In his previous four games before last night’s defeat to the Thunder, Fredette played a total of 16 minutes and received the dreaded DNP – Coach’s Decision twice. It is a mystery of sorts. A conundrum and honestly, Smart doesn’t want to hear about it.
“Every night somebody’s going to be out,” Smart said after a long sigh before Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. “It’s unfortunate, but those two games he was out. Let’s restart, reload and we move tonight.”
Smart doesn’t like the question. I can’t imagine that any coach enjoys having his coaching decisions nitpicked by the media, but we have to ask. He knows we have a job to do, but he doesn’t want to hear it. The question is tired and old. He is the coach and he will be the one who makes the decisions he feels best suit his team.
“They’re two different players right now,” said Smart yesterday when asked what Brooks gives the Kings that his second-year counterpart doesn’t. ”Aaron Brooks has played point guard his whole career. So Jimmer is still in transition trying to adjust to that. If you look at it from that standpoint, one is a point guard and one is still adjusting.”
The Kings have a glut of guards. Jimmer plays the guard position. There will be nights when he can capture lightning in a bottle and force Smart’s hand. But there will also be nights when he doesn’t make a quick impression on the game and he sits for long stretches.
Is Smart right to sit Jimmer? That’s not really for me to say. The kid has proven he’s an NBA player. He is a scoring machine and he provides spacing and perimeter shooting. Unfortunately, he’s lost in a numbers game.
It’s not what Jimmer fans want to hear. They point to the stats and say look, he is statistically better than almost every guard Smart plays in front of him.
And they are right. Statistically speaking, Fredette should be playing. Of the six guards on the Kings’ roster, only Tyreke Evans boasts a higher player efficiency rating than Jimmer Fredette (18.32 to 16.41). True shooting? Only Brooks has Jimmer beat at 57 percent to 56.4 percent. And on a team that struggles with spacing from the perimeter, not only does Jimmer lead the Kings in 3-point shooting at 43.8 percent, he is among the top 10 best long-range marksmen in the entire league.
I could keep going, but I’m not sure that we have to. Jimmer is an offensive weapon at the NBA level, no questions asked.
So what is the issue? The Kings have veteran players with proven track records that are standing in his way. An argument could be made that Jimmer is better than those playing in front of him, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
The decision lies with Smart. It is his team and he doesn’t want to address the issue.
So what does Jimmer do?
First and foremost, he needs to fight. On a team filled with selfish players, the strong-willed voices are being heard and he is not. The last thing Jimmer will ever be is the squeaky wheel, but his unselfish approach has once again led to him to become forgotten.
Jimmer is a scorer. He needs minutes and he needs shots to be effective. He has always had the ability to quiet the naysayers with his play, but he needs to use his words this time. He has to demand playing time and when he gets his shot, he has to demand the ball.
If his teammates don’t like it, he needs to tell them to look at the stats. He needs to tell them that he is one of the best shooters in the NBA and he can help them win.
While Jimmer continues to improve and continues to perform in limited minutes, he needs to understand that it’s up to him to stand up and make himself heard.
This may not be a popular idea. There will be people who say we’re blaming Jimmer for his inconsistent playing time, but that’s not the case. This is the reality. It can’t be the fans or members of the media who force change in this situation. This is about Smart and Jimmer and nothing else.
James Ham provides coverage through news analysis and in-depth interviews with Kings players and staff. James is also one of the producers behind the award-winning, independent documentary "Small Market, Big Heart". James graduated UC Davis with a degree in history and is happily married with two children.
Time to play him or trade him. Either the Kings are a playoff team and you play the players most likely to give you a chance to win each game or you play for your future status in the league. Are Isaiah Thomas and Aaron Brooks the key players in the Kings’ future success? Jimmer’s ability to spread the floor makes him a potentially valuable piece to match with Cousins and Tyreke. If you don’t believe that is true, trade him to someone that can use that skill set in their offense and get whatever value you can for him, minimizing the logjam in the backcourt at the same time. If you believe Jimmer is a valuable piece for your future, develop him. If you don’t, get him to a team that can use him and stop whining about a logjam.
Jimmer has played point guard his whole LIFE! If he was given the reins for a few games he could make some great things happen! Why not try it? You going to lose a chance to go to the playoffs? HAHA
Guest that agrees with Brad
Exactly. Does Smart think Jimmer played shooting guard in college and that’s why he scored so many points? Smart’s comment about Jimmer adjusting is about the belief that they want him to be a shooting guard – a three point specialist that spreads the court. Jimmer’s strength along with his deep shooting, is his constant improvement, court vision, and awareness. He doesn’t out jump or run people, but he can out smart them with his skills.
Acecog
Jimmer is too slow to be a point guard. He can not play defense. He has too many turnovers. He can not run an offense. He shoots too many shots. Abd therefore does not deserve more playing time.
Ricterr
You are so full of it it’s pathetic. What have you been watching anyhow? Such a crock!
spad
You are so clueless. Jimmer can break done any defender with his slick ball handling and change of pace dribbling. I don’t know what game you are watching but Jimmer tore up defenders in college and they would double and triple guard him. Ask ads coach Steve fisher about containing Jimmer. In the pros it should be easier because has to only beat his man. He won’t be double teamed. You quit listening to the haters because you sound clueless! comment here.
