On April 24, former NBA player and CBA Shanghai men’s basketball team former foreign aid Jimmer Fredette (Jimmer Fredette), officially announced his retirement on social media, ending his 14-year long professional basketball career. The shooter, once known as the “Lonely God” among Chinese fans, finally said goodbye.
From the first shot, I fell in love with basketball.
In his retirement statement, Fredette fondly recalled the story of his relationship with basketball. He said that the first time he and his brother shot a basketball outdoors as a child, he watched the basketball go right into the basket, and that moment, he became deeply interested in basketball.
He loves the sense of rhythm and regularity that basketball brings. Practicing every day became part of his life, and he gained joy and satisfaction from it. As he grew up, the encouragement of his family, coaches and friends kept him on the path to a professional career. He excelled in high school and eventually earned a scholarship to Brigham Young University.
He made a name for himself in college and realized his dream by entering the NBA.
During his college years, Fredette exceeded many expectations. Not only did he become the leading scorer in the National Collegiate Basketball Association (NCAA), but he also led his team to four national championships, including one trip to the Sweet Sixteen. His outstanding performance earned him the title of National Player of the Year.
In 2011, Fredette finally realized his childhood dream of being selected with the 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft to play at the highest level of basketball in the world. It was a huge recognition for him and the culmination of years of hard work.
The road to the NBA is not smooth, China has become a new stage.
However, the road to the NBA was not as smooth as imagined. Fredette recalls that he experienced a lot of ups and downs in his five years in the NBA. Sometimes there can be a brilliant performance, but also often sitting on the bench, and even some games not being able to play at all. In the face of these difficulties, he did not give up, but continued to work hard.
After that, the Shanghai men’s basketball team of the Chinese CBA league invited him. This opened another door for him. He said that he came to China with a determined attitude, and the result also proved that it was the right decision.
During his time in China, he led the Shanghai team to the playoffs every year, was named to the CBA All-Star team three times and won the All-Star MVP once, an experience that he says dramatically changed the direction of his career and is a fond memory.
Of course, being away from his family for so long wasn’t easy either.
Triple Basketball brings new challenges, fulfills Olympic dream.
After leaving the CBA, Fredette said goodbye to five-man basketball for a while. Just when everyone thought he was done with basketball, the U.S. National Triple Basketball Team invited him to join them.
The sport made him feel the joy of challenge again. He had to relearn, adapt and improve under a brand new set of rules. This new endeavor ignited his passion for basketball.
Eventually, his three-man basketball team became the No. 1 team in the world, and he himself rose to the No. 1 position in the world. He led the team to the Tokyo Olympics, a dream that was unthinkable for him as a child, and now it has finally come true.
Basketball brings more than honors.
In this retirement letter, Fredette emphasizes that basketball has not only brought him honor and success, but has also taught him many important life principles. He learned how to work hard, stick to his goals, and work with his teammates, as well as how to face failure and criticism, remain humble, and respect every opponent.
“I owe everything I have today to basketball.” He said.
Retirement is not the end, it is a new beginning.
“It’s not easy to say ‘goodbye’ as a player, but the moment has come.” Fredette wrote in his letter. He said that while it is sad to end his playing career, he is full of hope and expectation for the future.
He believes that basketball has made him who he is today and will help him get better in the next phase of his life.
“It wasn’t always a smooth ride, but it was all worth it.” With these words, he concludes his playing career.
Summary.
From the United States to China and around the world, Fredette used his experience to show us that if you love something and work hard at it, you can shine on different stages. Retirement is just the end of his life on the court, but it is also the beginning of another wonderful journey in his life.
