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Jimmer Fredette is a dominant 'god' in China 0:0 The cult of Jimmer Fredette was never embraced by the… Seventy-three. It wasn’t enough to win, but maybe it’s enough to get the NBA’s attention.
Jimmer Fredette went off, pouring in 73 points in a Chinese Basketball Association game Sunday, falling in double-overtime but capturing the world’s notice yet again.
His 73 couldn’t lift the Shanghai Sharks past the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, but they did place him in CBA lore. Only Errick McCollum (82), Quincy Douby (75) and Bobby Brown (74) have scored more.
Fredette, hailed and criticized as an unrepentant bomber, filled out the stat sheet, shooting 25-of-49 from the floor with four rebounds, three assists and three steals in the 135-132 loss. He drained 10-of-18 from 3-point range and went a perfect 13-of-13 from the free-throw line.
@jimmerfredette scores a #ShanghaiSharks team record 73 points but the good guys lose on the road 135-132 in double OT @thejimmerwatch pic.twitter.com/qB4dahxaWa
Entering the game, Fredette was the third-highest scorer in the league, at 36.3 points per game — trailing McCollum (37.2) and MarShon Brooks (36.4). That order now will be changed.
The Sharks will begin the CBA playoffs, which begin Friday, as the No. 3 seed. Whenever their run is over, the former Knick and 2011 first-round pick likely will be looking to see if his dominance has impressed NBA teams that could use a wing shooter.
However, he’s not just a player in the CBA, he’s hailed as a god. The 27-year-old told The Vertical last month that leaving the kingdom he’s conquered would be a difficult decision because he’s loved it in China.
“I’m not 100 percent sure. Obviously, I’m from the USA and the NBA is the greatest league in the world, and if I have the opportunity to play in the NBA, that’s where I would love to play,” Fredette said.
“But China is a great opportunity. The fans have been great to me, more than I can imagine, especially in such a short amount of time. It’s a good league over there, and there are some changes coming, good changes for the league, and I think there’s an amazing opportunity to make a great living, to make a lot of money.”
And score a lot of points.
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