Well let’s just look at the statistics you mention since the other things are subjective and are a matter of opinion. You said he has too many turnovers—well according to the statistics the only guard on the team that averages less turnovers per game is Thorton @ .9–Jimmer is at 1.0. IT and Tyreke and all the other guards average more TO.
The other thing you mentioned is he shoots too many shots. That’s funny! You obviously don’t watch much or don’t mind watching the selfish gunners on this team fire up illadvised shots from everywhere on the floor. Once again look at the stats! The only guard that shoots less shots per game is Garcia and it’s a little less than 1 less shot per game. All the other guards shoot more shots than Jimmer. So check your facts next time before you speak (or type). Not to mention that’s what Coach Dumb told Jimmer he wants him to do this year is shoot more and be more selfish with the ball—something he doesn’t have to tell ANY of the other guards on the team!
Chacha
Did you read the article?
“Of the six guards on the Kings’ roster, only Tyreke Evans boasts a higher player efficiency rating than Jimmer Fredette (18.32 to 16.41)”.
There is a reason Sacramento is a joke of an NBA town. Poorly managed, poorly coached, and its fans who bash their first round draft pick who never gets more tha 12 minutes a game (in scrub time) to develop. Trust me that new management in Seattle will fix the log jam instead of whining about it in every media outlet.
Mike
let’s be honest…the kings are absolutely horrible. The team is made up of a bunch of one on one players and it appears to me that Keith Smart has NO idea what to do with this team. Keith seems like he is a nice guy but he has completely mismanaged the line up. You don’t even know who is going to start from night to night. He should at least play Jimmer significant minutes for a few games and see what he gets. This team is a wreck and it pains me to even watch them. Worst example of team basketball I have ever seen. Petrie is the most overrated GM out there. Really, what has he done! Nothing…he got lucky with the Webber deal but how long ago was that. He is missing in action just like the owners. Play Jimmer or let him go!!!!!!!!!! If you are going to use him, what are you losing if you trade him?
braineater000
You just proved how stupid you are.
guest
Let me coach the team for 3 games and i bet i would get better results than Smart. I wouldnt pay 5 bucks to see the type of basketball they are playing. i would rather go watch a high school game like i did last night…woodcreek over del oro by one point. Now that that entertaining and it cost me 5 bucks.
Ryan
Smart is just a terrible coach, and he is reluctant to discuss things that will increase his exposure as such. He has no understanding of rotations or effective lineups, so asking him to defend his haphazard arrangement of players is like asking a kindergartener why she chose a specific color palate for her fingerpainting activity.
Adamstillz
I really like hearing that edginess from keith. Jimmer doesn’t need to vocalize, he just needs to keep working on his defense and ball handling- the two areas where his relative athleticism/quickness is hurts him the most (see J.J. Redick, he made his career because of the work he put in to improve his defense and ball handling). If you know basketball, then you wouldn’t argue that jimmer is adjusting to the PG-play in the nba. Regardless of how much PG he’s played in the past, because he’s not quicker than anyone who’s guarding him, he has to keep working towards a comfort level that allows him to get the team into and all the way through the halfcourt sets. Watch how often jimmer turns his back from all the action as he tries to protect the ball and can’t see any of his teammates (or the defense). One day, maybe not too far in the future, when he’s improved those aspects of his game, there will really be no reason to keep him out of the rotation.
allbenji
I don’t think Jimmer is as great as “Jimmer fans” do but I do think he deserves time over Aaron Brooks. I don’t think Brooks is a bad player I just don’t know what he brings that Jimmer doesn’t at this point. Also people talk about this team being mismatches pieces but I still don’t feel the coach is putting the best combos together. Jimmer should get time with Reke, Salmons(I guess), T-Rob, & DMC. IT, Thornton, Hayes, & JT should get a lot of time together also. These are the best line-ups that will maximize each player’s talents.
Ironkickboxer
Isn’t Jimmer leading the league in points per minute played? I know he was leading the league not too long ago, but I haven’t kept up with the stats. Even if he’s not still leading, he’s got to be near the top. That fact/stat alone kind of flies in the face of Mr. Acecog
Ironkickboxer
Careful ChaCha… Criticize the team, but not the town…
You’ll never know until you give him an extended chance to prove you wrong … go check out his film from BYU. Give him an extended chance, then let the chips fall. What does Smart have to lose (except his job which he’s probably on the precipice of losing anyway)? Maybe he’ll be surprised at the results and, perhaps, keep his job!
Oscar Mink
Sorry Smart lovers, but I have always said Smart is one of the dumbest coaches in the NBA, if not #1 Dumb.
To have Jimmer and not play him 30 minutes a game off the bench is like having Kobe and not playing him 45 minutes a game from the tip.
Smart or Jimmer has to go. Smart to save the Kings; Jimmer to save himself.
As a big fan of Jimmer I think it is undeniable that he was very unprepared for the NBA last year. I saw moments where I thought he could cut it in this league but the jury was out. This year I will even go so far as to say that I thought that Coach Smart was bringing him along pretty well and protecting him from situations where he could look bad. At times I did think though that Coach did not have a clue which I know for sure now. Folks, Jimmer is not ever going to be at his best as a point guard in the NBA though he will play some at that position. The game has changed. Ideally, as you can see he works the best with another ball handler, like many other teams operate, where he cans till be a playmaker which he is good at, but he has been his best with Reke, and IT earlier in the year where he can spread the floor. Reke had grown too and they seem to work well together. And forget about not having a quick enough release and not being a catch and shoot player. Problem solved this year, But last night I believe that Smart was hoping to throw Jimmer to the wolves anticipating a rough outing instead of letting him play with the first team and Reke or something sensible. Instead, Jimmer and MT, and no disrespect to Marcus, but what kind of combination is that? Without doubt, Smart’s whole sale rotatation changes instead of individual subbing is very detrimental. Smart’s arrogance is really getting tiresome.
