Apr 23, 2025 - News

"The time has come": Jimmer Fredette retires from basketball

Kim Bojórquez

Jimmer Fredette #32 of Shanghai Sharks reacts during 2020/2021 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League match between Beijing Royal Fighters and Shanghai Sharks. — Jimmer Fredette, 36, announced his retirement from basketball Wednesday. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Former BYU standout Jimmer Fredette on Wednesday announced his retirement from basketball, marking the end of a storied career that saw him play overseas and in the Olympics.

What he's saying: "I owe a lot of who I am today to this game and it's not easy to say goodbye as a player — but the time has come. And I'm excited for what's next in life," the 36-year-old wrote in an Instagram post.

Catch up quick: Fredette rose to fame playing for BYU from 2007-2011 before being picked 10th overall in the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks though he was then traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Yes, but: His success in college failed to translate in the NBA as he wound up playing for five teams in six seasons.

His last stop in the Association came during the 2018-19 season when he appeared in half a dozen games for the Phoenix Suns.

Zoom out: Fredette also played for the Shanghai Sharks in China and the Panathinaikos in Greece, per ESPN. In 2017, he won the Chinese Basketball Association's MVP award.

Fredette went on to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing the U.S. in 3x3 basketball.

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"The time has come": Jimmer Fredette retires from basketball

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