Glens Falls native Jimmer Fredette, pictured while playing for Team USA in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, has announced his retirement from basketball.
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Jimmer Fredette, the former Glens Falls High School star who went on to college basketball stardom at Brigham Young University before a professional career that spanned stops in the NBA, Greece and China – as well as a trip to this past summer’s Olympics – is retiring from basketball.
Fredette announced his retirement Wednesday in a social media post.
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“Ever since I was young, I was obsessed with basketball,” Fredette wrote in a post on X. “Seeing the basketball go in was magical. I wanted to play it everyday. The game has taught me hard work, determination and grit. Basketball has taken me all around the world: From Glens Falls NY, to BYU, the NBA, China, Greece, and even Team USA at the Olympics.
“This game and my love for it has shaped me into the person I am today and for that I am forever grateful. So many memories and amazing moments. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it! The next journey starts now.”
The 36-year-old Fredette is a 2007 graduate of Glens Falls, where he scored 2,404 points in his high school career. He led Glens Falls to the 2007 NYSPHSAA Class A state championship game. At the time of his graduation, Fredette held Section II’s all-time boys’ basketball career scoring record.
Fellow Glens Falls graduate Joseph Girard III, who went on to not only break Fredette’s school scoring record, but became New York’s all-time high school basketball career scoring leader, paid tribute to Fredette on social media.
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“Legend! Put Glens Falls on the map, appreciate what you’ve done,” Girard wrote in a post on X.
“USA Basketball congratulates Jimmer Fredette on his retirement and thanks him for his commitment to USA Basketball’s 3×3 men’s national team program,” USA Basketball wrote in a news release.
At BYU, Fredette emerged as one of the best scorers of his era in college basketball, breaking Danny Ainge’s career scoring record at the school. During his senior year in 2010-11, he was a unanimous choice as national player of the year after averaging 28.9 points per game, made the cover of Sports Illustrated and led BYU to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1981.
Following his senior year, Fredette was picked 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Draft, with his rights immediately traded to the Sacramento Kings. The 6-foot-2 guard played parts of three seasons with the Kings before bouncing around the NBA, making stops with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns.
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Overall, Fredette played in 241 games over six NBA seasons, averaging 6.0 points per game.
Fredette went overseas in 2016, joining the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He was the CBA International MVP in 2017 and a three-time CBA all-star, averaging at least 27 points in all four of his seasons in China – including three seasons where he averaged at least 36.9 points.
He had games of 70 and 75 points during his career in China, including a game in which he scored 60 points after halftime.
Fredette also spent the 2019-20 season with Greek club Panathinaikos, averaging 12.9 points in 27 games.
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In recent years, Fredette changed his focus to 3×3 basketball. He was named the 2023 USA Basketball 3×3 Male Athlete of the Year and led Team USA to the silver medal at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
“It gave me life to want to play the game of basketball again,” Fredette told the Times Union in 2024 when reflecting on his move to 3×3.
He represented the U.S. in 3×3 at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, but suffered an adductor tear in the team’s second pool play game and missed four games as Team USA ultimately finished out of the medals.
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“I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. And something this has taught me is to enjoy the journey. You never know what can happen once you reach your destination but if you don’t enjoy getting there — you are missing the point,” Fredette wrote in a social media post when he revealed his injury. “I’m sorry to all the fans who supported me and our team as I wish it could have gone differently. But thank you for your support and love. Always keep the faith and smile through the bad.”
