's Kings to host Jazz tonight
February 28
The Deseret News
 
"The last time the Utah Jazz saw Jimmer Fredette, he nearly beat them with a last-second, 3-point shot. That was a month ago today when Fredette played the majority of the game, but misfired on a potential game-winner with five seconds left in Utah's 96-93 win. It was one of Fredette's better games of the season, as he played 31 minutes and scored 14 points with 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. Fredette will get another crack at the Jazz tonight in Sacramento, where the Kings and Jazz meet for the second time this season (8 p.m.)."
Fredette cracks down on tweeting brother
February 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jimmer Fredette said there's no need to worry about his brother criticizing coach Keith Smart on Twitter anymore. Fredette's older brother, T.J., tweeted after Tuesday's loss at Miami in which Jimmer did not play: "can we please get rid of this interim coach who should be an assistant at best and bring in a real head coach!!" Fredette said that's something that won't happen again. "When I got aware of it, I definitely talked to him about it," Fredette said."
Fredette's education continues as Kings rookie
February 5
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"Jimmer Fredette is a rookie, and he will be a rookie next week and the week after that. So for those wondering why the former BYU standout has spent the past two games on the bench – and hello to all you impassioned tweeters from Utah – that's the short answer. The long answer is that Jimmer walked into a mess. The Kings and their coaching change. The Kings and their crowded backcourt. The Kings and their one-on-one style of play. The lockout that forced cancellation of the summer league and traditional training camps, shoving all the usual dramas into a compressed 66-game season. But the thing about the NBA? A rookie's existence often is more fluid than political exit polls. Fredette and"
Bummer, Jimmer: Kings denied late-shot heroics
January 30
Sacramento Bee
 
"The storyline was set up perfectly. Jimmer Fredette was back in the state where he became a national phenomenon. And he took a three-pointer to give the Kings the lead late in the game. But there would be no fairy-tale ending to this game. Fredette's shot with 5.9 seconds to play was off, sailing out of bounds, and the Kings would go on to lose to the Utah Jazz, 96-93, Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena."
Jimmer Fredette has heroic opportunity, but Jazz win
January 29
The Deseret News
 
"After 47 minutes and 50 seconds of loud cheers and boos from a split-personality crowd, exciting and error-filled hoops, and unexpected performances, both good and bad, the outcome of the Sacramento Kings-Utah Jazz game was up for grabs. The underdog Kings had possession, trailing by two. The clock was ticking down. The raucous EnergySolutions Arena crowd was gasping at the scenario that had unfolded. And suddenly, after he fought his way through a scrum, the basketball ended up in the hands of one Jimmer Fredette behind the 3-point line. Of course it did. What happened next riled up anti-Jimmerites who'd booed the heck out of the former BYU star every time he touched the ball all night,"
Jimmer Fredette still just another NBA rookie
January 29
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"He almost gave them a show they never would have forgotten. Then again, the sight of Jimmer Fredette air-balling the Sacramento Kings' final shot of the game in their loss to the Utah Jazz might be unforgettable itself. The former BYU superstar will likely be kicking himself for missing the big shot — a contested 25-footer with five seconds left. Many in the crowd were holding their breath, waiting for the ball to sink through the net. For Kings coach Keith Smart, it's all a part of the process. "We have a first-year player in a situation trying to do the right thing, and it's a whole different story if he made that shot," Smart said. "But it's something that you learn and you grow from"
Utah Jazz edge Sacramento Kings, 96-93, after Fredette misfires
January 29
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Gordon Hayward spent the whole game attacking. He scored eight points during the first quarter, 12 by halftime and was the Jazz's most aggressive and dynamic player during a night that saw normal stars Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap struggle. But when Hayward walked off the court Saturday at EnergySolutions Arena, the only look on his face was relief. Utah had outlasted and overcome Sacramento. Barely. Led by Hayward's team-high 21 points, five rebounds and four assists, the Jazz downed the Kings, 96-93. But Utah (11-7) watched a 12-point lead with 6 minutes, 8 seconds to go suddenly turn into a slim one-point advantage with 30.5 left on the clock. After recently failing to finish games and"
Kings visit 'state of Jimmer' as Fredette returns to Utah to play Jazz
January 28
Sacramento Bee
 
