Despite a wildly successful college career, Jimmer Fredette hasn’t been able to do much in the NBA. He’s bounced around between Sacramento, Chicago and New Orleans without ever finding a consistent role, and he goes into this season in training camp with the Spurs. If there’s anywhere he can be successful, it’s there, and he says he worked out with one of the best point guards of the past decade, Chauncey Billups, this summer.
From CBSSports.com’s Ananth Pandian:What did you take away from working with Chauncey Billups this summer?
Fredette: That was awesome. Chauncey is such a great guy. I was grateful that he took the time to come out and to help me work on some different things. Mainly little things he’s learned throughout his career that could just help me that much more to help my career overall.
How did that come about? Did he reach out or did you?
Fredette: I live and work out in Denver in the offseason. He reached out to me and said that anytime you want to come over to my gym, I would be willing to help you out. So I pounced on it of course. Just the opportunity to learn from one of the best was awesome.Billups was a great shooter and playmaker, and always one of the most respected leaders wherever he played, so there aren’t many better people for a fringe player like Fredette to learn from as he fights to stay in the league. The Spurs are great at finding players on the scrap heap who have one or two skills and put them in the position to play to their strengths, so the hope is that in San Antonio, Fredette can flourish as a shooter.