The 2024 Paris Olympics are only a couple of months away. Stars worldwide will meet in France and do their best to collect gold medals and make their respective countries proud.
While the U.S. will look to collect as many gold medals as possible, basketball is one sport they’ll look to dominate. However, this year, there isn’t just one variation of basketball for them to dominate in.
The Olympics debuted 3-on-3 basketball in the 2020 Olympics, and in 2024, the U.S. is making their debut — and a familiar face in the basketball universe will seek his first gold medal in Olympic competition this summer in college basketball phenom, Jimmer Fredette.
Fredette will head to Paris with Team USA’s 3-on-3 squad. He will be joined by Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis. This particular group won silver at the FIBA 3-on-3 World Cup and gold at the 2023 Pan American Games and the 2022 FIBA 3-on-3 AmeriCup.
Fredette shared with the Associated Press how excited he is to represent his country on the world’s biggest stage.
Jimmer Fredette of the USA vies with Nico Kaltenbrunner of Austria during the mens pool play match between A5ustria and the USA on Day 4 of the FIBA 3×3 World cup at Rathausplatz on June… Jimmer Fredette of the USA vies with Nico Kaltenbrunner of Austria during the mens pool play match between A5ustria and the USA on Day 4 of the FIBA 3×3 World cup at Rathausplatz on June 2, 2023 in Vienna, Austria. Fredette will reprsent Team USA in men’s basketball 3×3 format.
Andrea Kareth/Getty Images
“It’s the way that we wanted it to be,” Fredette said Tuesday of bringing the same roster to Paris. “I think it’s what USA Basketball was looking for, and it’s what we were hoping for.”
Fredette was the darling of college basketball at BYU in 2010 and 2011. He was a phenom as the consensus 2011 Men’s College Player of the Year, and he led BYU to its first berth in the Sweet 16 since 1981. Because of his transcendent play in college, the Sacramento Kings selected him with the 10th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Unfortunately, his game did not translate well to the NBA because of his frame and other factors. While his shooting ability stuck, shooting 40.2% from beyond the arc, the 6-foot-2 combo guard was only in the NBA for five seasons, from 2011-16.
The same can’t be said for his time in the Chinese Basketball Association. Fredette spent a couple of years in China starting in 2016 and was phenomenal there, too. He recorded a 73-point game and was named CBA International MVP in 2017. The men’s 3-on-3 is no joke, but even at 35 years old, Fredette is a threat on the court.
The 2011 NCAA season scoring leader proved that by earning USA Basketball 3-on-3 Male Athlete of the Year in 2023. Fredette will get his first crack at USA basketball in the Olympics this year.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to represent our country a few times,” Freddete said, “but the Olympics is a whole different level.”
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