One of college basketball’s most iconic sharpshooters is calling it a career. BYU legend Jimmer Fredette has officially retired from basketball, closing the book on a journey that made him a household name. It’s a bittersweet moment for hoops fans who watched Fredette light up scoreboards and capture the nation’s attention during his unforgettable run in the early 2010s.
Fredette’s college career at BYU was nothing short of electric. In the 2010-11 season, he led the nation in scoring with 28.9 points per game, earning the Wooden Award as the country’s top player. That year, he became a March Madness sensation, dropping 52 points against New Mexico in the Mountain West Tournament and then carrying BYU to the Sweet 16—the program’s deepest NCAA Tournament run since 1981. His long-range shooting and fearless style made him a fan favorite, with “Jimmer Range” becoming a term for any shot taken from well beyond the arc. Games at the Marriott Center in Provo turned into must-see events, as Fredette routinely torched defenses with his quick release and limitless confidence. He finished his BYU career with 2,599 points, still the most in school history, and his No. 32 jersey was retired by the Cougars in 2011.
After college, Fredette was selected 10th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2011 NBA Draft, kicking off a pro career that spanned five NBA teams over six seasons. His best stretch came with the Kings, where he averaged 7.0 points in 15.5 minutes per game as a rookie, showing flashes of the scoring ability that made him a college star. But the NBA game proved tougher to crack—defensive limitations and inconsistent minutes kept him from replicating his BYU magic. He bounced around the league, playing for the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns, before finding a second wind overseas. In the Chinese Basketball Association, Fredette rediscovered his groove, averaging 37.6 points per game for the Shanghai Sharks in the 2016-17 season and earning CBA International MVP honors. He became a fan favorite there too, dropping 75 points in a single game in 2018—a performance that reminded everyone of the Jimmer they fell in love with at BYU.
More recently, Fredette made a name for himself in 3×3 basketball, representing Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He helped lead the squad to a silver medal, averaging 10.2 points per game in the tournament, with his shooting touch still evident at age 35. That Olympic run capped a career that, while it didn’t reach the NBA heights some expected, was filled with moments of brilliance across different stages of the game. From Provo to Shanghai to Paris, Fredette’s love for basketball and his knack for putting the ball in the hoop never wavered. Now, as he steps away from the court, his legacy as a March Madness legend is secure—Jimmer Mania may be over, but the memories of those deep threes and electrifying performances will live on for college hoops fans everywhere.
