Jimmer Fredette
A college scoring phenom whose deep-range shooting frenzy briefly captivated the nation and redefined offensive audacity in the NCAA.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American basketball player·Birthday: February 25·Millennials
Biography
Jimmer Fredette didn't just score; he created a cultural moment. At Brigham Young University, he played with a fearless, playground flair that seemed imported from another era, pulling up from distances that defied coaching manuals. His senior year was a sustained explosion, as he led the nation in scoring and delivered 40-point performances with routine spectacle, earning him National Player of the Year honors. The 'Jimmer Range' entered the lexicon. His transition to the NBA, however, proved the league's harsh calculus: transcendent college offense doesn't always translate. Despite stints with several teams, he couldn't secure a consistent role. Undeterred, Fredette carved a remarkable second act overseas, becoming a superstar in the Chinese Basketball Association and later reinventing himself as a leader in the burgeoning world of 3x3 basketball, where his scoring genius found a perfect, fast-paced home.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jimmer was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmer Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jimmer's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Unanimously won the 2011 National Player of the Year award (Wooden, Naismith, etc.) after averaging 28.9 points per game for BYU.
- Led all of NCAA Division I in scoring during his senior season at BYU in 2010-11.
- Was selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks (traded to Sacramento) in the 2011 NBA Draft.
- Named the CBA International MVP in 2017 after a dominant season with the Shanghai Sharks.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Jimmer' originated in childhood, as his younger brother had trouble saying 'James.'
He scored a career-high 52 points in a Mountain West Conference tournament game against New Mexico in 2011.
Fredette is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a two-year mission in New York prior to college.
He set a then-record for points in a FIBA 3x3 World Cup game, scoring 21 points in a single contest in 2023.
“I just love to play the game. I love to compete. I love to have the ball in my hands at the end of the game.”
