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SALT LAKE CITY -- Despite playing less than 10 minutes in each of the Kings' past five games, Jimmer Fredette is once again headlining articles across the nation as the Sacramento Kings prepare to visit EnergySolutions Arena for the second time this year.
Only one other person in the sports world has the power to grab multiple national headlines without necessarily contributing significantly to his team: Tim Tebow. The similarities between Fredette and Tebow have been discussed, but they have the same type of cult following, and fans continually call for an updated reason for Fredette’s struggles. James Ham from the Cowbell Kingdom gives the best answer.
“The story hasn’t changed. The quotes haven’t changed. The situation hasn’t changed. Jimmer Fredette is a work in progress. There will be nights where he plays a lot, a little, and sometimes, not at all," Ham writes. "The Kings hope that Jimmer Fredette is the future point guard of the Sacramento Kings. No disrespect to Isaiah Thomas or Tyreke Evans, but this is the plan. Unfortunately, that is not who Jimmer was coming out of BYU, and it is not who he is today, regardless of what BYU/Jimmer Fredette fans think.”
Head coach Keith Smart reiterated his plans for Fredette’s bright future.
"Jimmer is a point guard," Smart told Sacramento Bee reporter Ailene Voisin. "He sees things, he sees the floor, and we need that. We're asking him to be more aggressive, and when he has open shots, to take the open shots. But he will help us — there is no doubt in my mind."
Smart’s strategy of letting Fredette ease into his role with the Kings has been well criticized, but the coach notes that there are different intangibles that factor into playing time than strictly past success.
His team doesn't trust him yet. That's a big weight for a guy to be on the floor trying to play through something, and the team doesn't respect him yet.
–Keith Smart
"His team doesn't trust him yet," Smart told Sports Illustrated reporter Sam Amick. "That's a big weight for a guy to be on the floor trying to play through something, and the team doesn't respect him yet. Now once that player is strong enough to carry himself and be on the floor and be productive, you start to see the confidence from his team now coming to his side."
Fredette’s confidence and composure on the court have not been his only struggles. He hasn’t had the same support from his teammates that he did a year ago at BYU.
“Earlier in the season, they weren't feeling that because, quote-unquote, there's still a little jealousy in the air,” Smart said in Amick’s interview. “Here comes a guy who's high profile, (and) it has nothing to do with the player. But he's coming into the team, has been marketed (by) the team, and everyone else on the outside sees that, and players hear that too. But the player may not be ready for what he's getting ready to face."
One fan agrees that jealousy is a problem in Fredette gaining minutes. However, he feels that it is coming from the Kings headman, Smart. Tom Ziller from SacTown Royalty shares the Steve Alford Theory developed by commenter “wyocard.”
"I have no idea why he chooses not to play Jimmer, but it may have something to do with Steve Alford. Twenty-five years ago, Smart had to subordinate his own high-flying college career to Alford, a good-looking, articulate, popular white kid (can I say that?) who could really shoot. Smart may have hit the NCAA tournament-winning shot, but Alford was the reason that Indiana was even in the game, and he was a media darling who then had a mediocre pro career. I don't think Smart can let go of Steve Alford, and Jimmer will sit on the bench until either he is traded or Smart is fired — that simple."
All conspiracy theories aside, Fredette appears to be handling all of the drama better than his faithful fans and family.
It's been less challenging than people think. When I came into BYU my first year, it was almost the exact same thing.
–Jimmer Fredette on his lack of playing time
"Sometimes I have to text Jimmer after games so I feel good,” joked Al Fredette, Jimmer’s father, in Antonio Gonzalez's recent Associated Press article. "He handles it a lot better than the rest of us."
"It's been less challenging than people think," Fredette said. "When I came into BYU my first year, it was almost the exact same thing. And you have to bide your time, work as hard as you can every single day in practice, and try to get the trust of your coaching staff and your teammates so that they know that when you get on the floor, you're going to perform and you're going to perform well."
Don’t expect to see Fredette taking the game-winning shot tonight at ESA, but here’s hoping fans get to see him play.
