Jimmer Time! Fredette returns to Sacramento to face Kings in debut for Phoenix Suns

No one knows where this latest foray into the NBA will take Jimmer Fredette, but on Saturday night it brought him back to Sacramento, the city where his career began nearly nine years ago at the height of “Jimmermania.”

Fredette was in Sacramento to face the Kings in his long-awaited return to the NBA as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Fredette shared a few laughs with several longtime members of the Kings organization, signed autographs and stopped to pose for pictures with fans in old Jimmer jerseys as he made his way off the floor following pregame warm-ups at Golden 1 Center.

“There are still some familiar faces here, so I’ve been able to see a lot of people and say hello and reminisce,” Fredette said. “It’s been fun.”

Fredette received a rousing ovation when he entered the game at the start of the second quarter. His first shot, a pull-up jumper from the right side of the lane, was good, but it was negated by an offensive foul called against Suns center Deandre Ayton.

Fredette logged 4 first-half minutes. He grabbed two rebounds and missed his only official shot attempt, a 3-pointer from the right wing.

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

Fredette was unanimously selected as the 2011 NCAA national player of the year after setting 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).

The Milwaukee Bucks selected Fredette with the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, but the Kings acquired him on the day of the draft in a three-team trade involving the Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats. “Jimmermania” swept through Sacramento, leading to a huge increase in Kings jersey sales.

“I had a great time here my first three years in the NBA, so it’s a place that’s special to me and my family,” Fredette said. “They were so good to us when we were here, so it’s fun to come back and have my first game in Sacramento.”

Fredette averaged just over 7 points per game in three 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 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 a career-high 75 points in a 2017 game for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association.

The Suns signed Fredette to a two-year contract on Thursday. Next season, the second year of the deal, is a team option. Fredette was in uniform and available to play Saturday night, but he didn’t know if he would see any playing time.

“That’s up to coach,” he said. “Obviously I have no control over that, but I’m always ready when my opportunity comes.”

Fredette said he was happy to be back in the NBA after three years in China.

“I’ve been away for a while, but this is a great opportunity for me and it’s great to be a part of the Suns organization,” Fredette said. “I’m excited. It’s good to be back.”

This story was originally published March 23, 2019 at 8:35 PM.