Jliddmed
I agree, it’s time Jimmer stood up against his coach and his selfish teammates. Their inability to pass the ball is the joke of the league. Jimmer tries to run an offense, run the pick and roll, gets told he is not a point guard, because he can score… Just stupid… He looks for his teammates more than anyone on the team.. Doesn’t that sound like a point guard?
Anyways, I just wanna dish some love Mr. Hamm for writing this, way to go man! It’s about time somebody took at least a moderate stand for jimmer.. Besides the fans that is.
Just updated this blog with more accurate formula and minutes played.
http://twitter.com/getjimmered Buy Jimmer Shirts
JUST TRADE HIM. Smart’s an idiot – he has a “proven track record” too, just ask Jeremy Lin.Once Jimmer gets on a team that has a true NBA Coach and a true NBA style team (not a bunch of ball-hogging me guys), he’ll play the role he’s meant to play and see the minutes he deserves.Luckily I’m not a die-hard Kings fan so I could care less if they make the playoffs, but I did see Jimmer dominate games against quality competition in college and have seen spurts of that in the NBA too; however, the lack of playing time and consistency of his teammates to get him the ball when he’s WIDE OPEN is only continuing to hold him back.#FREEJIMMER by trading him!
wyocard
You are wrong on every point.
Christian
Love the Kings, HATE Keith Smart he has no idea how to manage this lineup. Jimmer is the best player on the team and can control the game and spark momentum when needed. If the current situation isn’t working, and it isn’t, why not let Jimmer start and see what he can do. Let’s be honest, it’s not like anything else could go wrong. If they aren’t going to play him, trade him! I’m a huge Kings and Jimmer fan but he does not deserve to sit on the bench on one of the worst teams in the NBA.
http://twitter.com/getjimmered Buy Jimmer Shirts
Acecog – “shoots too many shots”? Are you a “Smart idiot” too? When he shoots, it’s goes in 56.4 percent of the time – he should shoot even MORE and maybe the Kings would win a few more. I’d like to see proof that he lacks defensive ability. I think he’s been labeled with that but it’s really not that true. I mean, who’s going to stop Dwayne Wade and some of the best guards Jimmer goes up against? No one except a team that knows how to play good help defense – and the Kings aren’t that team.
wyocard
Jimmer is near the top in pts/min, is # 7 now in 3pt%, leads the league in FT%. He also has one of the highest PER’s among NBA guards. But more than any of that is how game dynamics change when he enters the game. Because he is always a threat to score from a deep three (known around the world as a “Jimmer”), he gets very tight coverage on the perimeter which spreads the floor and opens up scoring opportunities for teammates. Problem is, his selfish teammates won’t pass the ball to him to set up that scenario. Coach Smart must not study game films.
playhimortradehim
Looks like you obviously haven’t watched him since college…watch some highlights from the 4-6 minutes a game he gets to play. He blows past people and lays it up. He plays defense, gets steals, disrupts shots, and his his long-range shots. This opens up the field for the rest of the team where he then gets assists left and right. The last time I checked he had more steals/minute than any player on the Kings, and only Tyreke had more assists/min. And no, he doesn’t take too many shots, he barely gets ANY shots in the 6 minutes he gets a game. And when he shoots a lot, with RARE exceptions, he scores in buckets.
Chalobrown
I find it hilarious that Coach Smart’s excuse to not play Jimmer is that he is “developing” him, that he is “teaching” him the NBA game, that Jimmer’s “defense” needs work. Jimmer is a gem, and I hope another team gets a chance to use him. Jimmer can light any team up, all the while making his teammates better. Which is typically a good thing in basketball. But, apparently the King Organization believes in one-on-one basketball, and shoot first// pass second. So frustrating.
http://twitter.com/bchillington Bryce Miller
I don’t think Jimmer can effectively play point guard at this level. He seems to succeed playing off the ball as more of a catch-and-shoot type of guy. His play on the court has significantly improved this season and, consequently, he does deserve more playing time. A DNP-CD is not right for this guy.
Skeptic Rina
Drop the heavy load he carries around called being Mormon, and maybe just maybe he can play some real ball.
braineater000
Your ignorance is astounding.
KingsFan
Acecog (aka Aaron Brooks) I understand why you would say that but it’s simply not true.
DREW77
We should also note that Jimmer leads in all of these statistical categories while coming off of the bench cool. What would happen if he started and was able to be a primary option? I have heard people mention that in the past he didn’t play defense, but that is not the case anymore! He consistently plays better defense than the other guards in the line-up. Also, he is way more of a point guard than even brooks. Look at the +- when he is in the game. The team consistently performs better when he is at the point guard position. Less turnovers, more easy baskets, etc. When Jimmer comes in, he spreads the floor and is legitimate outside and penetrating scoring threat. It’s clear that he sees the court better than almost anyone on this selfish team. It is clear to me now that Smart is intentionally trying to shut Jimmer down as there can be no BBall reasoning to his lack of playing time. Free Jimmer please!!
