5 things about former King Jimmer Fredette’s return with the Phoenix Suns

Here are five things to know about Jimmer Fredette as he returns to the NBA with the Phoenix Suns, who will visit the Kings on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center. The former BYU star spent two seasons with the Kings from 2011-2013.

1. Fredette was a record-breaking scorer at BYU, where he averaged 28.9 points per game as a senior in 2010-11. “Jimmermania” continued to build following his 47-point game against Utah and reached a fever pitch as he led BYU to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

2. Fredette was unanimously selected as the 2011 NCAA national player of the year, earning that honor from the Associated Press, the Sporting News, the National Association of Basketball Coaches, SI.com, Athlon Sports and Basketball Times. Fredette set numerous Mountain West Conference records, including points in a game (52), points in a season (1,068), points in a career (2,599) and career 3-point goals (296).

3. The Kings acquired Fredette, the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, in a three-team trade involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats on the day of the draft. “Jimmermania” swept through Sacramento, leading to a huge increase in Kings jersey sales. The Kings also acquired John Salmons and sent the draft rights to No. 7 pick Bismack Biyombo to the Bobcats as part of the deal. The player selected immediately after Fredette in that draft was Klay Thompson, who went to the Golden State Warriors at No. 11.

4. Fredette averaged just over 7 points per game in two disappointing seasons with the Kings. He had a career-high 24 points in the Kings’ overtime win over the New York Knicks on Feb. 12, 2014, but two weeks later the team bought out his contract. Fredette had several unspectacular stints with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and Knicks. He was out of the NBA by 2016 but reemerged in China, where he averaged 37.6 points per game in 2016-17 and scored 73 points in a game for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.

5. The Suns reportedly signed Fredette to a two-year contract on Thursday. The second year of the deal is a team option, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Fredette must receive clearance from China before he can return to the NBA. It was not immediately clear whether Fredette would be in uniform when the Suns face the Kings at Golden 1 Center on Saturday.