Jimmer Fredette: Is His Real Problem That He's Just Too White?
He's an explosive guard with a killer crossover and a tremendous ability to get to the hole. Nothing wrong with that, right? And if Sports Illustrated covers are to be believed, homeboy's got hops.
Everyone seems to take for granted the doctored cover. I wonder if they doctored this photo too. The fact that his coach has actually measured his vertical at 36 inches doesn't matter. We all know from Woody Harrelson that white men can't jump.
In the New York Times article on Fredette's chances at the next level, though, look at the names that are brought up, and there are comparisons to other NBA players: Pete Maravich, favorably. Not so favorably are some other names, Jeff Hornacek, Steve Kerr, Kyle Korver and Jason Kapono, all players who were good shooters that aren't "athletic."
Notice any other similarities?
The problem with the comparison is that they didn't have a killer crossover. Now, admittedly they say, "Better Kyle Korver, a better Jason Kapano, they can't put the ball on the floor," so if they can't do what he does, why are you comparing him to them?
Why not a slightly slower and better shooting version of Derrick Rose? Oh wait. I know. Both can knock down the three, get to the rim, penetrate off the dribble, have killer crossovers and, well, can jump.
We're ready to accept a white guy who can scamper around the floor and shoot. We even made him an MVP twice. We're even ready to accept him if he can't play a lick of defense (which is what the article is concerned about). We're not ready to accept he has a 36-inch vertical though.
The article concludes with the question, “Can he play in pick-and-roll defensively?”
(Billy) Donovan said, “Can he get over screens and keep people in front? I think he’s got good enough size and good enough speed. I think that’s going to be the biggest question mark.”
So let me get this straight: He's big enough and fast enough to get through screens, but you're concerned about whether he can. Why exactly is it you would be concerned about that?
I can't help but wonder, is Fredette getting a bit of a stigma for being white? He's 18th in Chad Ford's Top 100. He gets credit for his "high basketball IQ" and "mental toughness" (white-guy stuff), but there are concerns about his "explosiveness" and "lateral quickness" (white-guy failings).
Is he Derrick Rose or John Wall to the basket? No. Then again, who else is? Russell Westbrook, and that's about the entire list. If Andre Miller can make it as a good point guard in the NBA, Jimmer Fredette can. I don't see Miller as being that much more explosive (actually, he's much less explosive).
I mean, Jimmer is explosive, he just wouldn't be Wall or Rose.
I don't mean to sound all "Tea Party" here, but is Fredette getting subconsciously knocked for being too white? I find it ironic because it seems it's mostly white people doing the knocking.
Who knows, maybe it'll work out and he'll fall down far enough for Chicago to trade up and get him. I wouldn't mind seeing him in the backcourt with Derrick Rose. That would be utterly ridiculous.
Oh, wait, they already have Kyle Korver.