Steve_luvs_kings
last i checked everyone is committing turnovers…that is why they are playing so bad…everyone’s defense is terrible, and as far as shooting, you are kidding right? that is why they put him in. And his percentage proves it. I will agree that he is not as quick. but he compensates and knows how to score
http://www.facebook.com/xstuartbarrettx Stuart Barrett
Wrong. He has the highest efficiency rating on the team. You make a trade off. A guy who can score and play medocre D, for a guy who can score (inconsistently) and play better D. The team is already losing like every other game. It’s time to get him a chance. They drafted him at 10 for God sakes… give him a chance to play his heart out.
Mgrealdeals
James Ham…GREAT article..You have said what SO may other refuse to say or simply ignore…
THANK YOU
Kieth “smart” is a LIAR… and much worse….The fact is he Hates Jimmer Fredette and will NEVER give him a fair shake..He cant completely shut Fredette down the way he shut Jeremy Lin down in GS because of Fredette’s pedigree and fan base…Also the clear fact that Fredette has time and time again crushed NBA teams with his prolific scoring and excellent passing…only to sat down the rest of the game by his “coach”..
I have been a basketball fan for 40 yrs and have never seen such obvious bias against a player …The fact that more people dont say it or write about it is puzzling.”smart” is determined to destroy Fredette and his confidence in his game. He will never succeed as the kid is too good…I have watched almost every Kings game he past 2 yrs ( I’m a masochist ) and have been amazed that the guy gets away with his treastment of Fredette.
Right now Fredette When Fredette
plays more than 20 minutes, he averages 16.8 points . Aaron Brooks averages
9.2 points in 24.2 minutes, and Isaiah Thomas gets 9.9 points in 19.5
minutes..
On top of that, as you mentioned Fredette spreads the floor and immediately injects a flow to the game that is obvious. He knows how to get the ball moving has excellent instincts and when he is shooting well it is lights out..
Fredette IS one of the best shooters in the league.Last week he ranked 3rd in points per 48 minutes and 5th in PER for PG’s..
then saw 2 dnp’s..
This is a disgrace..
I LOVED when you asked him about the what Aaron Brooks brings that Jimmer doesn’t…He use to answer something about”matchups” but now Fredette is outplaying Brooks and Thomas on defense so threw out this lame excuse that Jimmer is new to the point guard position and has to adjust…LMAO
Fredette has been playing PG his entire life….
Thank You for your article and being a stand up guy ..What is happening here is a travesty.
Mgrealdeals
your brain is slow..Ok coach “smart” now tell us your game plan of how you are going to blow yet another big lead tonight while you sit one of the best offensive weapons in the league..and end up getting one more Embarrassing loss..
you manufacture losses better than anyone I have ever seen
Piccadillycrossing
Hello Acecog, he has the second highest efficiency rating on the team. Fact!!
CoachE
Seriously?!? Check the stats. He is not too slow to run the point position, but he will not be able to guard their quickest guard – often the PG. Other than that. check the stats.
Earl
Bottom Line, Fredette sucks, Smart knows it, so he gets little playing time. If he is indeed the franchise player his fans claim he is then let him show it in his limited minutes and when he can’t then quit blaming everyone in earshot for his coming up short.
Jim
Along as your talking about people who are overrated, include jimmer on that list, he is the most hyped basketball player in existence.
Bugs
Save your money, buy out his contract, then you can have him all to yourself.
Seabisquit
I believe the point made repatedly above is that with limited minutes the stats indicate he is showing he should be paying a major role. I watched one game to see him and could not be to see a tem play basketball in that manner again.
Deacon93
While I like Jimmer, and he has shown flashes of excellence, the bottom line is that he is not a point guard, at least not at the NBA level. He is a shoot-first, pass-second guard, and those guys don’t make it at point in the NBA. Secondly, and I think this is actually the bigger issue, Jimmer is weak defensively. He simply could not cover 80% of the point guards in the NBA night-in and night-out. If you can’t play solid defense you won’t see much playing time in the NBA. Jimmer might be able to average 15-20 points a game with enough playing time, but most of the guys he would be guarding would score 20-25. Bottom line, there’s so much more to being a starter in the NBA than scoring points.
Hoopla
I stumbled on this blog after googling Jimmer. I am a nuggets fan watching them play the Kings tonight. This post and comments reminds me of the blog posts about Tebow …. Bringing up his college career as proof that he is a good pro, complaints about the coaches, claims that he just needs, on and on and on. My take … Fredette is a two guard, a small one at that. His biggest issue is he is a poor defender just like the rest of the Kings.
Chaca
True dat. These jimmer haters got me thinking stupid stuff. Love me some Sac Town
Ironkickboxer
Earl, pull you head out. Read the comments. In his limited minutes he HAS “proven” himself time and again. Instead of saying “scoreboard,” all one has to say (and it has been said repeatedly in this comment section here and in comments all over Sac Town) is “statsheet.” You are obviously an out of towner who doesn’t follow the King’s much. Either that, or you are the only guy in NorCal saying that Smart knows anything!!!! He’s an idiot!!!! My guess is that you are one of those Salt Lake City Morons who has some kind of ax to grind due to your ridiculous Utah subculture.
