Former BYU basketball guard Jimmer Fredette looks on during a conversation prior to the Cougars' football game against California on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. (Deseret News file photo)
Jimmer Fredette is coming back to the NBA, courtesy of the Phoenix Suns.
Fredette entered contract negotiations with a Suns, who had an open roster spot. And the Suns play the Utah Jazz on Monday, meaning now that Fredette has signed with the Suns, he could see playing time in Salt Lake City next week.
Fredette has been playing for the Shanghai Sharks in China, and once scored 73 points in a double OT game over there. Their season ended on Tuesday.
He was the 2011 National College Player of the Year, leading BYU to the sweet sixteen for the first time since 1981.
Fredette was drafted in 2011 to the Sacramento Kings with the 10th overall pick.
He talked to Dan Patrick last October about his future:
“When I see myself as a role in the NBA if that was the case to get back in, I would be a guy that could come off the bench and you know, light it up.”
He said he was looking forward to testing the waters during the upcoming offseason.
“If there’s an NBA team that wants me, I’d love to be able to do that,” he said. “I feel like I am in a good place in my career right now.”
The Phoenix Suns is team that wanted Jimmer, and it has him.