Jimmer Fredette Ready For An Improved Sophomore Season With Sacramento Kings
By Bryan Rose
January 18, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings point guard Jimmer Fredette (7) shoots the ball during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Power Balance Pavilion. The Kings defeated the Pacers 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE
The past twelve months or so have been quite the whirlwind for Sacramento Kings guard Jimmer Fredette. He’s went from a collegiate superstar to an NBA bench player, but he understands the process is just that – a process – and given hard work, he’ll be rewarded in due time:
"“It’s different,” he said, “but I’ve gone through it before. At BYU, I didn’t play much my freshman year, either. But it’s an adjustment, you need to work hard to get better and play (your best) with the minutes you’re given and keep working and keep getting better. I know I’ll play more of a role as I play more and grow and gain experience.”"
The Kings gunner, who continued to get better as the season rolled on last year is hoping his sophomore season will be much improved, but it wont be easy with the emergence of fellow sophomore Isaiah Thomas and the addition of veteran guard Aaron Brooks, who’ll initially take most of Jimmer’s floor time. That said, at least publicly, Fredette isn’t letting it get him down as he told Ed Weaver of The Record he’s ready to get the season going and ready to show off the growth in his game, some of which came from one on one workouts this Summer with Kings head coach Keith Smart:
"“I think I’m a more complete player and I just continue to get better,” he said. “That’s something that I’ve worked on. But you need to evolve as you get better and as you grow. so, this year, I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been, in great shape. In college I improved every year and that’s what I plan on doing in the NBA as well.”Having said that, he added, “I’ve got to work on a lot of things. Just continue to get better as a basketball player. I need to work screen-and-roll type of things, offensively and defensively, continue to get better at that part of the game; keep working and I know my time will come. I’m not too frustrated by it (low playing time) and I’ll just to out there and play and I know it’s going to be a great year.”"