MVW
Not particularly a “Jimmer fan,” but there is one reason I want to see him in there. He is an exciting player that makes the team more fun to watch, even if the team is down big. And unlike some of the other players I am watching on this team, he actually gives a crap. He always plays hard and he’s unselfish. Sure he may not always make the best decisions, but since the season is a lost cause, I’ll put up with his growing pains because he makes the Kings an interesting to watch when he’s on the floor.
I feel like Sacramento basketball is in the same funk it was in the late 90′s. But then they got a guy named Jason Williams who was fun to watch and got the town excited about basketball again. Sure he made his share of young mistakes (pull-up 3′s on breaks, careless showtime passes, etc) I started tuning in to more games back then because of him. Fans started coming to games, Acro became the most intimidating NBA venue, free agents warmed up to the idea of playing in Sactown, and the Kings were a corrupt official away from being in the finals.
Of course J-Will wasn’t the only reason for all those good things happening in Sacramento, but don’t underestimate the spark an exciting player can have on a team and its fans. I really think Mr. Fredette can be a similar catalyst needed so badly right now for Kings Basketball. Jeez, at least give him a shot, at this point there’s nothing to lose.
Knights_Lance
I think the bottom line here is that, SMART ISN’T VERY SMART! Jimmer is a super star, and where does the not so smart Smart have him… on the bench.
Knights_Lance
Over-hyped players don’t have stats iike Jimmers, Jim. He has the best all around stats by far of any guard on the team. If Smart were smart, he’d start Jimmer.
Knights_Lance
You obviously have not watched Jimmer play.. he has a mean cross-over that jukes players out of their tennies. He’s smart and unflappable! You say he shoots too much… do you even know what you’re talking about? Jimmer averages well over 50% on his shots from inside the arc, and outside he bombs the 3′s at 46% Thse are facts, kid… and they are great! At that high percentage, you should be thankful for all those great shots.
A_csibi
Keith Smart is a racist. That’s the only way i can rationalize his decisions, the way Jimmer was playing.
A_csibi
Because Keith Smart is a racist.
Mgrealdeals
James Ham…GREAT article..You have said what SO may
other refuse to say or simply ignore…
THANK YOU
Kieth “smart” is lying… and much
worse….The fact is he Hates Jimmer Fredette and will NEVER give him a fair
shake..He cant completely shut Fredette down the way he shut Jeremy Lin down in
GS because of Fredette’s pedigree and fan base…Also the clear fact that
Fredette has time and time again crushed NBA teams with his prolific scoring
and excellent passing…only to sat down the rest of the game by his
“coach”..
I have been a basketball fan for 40 yrs and have never
seen such obvious bias against a player …The fact that more people dont say
it or write about it is puzzling.”smart” is determined to destroy
Fredette and his confidence in his game. He will never succeed as the kid is
too good…I have watched almost every Kings game he past 2 yrs ( I’m a
masochist ) and have been amazed that the guy gets away with his treastment
of Fredette.
When Fredette plays more than 20 minutes, he averages 16.8 points .
Aaron Brooks averages 9.2 points in 24.2 minutes, and Isaiah Thomas gets 9.9
points in 19.5 minutes..
On top of that, as you mentioned
Fredette spreads the floor and immediately injects a flow to the game that is
obvious. He knows how to get the ball moving has excellent instincts and when
he is shooting well it is lights out..
Fredette IS one of the best shooters in
the league.Last week he ranked 3rd in points per 48 minutes and 5th in PER for
PG’s..# 1 in Free Throw shooting
then saw 2 dnp’s..
This is a disgrace..
I LOVED when you asked “smart” about the
what Aaron Brooks brings that Jimmer doesn’t…He use to answer something
about”matchups” but now Fredette is outplaying Brooks and Thomas on
defense so threw out this lame excuse that Jimmer is new to the point guard
position and has to adjust… He’s running out of answers and Fredette will only continue to get better..
He is a class act and NEVER complains…how he does it I dont understand but I hope he does speak up or his agent ..or maybe an assistant coach or a teammate….
Fredette has been playing PG his entire
life….
Thank You for your article and
being a stand up guy ..What is happening here is a travesty.
Mgrealdeals
It was all Hype when he averaged almost 30 pts per game in the NCAA.
And averaged 40+ points per game against ranked teams in the NCAA.
Its all Hype that He avgs over 16 pts per game when playing 20 minutes or more.in the NBA.
Its all hype that he is in the top 10 in the NBA in 3 pt shooting.
All hype that he is the # 1 Free Throw shooter in the league
All Hype that his PER is MUCH higher than Thomas’ or Brooks”
All hype that he has scored 10 or more points in a Quarter at least 10 X including 15 points 2 X.
JIm YOUR comment is ALL hype…
Ironkickboxer
The simple fact is this… Smart is not playing Fredette because he is white.
Reverse racism is alive, well, and very unfortunately, is very socially acceptable.
Sad…
Orvinsfurniture
Coach smart will hopefully be fired soon due to poor performance. Maybe the next coach will have a clue.
Tolpeople
Can you say bigotry? Jimmer is the only white kid on the floor, and the other players rarely look at him, let alone throw the ball to him. He looks absolutely miserable most of the time. Just because it’s politically incorrect to call black people racist doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Black coach, black players, new white kid who never plays despite his talent.
