What Do These Guys All Have In Common?
Jimmer Fredette is an very good college basketball player who can seemingly drain three pointers from any distance. He plays for Brigham Young University. He is probably the most well known and nationally popular player in the men’s game. It is widely thought that the Utah Jazz will have no choice but to appease their disheartened fan base and will pick Fredette if they can in the upcoming NBA Draft.
In an article on Fredette’s potential as a pro, Pete Thamel canvassed NBA scouts and front-office personnel, and they said that Fredette was unlikely to be a star at the professional level and would likely be a “solid rotation player in the N.B.A.” Who did they compare him to?
Stardom, however, is unlikely, the scouts and front-office personnel said. Comparative players that came up were Jeff Hornacek, Steve Kerr, Kyle Korver and Jason Kapono.
“I think he’ll be a really good pro, but not great,” said a Western Conference executive, who would not be named because he is not permitted to talk about prospects. “He’ll be a guy who is a better Steve Kerr, a better Kyle Korver. A better Kapono. Both those guys can’t put the ball on the floor.”
Fredette, of course, only shares specific basketball attributes with Kapono, Korver and Kerr. This is why those front-office personnel made those specific comparisons. There are no other superficial similarities between them that may be influencing these scouts’ analysis. The only reason the Jazz faithful want Fredette so much is because of his exceptional skills and that he plays in Utah.
And Adam Morrison is the next Larry Bird.
