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PARIS The first sign that the U.S. mens 3×3 team would not have Jimmer Fredette Thursday against Lithuania came during player introductions.
When the PA announcer introduced Fredette, the American star limped slowly and gingerly out of the tunnel.
Fredette remained rooted to a folding chair for the entirety of his team’s 20-18 loss to Lithuania, watching helplessly as the U.S. fell to 0-3 in group play at the Paris Olympics. He described himself as “game to game” with a left leg injury after the game but declined further comment.
Fredette initially suffered the injury with about three minutes remaining in the U.S.s loss to Poland on Wednesday night. A trainer massaged Fredette’s left upper thigh as the former BYU star visibly winced in pain.
Though Fredette returned to Wednesday’s game against Poland, the 35-year-old did not move like his usual self. USA Basketball offered no update on his condition after the game, but teammate Kareem Maddox told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday night that he was not too concerned.
I guarantee you hell be playing tomorrow, Maddox added.
Turned out Maddox was overly optimistic.
The U.S. arrived in Paris as one of the favorites to win mens 3×3 gold in Paris, but its difficult to imagine the Americans even medaling without Fredette. Not only was he their best player and offensive engine during Olympic qualifying, his absence leaves the U.S. with no available substitutes and forces Canyon Barry, Dylan Travis and Maddox to play every minute.
Two summers ago, when USA Basketballs Fran Fraschilla approached Fredette about playing 3×3 basketball, he accepted the invitation for one major reason. As soon as I heard Olympics, I was like, I’m all in, Fredette said earlier this summer. I saw this as the opportunity of a lifetime.
The hotly anticipated Jimmermania revival tour, though, hasnt come to fruition. The former BYU folk hero scored just four points in the U.S.s opening loss to Serbia on Tuesday night and then had three points on Wednesday against Poland.