Jimmermania is coming back stateside, and, appropriately, he’s arriving right as the NCAA Tournament begins.
Nearly a decade after Jimmer Fredette became a household name for hoisting deep threes for BYU, the Cougar legend is headed back to the NBA after nearly three years out of the league. Fredette has been lighting it up in the Chinese Basketball Association to the tune of 36 points per game this season and will join the Phoenix Suns for the end of the season — and possibly beyond.
After reports emerged on Wednesday night that Fredette was meeting with the Suns, Shams Charania brought word that a deal had been reached and Fredette would sign a two-year deal, with a team option for next season.
Guard Jimmer Fredette has agreed to a two-year deal with the Phoenix Suns, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Team option on second season for Fredette, who is returning to NBA once he receives his clearance from China.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 21, 2019
That gives Fredette 10 games — if he’s made available to play tonight — to prove himself worthy of sticking around next season with Phoenix. If nothing else, he can try to show he belongs back in the NBA with some team, in an effort to find a home in the league for next year even if not in Phoenix.
Fredette last appeared in the NBA for six games in the 2015-16 season, four with New Orleans and two with New York. He’s a career 38.1 percent three-point shooter, and the Suns will hope he can add some extra juice to their backcourt situation.