Fire Smart, who apparently can’t teach teamwork, or trade Jimmer. I’ve never seen worse basketball. The Kings are embarrassing to watch.
cb
What has Smart done for the team? Nothing. Play Fredette, send Smart to the next unemployment line.
17158
He has a higher PER than most of these players and he does that with the least amt of playing time. And everyone knows that it’s hard to get any consistency when you don’t know if and when you’ll get in, it’s hard to come in and perform in the 2 to 3 min they give you. And the fact that he has say’s a lot. The other point guards have more experience then he does at point yes and yet there not really any better should tell you something. Bottom line is Smart is NOT a good coach, they don’t win, they don’t play defense at all, they had a much better coach that they let go last year. Just one of many stupid on going mistakes by a bad organization.
DREW77
I heard someone say that Jimmer is not a Point Guard at the NBA level, but a shooting guard. While it is true that he can score at will, which is unlike many point guards, it is also true that he sees the floor at a very high level! He averages more assists while playing point guard than the other two points on the roster. Since when has Thomas ever not been a bottomless hole? This is what makes Jimmer such a threat. He can score, handle the ball, and produce from the point position! The NBA is all about mismatches and that is what he gives you. Just look at other scoring point guards like Westbrook, or other big men who play like wings such as Nowitski and Durrant! You have to be a threat all of the time in the NBA.
We should also remember that Coach Smart was the one who sent Jeremy Lin to the D-League twice!! He’s obviously great at judging guard talent!
Gstev23
Folks been watchin jimmer play since his high school days and every coach along the way doubted jimmers abilities. Today there’s only 1 coach doubting his ability As i have told fans along the way just sit back and watch this kid operate he is the most enjoyable basketball player i’ve ever watched play the game. His range is limitless nis smarts beyond years and it is just a travesty that jimmer fredette is not getting a prolonged amount of time on the basketball floor to show what he can do. Yes he will make mistakes and look bad on occasion but more often than not he brings way more positives to the basketball floor than negatives. It is an absolute shame that the sac kings fan aren’t able to enjoy jimmers talents/smarts which in turn would provide winning basketball. I just can’t believe coaches are looking past this guy. He’s as determined as anyone to bring winning to his team.
Thenrie
The Kings would be better off than they are to trade Smart and all of his starting players and keep Jimmer to build a team around. Smart is a misnomer if ever there was one.
What I’d really like to happen is to see the Mavs pick Jimmer up. He would fit right into their style of play.
RogerGornichec
Here’s the deal: Jimmer Fredette is most likely the only person associated with the entire Kings organization (including the owners, management, coaches, other players, broadcasters, etc.) that has the basketball skill sets, athleticism, work ethic, honesty, integrity, appreciation, leadership, motivational skills, inspiration and the physical and mental strength to turn this train wreck of a team into something special. Every organization needs people with these skills and strengths but not all organizations have people with these skills and strengths. So…..when you have someone that is quite extraordinary why would you choose to let them work only 1/3 of the day (14-15 minutes)?
Honestly, is there anyone else that even comes close to Jimmer? I think not.
The words coming out of the mouth of Coach Smart from interviews like this one and the decisions that he makes over the course of almost every game seem to be spoken or determined by an alarmingly low level of job responsibility (winning games) accepted by him and the seemingly unconscious willingness to magnify his own inabilities by inflicting, with what appears to be, malice and sarcasm upon others around him.
Joann N Bob
Jimmer wants to be traded, he’s a spot up shooter on a team that doesn’t know how to pass and share the ball. Jimmer will win in the end, he always does!
lefennec
I hear this team is going to Seattle. That city loves their basketball and will want results. Time to get the ‘right’ results.
Tthompsont3
It’s only hype when it’s not supported by the numbers. Jim will you please define hype for me? I must not understand.
http://twitter.com/chasefuller4 chase fuller
i like this… well written
http://twitter.com/chasefuller4 chase fuller
what… he is as underrated as underrated gets u moron… leads the nba in ft%, top ten in 3 point %, top ten in the nba all year in points per min… and he plays 12 F****** min a night….. and he’s overrated…. idiot
http://twitter.com/chasefuller4 chase fuller
stoooooopid idiot….. his assist to turnover ratio is as good as brooks and thomas…. next….
http://twitter.com/chasefuller4 chase fuller
i know for a damn fact i would
Gstev23
Wanna keep basketball in Sacramento allow jimmer fredette to go lead his basketball team FOR EXTENDED MINUTES allowing him to play through mistakes and running offensive plays that get him open then PASS THE BALL TO HIM then you will see what kind of attendance you’ll have. Might be surprised just like every person running to the tv set a couple of years ago. THIS GUY HAS RIDICULOUS RANGE. Might just wanna try a little different scheme with sac basketball. Oh by the way he does look for open players also. You’re kiddin yourself by leavin this guy on the bench wastin away.