"Two of Jimmer Fredette's teammates have witnessed how revered he is in Utah. In September, during the NBA lockout, Tyler Honeycutt and Isaiah Thomas played in a charity exhibition game hosted by Fredette at BYU. Thomas recalled the experience in Utah, or as he called it, "the state of Jimmer," where Fredette's fans flock to him. "It's unreal," Thomas said. "He's like a god out there, he really is. I've seen people cry over him, being right next to him. That's like some Michael Jackson stuff." Fredette will play in Utah tonight for the first time as a professional when the Kings visit the Jazz. Fredette has had sections of fans at every arena the Kings have visited this season, but"
Many Jazz fans find themselves torn with Jimmer headed to town
January 26
The Deseret News
 
"The Jazz have a big game Saturday against the struggling Kings, but it's not the Kings themselves that make this game a big deal, it's the guard who comes off the bench that makes this a marquee match, Jimmer. Jimmer Fredette is headed to the Energy Solutions Arena for the first time as an NBA player."
Prestige varies for rookies Rubio, Fredette
January 23
San Francisco Chronicle
 columnist Bruce Jenkins
"As we eavesdrop on a mythical party for NBA rookies, we see Ricky Rubio in a far corner of the room. Quiet guy, doesn't say much. But there sure is a big crowd around him. Some of those admiring women are getting downright pushy. Outside the building, wearing a spiffy new overcoat, Jimmer Fredette is parking Maseratis. He's really a heck of a guy, Jimmer. Aims to please. But he's stuck between roles in the wilds of Sacramento, a city deeply concerned about losing the franchise. Someday, probably in a different uniform, he'll be a solid shooting guard in a responsible half-court offense - perhaps along the lines of Orlando's J.J. Redick. At the moment, he's dealing with me-first teammates,"
Fredette used to tall-guy tactic
December 30
Sacramento Bee
 
"With Jimmer Fredette listed at 6-foot-2, it's not unusual when he finds himself being defended by a player who has a height advantage.It's something the Kings rookie guard had better get used to.Fredette found himself defended by Matt Barnes (6-7) and Nicolas Batum (6-8) for stretches in his first two NBA games. It's a way teams will look to discourage Fredette from hurting them with his long-range shooting."I don't think it's anything that anyone's doing to him that he hasn't seen before," Kings coach Paul Westphal said.The Kings coaching staff has encouraged Fredette to be more aggressive. Fredette said bigger defenders haven't forced him not to shoot and that he has the "green"
Jimmer sheds initial shakes,then becomes, well, Jimmer
December 27
Sacramento Bee
 
"He tried for normal, he really did, but there was no chance for normal. This was the Jimmer, the day after Christmas. This was his NBA debut, six weeks delayed. These were the Lakers – and around here nothing compares with Kings-Lakers – at Power Balance Pavilion.He was eager, he was nervous.He was enveloped by fans, bolstered by family. My parents (Al and Kay) are here, and so is my brother (T.J.) and sister (Lindsay)," Fredette said about 90 minutes before the Kings stung the Lakers in Monday night's season opener. "My fiancée (Whitney Wonncott) flew in this afternoon, so we opened up presents. That was fun. But I'm really excited about getting started. This is my goal." His role, as"
Jimmer already has impact on Kings
December 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"It took only two exhibition games for Kings coach Paul Westphal to see the effect Jimmer Fredette could have on the team's offense. Though Fredette can have an impact without the ball, Westphal said, the Kings need to get the ball to the rookie more often. With Fredette's shooting and playmaking ability, teams will have to monitor him at all times, which should open the floor for his teammates."
Kings' Fredette has impressive exhibition debut
December 19
Sacramento Bee
 
