There was a time when Jimmer Fredette was looked at as a potential NBA rotation guy. Then he couldn't crack it over guys like Isaiah Thomas with the Sacramento Kings, and his various stops in Chicago, New Orleans and San Antonio didn't produce many moments in which it seemed worth keeping him around an NBA team. That left Fredette with a real decision to make. Does he go overseas to make more money or does he try to prove he belongs in the D-League and claw his way back into the NBA?
Jimmer went with the D-League route and in his first season with the Westchester Knicks, he made the All-Star Game. Not only did he make the East D-League All-Star team, but he also put on a show Saturday during the game. Fredette set the D-League All-Star record with 35 points in the East's 128-124 victory. That earned him MVP honors for the game.
Jimmer went 6-of-12 from deep and 13-of-19 overall on his way to 35 points. The previous D-League All-Star scoring mark was 33, set by Robert Covington in 2014. Jimmer also had eight assists and six rebounds in 25 minutes of action, including a big 3-pointer down the stretch to put the East up by one with under two minutes left in the game.
He was the No. 2 overall pick by the Knicks in the D-League draft this past season, and has enjoyed a very productive season so far. He's averaging 22.6 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds in 36.1 minutes. His shooting has been off the charts with 48.7 percent accuracy from the field and 42.7 percent from downtown.
Will this get him a spot in the NBA? Gerald Green and Covington both have won D-League All-Star MVP honors over the years and carved out an NBA career for themselves. Covington has been a valuable role player for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Green used the D-League to help himself get established again with the NBA. Fredette doesn't have the size or the athletic gifts these guys have, but if he can prove to be a consistent scorer while not being a complete liability on defense, the NBA will find a spot for him.