Mgrealdeals
James Ham…GREAT article..You have said what SO may other refuse to say or simply ignore…
THANK YOU ..Please keep it up…You know Jimmer is going to continue to play better and better and “smart” not playing him is becoming more and more of a bad joke…Kieth “smart” is a LIAR… and much worse….The fact is he Hates Jimmer Fredette and will NEVER give him a fair shake..No matter how great Fredette plays he will never see a consisten 30 mins of PT. He cant completely shut Fredette down the way he shut Jeremy Lin down in GS because of Fredette’s pedigree and fan base…Also the clear fact that Fredette has time and time again crushed NBA teams with his prolific scoring and excellent passing…only to be sat down the rest of the game by his “coach”.. I have been a basketball fan for 40 yrs and have never seen such obvious bias against a player …The fact that more people dont say it or write about it is puzzling.”smart” is determined to destroy Fredette and his confidence in his game. He will never succeed as the kid is too good…I have watched almost every Kings game he past 2 yrs ( I’m a masochist ) and have been amazed that the guy gets away with his treastment of Fredette.What is puzzling is how No assistant coaches, tv or radio announcers, or teammates say ANYTHING about Fredette putting up such great numbers but receiving so little Playing Time.Right now, When Fredetteplays more than 20 minutes, he averages 16.8 points .Aaron Brooks averages 9.2 points in 24.2 minutes Isaiah Thomas gets 9.9 points in 19.5
minutes..On top of that, as you mentioned Fredette spreads the floor and immediately injects a flow to the game that is obvious. He knows how to get the ball moving has excellent instincts and when he is shooting well it is lights out..Despite the fact that he is OFTEN overlooked while wide open.Fredette IS one of the best shooters in the league.Last week he ranked 3rd in points per 48 minutes and 5th in PER for PG’s in the NBAthen he saw 2 dnp’s..This is a disgrace..I LOVED when you asked “smart” about the what Aaron Brooks brings that Jimmer doesn’t…He use to answer something about”matchups” but now Fredette is outplaying Brooks and Thomas on defense so threw out this lame excuse that Jimmer is new to the point guard position and has to adjust…LMAOFredette has been playing PG his entire life….Thank You for your article and being a stand up guy ..What is happening here is a travesty.Like
Reply
Bugs
Send him back to the NCAA, he can’t do the job here.
bewhyute
Keith Smart needs to change his last name.
guest
Jimmer is never going to complain about playing time, it’s just not his nature. The reason he’ll eventually break through and become a star is his attitude, almost nothing bothers him and he just focuses on getting better.
I think the main reason he’s not playing is the rudderless ownership, not Smart. The Maloofs just don’t care, and that attitude filters down to the rest of the organization. If Mark Cuban or another good owner was in charge, there’s no question Jimmer would be playing a lot more, as his numbers are up there with some of the league’s best on a per-minute basis. The defense part is a poor excuse, none of their other guards play better defense. Plus with the league rules these days where contact isn’t allowed on the perimeter, nobody really plays shut-down defensive on top perimeter players anyway.
guest
Yes, ownership is terrible, but Sacramento has great fans, it’s a small city but their fans are better than ones in much larger cities.
Cougs837
Talk about being an uneducated wannabe sports guy eh JIM!?
Guest22
Jimmer would be a good productive player on an NBA team that plays un-selfish team basketball. Sacramento is at the other end of the spectrum – probably the most selfish team in the league (everyone has got to ‘get theirs’) and adding to it every day (Aaron Brooks anyone?)
This team is just a horrible fit for Jimmer and he for it. He’ll likely be a better more productive/creative version of a player like JJ Reddick once he gets onto a decent team. Honestly if it weren’t for the Kings existing most of their roster would be out of work (or possibly be sitting bench for GS).
df4liife
James Ham…GREAT article..You have said what SO may other refuse to say or simply ignore…
THANK YOU Kieth “smart” is a LIAR… and much worse….The fact is he Hates Jimmer Fredette and will NEVER give him a fair shake..He cant completely shut Fredette down the way he shut Jeremy Lin down in GS because of Fredette’s pedigree and fan base…Also the clear fact that Fredette has time and time again crushed NBA teams with his prolific scoring and excellent passing…only to sat down the rest of the game by his “coach”.. I have been a basketball fan for 40 yrs and have never seen such obvious bias against a player …The fact that more people dont say it or write about it is puzzling.”smart” is determined to destroy Fredette and his confidence in his game. He will never succeed as the kid is too good…I have watched almost every Kings game he past 2 yrs ( I’m a masochist ) and have been amazed that the guy gets away with his treastment of Fredette.Right now Fredette When Fredette
plays more than 20 minutes, he averages 16.8 points . Aaron Brooks averages
9.2 points in 24.2 minutes, and Isaiah Thomas gets 9.9 points in 19.5
minutes..On top of that, as you mentioned Fredette spreads the floor and immediately injects a flow to the game that is obvious. He knows how to get the ball moving has excellent instincts and when he is shooting well it is lights out..Fredette IS one of the best shooters in the league.Last week he ranked 3rd in points per 48 minutes and 5th in PER for PG’s..then saw 2 dnp’s..This is a disgrace..I LOVED when you asked him about the what Aaron Brooks brings that Jimmer doesn’t…He use to answer something about”matchups” but now Fredette is outplaying Brooks and Thomas on defense so threw out this lame excuse that Jimmer is new to the point guard position and has to adjust…LMAOFredette has been playing PG his entire life….Thank You for your article and being a stand up guy ..What is happening here is a travesty.
Thank you. Slow and not atheletic. He is not Larry Bird. Larry Bird was 6 9 and fearless. And passed like no one else. This guy is slow, plays no D and jacks shots all night.
Give me a break with the hype machine. He aint blowin past NOBODY!