"Nervous? Of course he was. Jimmer Fredette is nervous before every game. Yes, even a preseason game. Once the game started Saturday against the Golden State Warriors, the Kings' highly touted rookie looked comfortable in his unofficial NBA debut, scoring 21 points in a 107-96 loss in Oakland. Skeptics said Fredette's high-scoring ways would not translate to the NBA and that he wouldn't be able to defend well. The Kings, however, were pleased with what they saw."
Jazz: Game against Jimmer Fredette's Kings in serious jeopardy
October 26
The Deseret News
 
"The NBA could soon hurt Utah Jazz fans who dig Jimmermania. Barring a negotiating miracle, the Jazz's first game against Sacramento in the Jimmer Fredette era — Nov. 23 at ex-Arco Arena — will be added to the NBA lockout casualty scrap pile. That contest against the former BYU star/rookie-in-limbo was among six Jazz games that were to be canceled Tuesday along with most of the November schedule, according to the New York Daily News. Though it hasn't yet officially happened, the report claimed the league is about to chop off its second two-week block of games, prolonging the NBA-less period through Nov. 28."
Jimmer Fredette takes his stardom in stride
October 2
Sacramento Bee
 
"Men old enough to be his father can't wait to take a picture of him. Young women shriek with excitement when they see him. Using side and back exits of hotels has become the norm the past couple of years. That's life for Jimmer Fredette, who was selected by the Kings in the first round of June's NBA draft. Or, as fellow first-round pick Kemba Walker said, it's like watching Justin Bieber. Jimmermania is as hot as ever here, home to BYU, even as Fredette prepares for an NBA career when the lockout is over."
Fredette loses in return to BYU
September 23
Sacramento Bee
 
"Most college players don't have the opportunity for an encore before heading to the NBA. Jimmer Fredette had that Thursday night. With NBA players locked out during the labor dispute, Fredette, the the first-round pick acquired by the Kings on draft day hosted Jimmer's All-Stars, an exhibition game featuring rookies at BYU's Marriott Center, where Fredette starred. The game included eight first-round picks from June's NBA draft. Fredette was happy about how things turned out even though he did something that he didn't do much of in recent seasons here – he lost."
Jimmer Fredette gathers fellow rookies for game
September 22
Sacramento Bee
 
"Whenever the NBA lockout ends, Kings fans will be treated to Jimmer Fredette's talents on the basketball court. Before there is labor peace, however, Fredette plans to put on a show once more in the arena where he had some of his most memorable performances. Fredette is hosting Jimmer's All-Stars tonight at the Marriott Center, where he dazzled fans playing for BYU. The game is a collection of NBA rookies, including eight first-round picks from June's draft. Fredette worked with his representatives to bring in players who would make for a good show."
Teams announced for Jimmer's All-Stars exhibition
September 21
Salt Lake Tribune
 
"Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery will be teammates again, but this time they'll have an even more loaded roster when they take the court Thursday at Brigham Young University's Marriott Center. The teams were announced Tuesday for Jimmer's All-Stars exhibition, a game between teams of unsigned rookies, including Fredette and former San Diego State star Kawhi Leonard. Fredette was drafted by Sacramento in June but has not been able to sign a contract due to the NBA lockout. He will lead one team, while Leonard, drafted by the San Antonio Spurs, will captain another."
NBA sues Jimmer Fredette along with players' union
August 3
The Deseret News
 
