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PARIS — The first sign that the U.S. men’s 3×3 team would be without Jimmer Fredette on Thursday against Lithuania came during player introductions.
As the announcer introduced Fredette, the American star limped slowly and cautiously out of the tunnel.
Fredette remained rooted to a folding chair at the edge of the court throughout his team’s 20-18 loss to Lithuania, helplessly watching the U.S. fall 3-0 in the group stage of the Paris Olympics. He described himself as “taking it game by game” with a left leg injury after the game but declined to comment further.
Fredette suffered the injury with about three minutes remaining in the U.S. loss to Poland on Wednesday night. A trainer massaged Fredette’s left thigh as the former BYU star visibly grimaced in pain.
Though Fredette returned for Wednesday’s game against Poland, the 35-year-old did not move around as usual. USA Basketball did not offer any updates on his status after the game, but teammate Kareem Maddox told Yahoo Sports on Wednesday night that he was “not too worried.”
“I guarantee you he’ll play tomorrow,” Maddox added.
It turned out Maddox was too optimistic. All Fredette could do against Lithuania was draw up plays and shout words of encouragement to his teammates.
Other U.S. players learned at a team meeting Thursday afternoon that Fredette was not well enough to join them on the court that night. No one offered further details about Fredette’s injury, but teammate Dylan Travis described an “emotional scene.”
“We all shed a few tears,” Travis said. “He’s worked his whole career and he came out of retirement to do this.”
Asked if he was preparing as if Fredette might not return during the Olympics, Travis said, “Yeah, I think you have to prepare as if it’s just the three of us and hope for the best that he can come back.”
Fredette’s injury is the latest blow to the U.S. women’s 3×3 basketball program. The women also lost their first three games before beating Spain 17-11 on Thursday.
The U.S. men’s team came into Paris as one of the favorites to win gold in men’s 3×3 in Paris, but the Americans may struggle to even advance out of the group stage without Fredette. Not only was he their best player and offensive engine during Olympic qualifying, but his absence leaves the U.S. with no available replacements and forces Canyon Barry, Travis and Maddox to play every minute.
Two summers ago, when USA Basketball’s Fran Fraschilla approached Fredette about playing 3-on-3 basketball, he accepted the invitation for one important reason. “As soon as I heard ‘Olympics,’ I was like, ‘I’m all for it,’” Fredette said earlier this summer. “I saw this as the opportunity of a lifetime.”
However, Jimmermania’s long-awaited comeback tour has not materialized. The former BYU folk hero scored just four points in the U.S.’s season-opening loss to Serbia on Tuesday night and then added three points Wednesday against Poland.
Without Fredette against Lithuania, the U.S. attacked the rim and relied on Barry to create more plays. Barry led the U.S. with nine points, but his step-back jumper from behind the arc that could have tied the game fell short as time expired, a fitting end for an American team that has consistently missed from 3-point range in Paris.
“I saw it clearly,” Barry said. “I honestly thought it was fine when it came out of my hand.”
The United States lost again on Thursday night, falling to Latvia 21-19, with Fredette again sidelined.
“He’s like a family member to us,” Barry said. “When one member of your family is hurting and depressed, we’re all depressed.”
“He deserves it more than anyone. He’s a very good human being. It’s very sad that he can’t compete in the game today after everything he’s put into this.”