Jimmer is slow and jacks a bunch of shots. No D and cannot handle the point in the NBA. Stop slobbering over him. He is not Larry Bird or even Ryan Anderson (who can ball by the way)
df4liife
HA ha ha ..At LEAST 10 X this year Fredette has scored 10 pts or more in a quarter or less. 15pts 2X…..He blows by ANY NBA defender with ease,,He has one of the best crossovers on the planet….His defense is now above avg for an NBA pg (had 2 steals in 12 min the other day) and he is constantly being lauded for his defense play by tv announcers…..
A MUCH better defender than Thomas..
He is not Larry Bird. …….He IS Steve Nash
Just wait until he gets to play for a real coach and a real NBA team…Its gonna be 25ppg and 7 to 10 assists…
Mel
Let’s face it: the reason Jimmer isn’t getting playing time is because the coach and every other guard is black, and Jimmer isn’t. It wouldn’t matter if he were as snow-white as he is, or if he were hispanic/latino, asian, or native American, since he’s not black, the black coach doesn’t want to play whitey, and take the spotlight off of his ‘brothers.’ Even if it means losing games.
Why is the sports media ignoring this obvious situation? If Jimmer were black, and the coach and other guards were all white, the sports media would talk of nothing else. But if the racism is against a white kid, screw him. He’s only a white boy. Whitey can rot on the bench.
The fact that nobody is talking about this obvious case of racism is in and of itself, racist.
It’s time for Jimmer Fredette to speak up
87So what is the deal with Jimmer Fredette?
With the exception of yesterday’s loss to Oklahoma City, the Kings second-year guard out of BYU has seemingly fallen out of Keith Smart‘s rotation yet again.
In his previous four games before last night’s defeat to the Thunder, Fredette played a total of 16 minutes and received the dreaded DNP – Coach’s Decision twice. It is a mystery of sorts. A conundrum and honestly, Smart doesn’t want to hear about it.
“Every night somebody’s going to be out,” Smart said after a long sigh before Wednesday’s game against the Phoenix Suns. “It’s unfortunate, but those two games he was out. Let’s restart, reload and we move tonight.”
Smart doesn’t like the question. I can’t imagine that any coach enjoys having his coaching decisions nitpicked by the media, but we have to ask. He knows we have a job to do, but he doesn’t want to hear it. The question is tired and old. He is the coach and he will be the one who makes the decisions he feels best suit his team.
Smart has a default answer for this question. He points to Isaiah Thomas, Aaron Brooks, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and even veteran Francisco Garcia as the reason for Fredette’s lack of playing time.
“They’re two different players right now,” said Smart yesterday when asked what Brooks gives the Kings that his second-year counterpart doesn’t. ”Aaron Brooks has played point guard his whole career. So Jimmer is still in transition trying to adjust to that. If you look at it from that standpoint, one is a point guard and one is still adjusting.”
The Kings have a glut of guards. Jimmer plays the guard position. There will be nights when he can capture lightning in a bottle and force Smart’s hand. But there will also be nights when he doesn’t make a quick impression on the game and he sits for long stretches.
Is Smart right to sit Jimmer? That’s not really for me to say. The kid has proven he’s an NBA player. He is a scoring machine and he provides spacing and perimeter shooting. Unfortunately, he’s lost in a numbers game.
It’s not what Jimmer fans want to hear. They point to the stats and say look, he is statistically better than almost every guard Smart plays in front of him.
And they are right. Statistically speaking, Fredette should be playing. Of the six guards on the Kings’ roster, only Tyreke Evans boasts a higher player efficiency rating than Jimmer Fredette (18.32 to 16.41). True shooting? Only Brooks has Jimmer beat at 57 percent to 56.4 percent. And on a team that struggles with spacing from the perimeter, not only does Jimmer lead the Kings in 3-point shooting at 43.8 percent, he is among the top 10 best long-range marksmen in the entire league.
I could keep going, but I’m not sure that we have to. Jimmer is an offensive weapon at the NBA level, no questions asked.
So what is the issue? The Kings have veteran players with proven track records that are standing in his way. An argument could be made that Jimmer is better than those playing in front of him, but it seems to fall on deaf ears.
The decision lies with Smart. It is his team and he doesn’t want to address the issue.
So what does Jimmer do?
First and foremost, he needs to fight. On a team filled with selfish players, the strong-willed voices are being heard and he is not. The last thing Jimmer will ever be is the squeaky wheel, but his unselfish approach has once again led to him to become forgotten.
Jimmer is a scorer. He needs minutes and he needs shots to be effective. He has always had the ability to quiet the naysayers with his play, but he needs to use his words this time. He has to demand playing time and when he gets his shot, he has to demand the ball.
If his teammates don’t like it, he needs to tell them to look at the stats. He needs to tell them that he is one of the best shooters in the NBA and he can help them win.
While Jimmer continues to improve and continues to perform in limited minutes, he needs to understand that it’s up to him to stand up and make himself heard.
This may not be a popular idea. There will be people who say we’re blaming Jimmer for his inconsistent playing time, but that’s not the case. This is the reality. It can’t be the fans or members of the media who force change in this situation. This is about Smart and Jimmer and nothing else.
Jonathan Santiago also contributed to this story.
About the Author
James Ham provides coverage through news analysis and in-depth interviews with Kings players and staff. James is also one of the producers behind the award-winning, independent documentary "Small Market, Big Heart". James graduated UC Davis with a degree in history and is happily married with two children.
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