Fredette hopes to get another NBA chance
Former lottery pick and college basketball star Jimmer Fredette wants to return from China to play in the NBA.
The 29-year-old’s last NBA stint was with the Knicks in 2016.
Since then, the 6-2 combo guard has made two Chinese Basketball Association All-Star appearances and won the CBA’s International MVP award last year.
He has averaged 37.4 points per game since playing in China, shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc.
HoopsHype recently caught up with Fredette to discuss his plans and his desire to come back to the United States.
Q: With all the success you’ve had in the Chinese Basketball Association, I’m very curious where your interest stands in potentially getting back to play in the NBA.
A: I want to have another opportunity in the NBA because there is some unfinished business for me there. After this season is over, I want another NBA chance. This time, I’ll succeed. I feel really good about how I am playing. I know that if I get a chance, I will take advantage of it and be successful and help a team win. I’m excited to see what the future holds. I’m going to finish my contract in China this season and be the best I can be for my team. But after that, I will see what is out there and try to be on a roster for the NBA postseason.
Q: You recently scored 75 points during one game for the Shanghai Sharks in the CBA. Can you walk me through that experience and how dialed in you were on that day?
A: It was an amazing game to be a part of and it really doesn’t happen often as a basketball player. I was fortunate to have a great game like that. It broke my heart that we lost on a buzzer beater. I actually started off the game pretty slow. I didn’t make any shots in the first quarter; I had zero points. I missed a few wide-open looks. But I was feeling pretty good. During the second half, I felt amazing. I got out in transition and started to see some threes go in and I was able to get to the foul line a lot. From that point on, I just continued to score.
Q: Have other players solicited your advice about how they, too, could play in the CBA?
A: Yeah, that actually happens all the time — text, Instagram, Twitter — and a lot of guys want to know how they can get over to China. I try to help them find a Chinese agent because they won’t talk to you if you don’t have one. It’s a popular idea because the season is short and the money is really good and there’s a chance that after the year is over you can get on an NBA roster. For naturalborn scorers who can put the ball in the basket, China is a great place to be.
Q: What were some of the ways that playing in China has helped you develop?
A: I think it was the best thing that could have happened to me. There are times when it’s helpful to get away from a situation in order to really sit back and look at it and see what you need to do to get better and to perform at a high level. I think I’ve been able to do that in China. My confidence is at an all-time high. I’m better than I’ve ever been before as a basketball player. I feel like I’m in a groove; I feel good about things. I’m super grateful for the opportunity. I’ve matured as a person. Since I left the NBA, I’ve been able to have a daughter. I’ve been able to grow my family. It’s really put things into perspective.
Q: What kind of marketing deals have you had while living and playing in China?
A: I’m with a company called 361 and this is my third year. They’ve created a signature shoe for me every year. Every time they put my shoe out with the Chinese characters that say “Jimo Dashen” they sell out every time. That’s my nickname out here, and it means the “lonely master.” “Jimo” means lonely and it sounds like Jimmer. My teammates told me that it’s a good meaning, like you’re alone at the top of the mountain and no one can reach your level. Like, you’re the best basketball player and it’s a compliment.