Former BYU basketball superstar Jimmer Fredette looking for pro hoops career resurgence
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette shakes hands with fans in Westchester before the NBDL game on Dec. 2, 2015.
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette dribbles the ball for the Westchester Knicks during the NBDL game on Dec. 2, 2015.
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette shoots a layup for Westchester during the NBDL game on Dec. 2, 2015.
Former BYU star Jimmer Fredette shoots a jump shot for Westchester during the NBDL game on Dec. 2, 2015.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Jason Cosentino only wanted to show off and say “hello.” He received his wish on the court when Jimmer Fredette smiled, acknowledging someone in a blue No. 32 BYU basketball jersey.
The interaction Wednesday lasted just a few seconds as the Cougar legend — recently downgraded to a 26-year-old NBA hopeful — strolled out of the Westchester County Center after a one-point loss.
The good old days met the D-League days as Fredette finished his second game in the NBA’s farm system. He’s trying to resuscitate a career that hit the skids at the sport’s highest level. This was not like leaving the Marriott Center by any stretch of the imagination. It almost seems cruel that he wears No. 16 as a Westchester Knick, as if he’s half of what he was.
“It’s still awesome. It’s still Jimmer Fredette. It’s the national player of the year (for 2011),” said Cosentino, a college student in the area who says he appreciated Fredette’s college days because of his uncanny shooting ability despite relatively human measurements of height and speed.
Fredette has often looked outmatched in the NBA.
But not here in the D-League.
“It’s clear he’s better than everyone else on the floor,” Consentino said.
Consentino attended both Westchester games this week.
“I don’t really get why he’s here,” he said. “I’m sure he’ll find a spot on an NBA team pretty quick.”
And that’s what Fredette is hoping someone beyond the Westchester outfit appreciates.
He estimates receiving about 5-7 offers from international teams — where he could certainly make more money — but it’s clear he’s hardly considered taking that path.
The former national player of the year, turned No. 10 NBA draft pick in a fairly lousy 2011 grouping, is set on finding someway back to the big-time.
And he’s not just gunning 3-pointers to make it happen. He’s produced 17 assists in the two games (he averaged about five as a college senior) and only shot seven 3-pointers.
“Obviously I have goals,” Fredette said. “Get back into the NBA and get into a rotation. But I’m not worried about it too much. I’m worried about playing basketball, getting the best that I can. And whatever happens is going to happen.”
Fredette’s new teammate, Jordan Bachynski, had never met him before last week but he appreciates Fredette’s past, and current attitude and skill set.
Bachysnki is actually LDS — his brother, Dallin, played at Utah — and he married a former BYU athlete (Malia Marquardt) who had brothers that played for the Cougar football team.
Bachysnki was familiar with Jimmer-mania and is hoping Fredette considers this latest chapter an internship: This isn’t about money. It’s about learning, growing, priming oneself for a promotion.
Fredette also notes the value of being a team player and winning — Knicks officials have reminded players that about 80 percent of D-League call-ups have gone to players on successful teams. Westchester is 5-1 after going 10-50 last year.
The be-a-good-teammate stuff, Fredette can do — and Knicks officials laud him for it. But he is still trying to find his endurance. He has played 82 minutes in three days.
He averaged 29 points and about 39 minutes as a college senior.
He’s had 59 points over two games, but another NBA opportunity is going to be about carving out a small niche, about being smart and reliable.
“I’m looking at the overall approach,” Westchester general manager Allan Houston said.
Houston drafted Fredette with the second-overall pick in the D-League. Fredette didn’t start with the team known as the “Dub-Knicks” right away, opting to return to his team of last season — New Orleans — after the Pelicans received a unique waiver because they had so many injuries.
Fredette still didn’t play in nine days.
He maintains a public even keel as he’s seemingly been yanked around by Sacramento, Chicago and New Orleans since leaving Provo.
The biggest disappointment had to be failing to latch onto San Antonio in preseason camp. The Spurs are regarded for some monster career resurrections with Gregg Popovich in charge.
But that was then, this is now.
“Certainly he’s drawing a lot of attention,” Westchester coach Mike Miller said. “Finding some guys and moving the ball around and creating some offense.”
Fredette looked sore during Wednesday’s morning warm-ups. A drill he could seemingly do blindfolded — roll around a screen and shoot a 3-pointer — led him to missing four in a row and 5-of-6. Two weren’t even close.
After the last one, he looked to the sky in dismay.
Mind you, the D-League can be a hard-knock life for all sorts of previously tremendous collegians.
Tuesday, Knicks teammate Cleanthony Early (a standout who helped Wichita State to a Final Four in 2013) missed 8-of-13 shots.
Travis Trice II led Michigan State to the Final Four last March. Tuesday he was 2-of-8, including a nasty fall when he botched a breakaway slam dunk.
Fredette wore down at the end of his second game. He blew scoring opportunities on three possessions in the final three minutes, including a runner airball while trailing by one point.
Then he failed to get off a shot on the last attempt that was set up for him.
Fredette passed up a 3, was trapped in the paint and uncorked a clumsy pass to Trice, who had no hope from 35 feet at the buzzer against Fort Wayne (98-97).
The biggest plus side: The Knicks rallied from 18 down in the third quarter, and were plus-9 in points (tied for best on the team) with Fredette on the floor.
“It’s a fine line between playing a lot of minutes, but also playing quality minutes,” Houston said. “That’s what is going to prepare Jimmer for the next move.”
Fredette could sign with any NBA team with an open roster spot. The Knicks have an open spot. The D-League team is running the same motion-requiring “triangle offense” as the parent club.
Moving at all is better than anything for a guy who was part of 229 NBA games and played more than 30 minutes just five times.
COLLEGE
Games played (four years): 139
Games started: 102
Avg. minutes per game: 29.6
Scoring average: 18.7 (28.9 sr. year)
Assist average: 3.7 (4.3 sr. year)
FG pct.: 45.5
3-pt. goals avg.: 2.1 (3.4 sr. year)
3-pt. goal pct.: 39.4
NBA (Sacramento, Chicago, New Orleans, San Antonio)
Games played (four-plus years): 233
Games started: 7
Avg. minutes per game: 13.5
Scoring average: 6.0
Assist average: 1.4
FG pct.: 41.1
3-pt. goals avg.: 0.8
3-pt. goal pct.: 38
NBADL (Westchester)
Games played: 2
Games started 2
Avg. minutes per game: 40.5
Scoring average: 29.5
Assist average: 8.5
FG pct.: .571
3-pt. goal avg.: 1.5
3-pt. goal pct.: .429