"Surprising news about the NBA filing both a federal lawsuit and an unfair labor practice charge against the players' union included an even more shocking tidbit. The NBA is also suing Jimmer Fredette. The NBA's class-action claim listed the former BYU star — and to-be Sacramento Kings rookie — as a defendant along with National Basketball Players Association representatives and executive committee members. Golden State rookie Charles Jenkins, the 44th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, was also listed in the lawsuit with Fredette, USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt first reported on Twitter. Other NBA players listed include Chris Paul, Derek Fisher and Amar'e Stoudemire. Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc.,"
Fredette to take green before donning Kings purple
June 27
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jimmer Fredette will play golf in a celebrity Tahoe tournament before he ever hits a three-pointer for the Sacramento Kings. The new Kings player, whose arrival in Sacramento prompted a spirited welcome at Sacramento International Airport last week, will play in the 2011 American Century Championship. The 54-hole tournament at Edgewood Golf Course will be televised by NBC and VERSUS on July 15-17. Among the favorites are last year's winner former football quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver at 4-1 odds and pitcher John Smoltz at 5-1. Not-so-favored by oddsmakers is crowd-pleaser Charles Barkley at 500-1 odds of winning."
Jimmermania to test Kings
June 26
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"These Kings rookies are pretty sharp. That old cowbell charm, the power of purple, the power of Jimmer. They know the deal. They get it. During Saturday's introductory news conference at Power Balance Pavilion - that old barn formerly known as Arco Arena - Jimmer Fredette, Tyler Honeycutt and Isaiah Thomas sounded like three college kids who completed their homework and came ready to play. The Kings-Lakers rivalry. The more recent postseason drought. The delicate arena situation. They addressed the issues and talked about winning games, winning back the fans, winning like the old days and securing the franchise's future in Sacramento. But particularly noteworthy was that Fredette was in"
Fans go wild as newest Kings hit town
June 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"At one point, Tyler Honeycutt and Isaiah Thomas glanced at each other during what had turned into a tabloid media setting. And without saying a word, their expressions said it all - the scene was crazy. The Kings' 2011 draftees had become a sideshow to the main event, the Jimmer Fredette Show. When Honeycutt and Thomas joined Fredette, the Kings' first-round pick, at Sacramento International Airport on Friday, they saw up close how excited fans are to see Fredette in person. But that might not be a bad thing for the Kings' two second-round selections. The frenzy surrounding Fredette could keep Honeycutt and Thomas out of the spotlight and allow them to do what rookies are expected to do -"
Sacramento Kings fans turn out as Jimmer Fredette arrives
June 25
Sacramento Bee
 
"The Jimmer jet officially touched down in Sacramento around 5 p.m. Friday afternoon, carrying Kings rookie Jimmer Fredette, and the scene at Sacramento International Airport was fit for a rock star of Bono's ilk, not a smiling 22-year-old from upstate New York. Welcome to the Jimmer Show. A few hundred people crowded around baggage claim at Terminal A for a glimpse of the former BYU star, who was acquired by the Kings in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft. The newest addition to the Kings roster arrived with three handlers at his side and lived up to descriptions of his demeanor, remaining calm and at ease in the face of a media horde. "I'm excited to be in Sacramento," Fredette"
Fredette brings star power, but where does he fit in?
June 24
Sacramento Bee
 columnist Ailene Voisin
"The Kings took a detour through Milwaukee to get him, but hey, who wouldn't go a few extra miles for a rock star? For Jimmer Fredette? He tweets, he shoots, he scores. He stars in a documentary. He is a one-man, predraft publicity machine. So now that he's here – or almost here – does he play bass or lead guitar? Is he part of the opening act or does he come off the bench? And what does he know about funding mechanisms and construction of new arenas? (Seriously, we would have asked these questions had Fredette's handlers made him available to the Sacramento media in a late-night, post-draft teleconference, as is the NBA norm. Now we'll just wait for the news conference that is tentatively"
Kings acquire Fredette, bring back Salmons in trade
June 24
Sacramento Bee
 
"Jimmermania is on its way to Sacramento. On a day that began with the Kings bringing back a familiar face, the biggest news was the Kings acquiring Jimmer Fredette, the BYU star – and star of many YouTube clips – in the first round of the NBA draft. Fredette might have been the most popular player in college basketball last season, hence Jimmermania and the following that he developed nationwide. Fredette was selected 10th by Milwaukee, then traded as part of a three-team deal that sent guard Beno Udrih to Milwaukee and brought John Salmons back to the Kings. As part of the deal, the Kings relinquished their seventh pick to the Charlotte Bobcats. Fredette had to wait for the deal to be"