Jimmer Fredette went viral on social media on Wednesday after needing treatment for a groin injury in 3×3 basketball at the Paris Olympics.
Fredette was in action when the United States lost 19-17 to Poland on Wednesday and at one point in the game, his participation seemed to be in serious doubt.
Cameras captured him grimacing in pain on the sidelines with an apparent groin and upper thigh problem with three minutes remaining in the match.
He needed treatment from a US physiotherapist and looked uncomfortable as she put pressure on his thigh before bandaging it. But inevitably, someone took to social media after seeing the moment as a golden opportunity for a viral clip.
“I turned on the Olympics and Jimmer Fredette was getting medical attention,” the fan wrote with a shocked emoji, and the clip quickly racked up more than a million views.
Jimmer Fredette went viral on social media after being injured in a 3×3 basketball game
Fredette came into the game battling a sore spot, but had been backed into the game to play through the pain after the U.S. lost its opening 3-on-3 game against Serbia on Tuesday.
And he was almost vindicated. Fredette cut the lead to 1 point with 90 seconds left on the clock before Michal Sokolowski sank a free throw a few seconds later to extend the lead to 19-17.
According to the Associated Press, Fredette did not speak to reporters after the loss and was instead receiving additional treatment from his team’s staff.
“I don’t think we’re worried,” Kareem Maddox said of the U.S.’s overall hopes after the loss to Poland. “We know we have to make some adjustments.”
Teammate Canyon Barry added: “We’re just not making shots. That’s what it comes down to. We had a lot of good chances and they just didn’t go in tonight.”
Fredette and his teammates will return to action on Thursday against Lithuania.