During the early 2010s, basketball fans were introduced to a name that soon became synonymous with electric performances and unforgettable moments: Jimmer Fredette. As a star player at Brigham Young University (BYU), Fredette's mesmerizing play earned him Naismith and Player of the Year honors during the 2010-11 season. He dazzled crowds with his scoring prowess, leading BYU to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season that year and setting a Mountain West record with 2,599 career points.
Drafted No. 10 overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft, Fredette's professional career has been characterized by a series of peaks and valleys. Reflecting on his journey, Fredette remarked, "Obviously the NBA career was very up-and-down, but that doesn't just happen to just me. 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."
After leaving the NBA, Fredette found success playing overseas, a period that rejuvenated his love for the game and introduced him to new opportunities. Among those was the 3x3 basketball format, a fast-paced, half-court game that differs significantly from traditional five-on-five basketball. "The way this sport works, you either really like it or you don't like it at all. That people love it or hate it, I see the reasons why. It's difficult, there's a lot of travel involved all across the world. Sometimes you travel 36 hours for a tournament and if you lose two games you're done in like 20 minutes. ... There's just so much emotion in 3x3 basketball and it's different than five-on-five," Fredette explained.
Fredette's commitment to the 3x3 format quickly paid off, as he became a pivotal player for Team USA. His skill and leadership were instrumental in Team USA's journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking the second time 3x3 basketball is featured as an official Olympic event. This follows Team USA's disappointment in failing to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games in the format. Fredette's contributions in the lead-up to Paris did not go unnoticed, earning him recognition as the 2023 USA Basketball 3x3 Male Athlete of the Year.
Joining Fredette on Team USA's 3x3 roster are Kareem Maddox, Dylan Travis, and Canyon Barry. The squad displayed impressive form at the 2024 World Cup, finishing second behind Serbia, a team known for its strong performance in the sport—they hold fourth place on the world leaderboard and earned a bronze medal in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Latvia, the reigning Olympic champion in 3x3 basketball, secured third place at the 2023 World Cup, underlining the high level of competition Team USA will face in Paris.
The Olympics will see Team USA compete against formidable opponents like Serbia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, France, China, and the Netherlands in a round-robin format. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals, while the teams finishing between third and sixth will face off in the quarterfinals. The medal rounds are set for August 5, promising exciting matchups and the culmination of intense preparation and competition.
3x3 basketball brings a distinct set of rules and a frenetic pace to the court. Played on a half-court with a 12-second shot clock, a field goal is worth one point or two if shot from beyond the arc, and there are no inbounds passes after a made basket. The game begins with a coin toss to determine which team starts with possession, and possession changes after each made basket. Players must dribble or pass the ball outside the arc before attempting a shot. A team wins by being the first to score 21 points or by having the highest score at the end of a single 10-minute quarter. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, the first team to score two points in overtime wins.
As the countdown to the Paris Olympics continues, fans eagerly anticipate seeing Fredette lead Team USA in this heart-pounding, high-stakes format. His journey from college star to professional and international player underscores a career marked by resilience, adaptability, and a relentless drive to succeed despite the obstacles. Fredette's return to the global stage promises to be one of the standout stories of the 2024 Games, as he and his teammates aim to bring home Olympic glory in the exhilarating world of 3x3 basketball.