Knicks Make It Official, Sign Fredette To 10-Day Contract
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Jimmer Time is coming to Madison Square Garden.
In desperate need of a spark, the Knicks officially signed D-League scoring machine Jimmer Fredette to a 10-day contract on Monday.
A former collegiate star at Brigham Young, Fredette, a 6-foot-2 guard from upstate Glens Falls, did not make a big impact during his first chance in the NBA. Despite being the No. 10 overall pick in the 2010 draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, Fredette went on to play for three teams in parts of six seasons, averaging just 6 points per game.
But he rediscovered his hot-shooting ways in the D-League, averaging 22.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 29 games for the Westchester Knicks. Granted, the competition is nowhere near that of the NBA, but he did what was necessary to convince Knicks president Phil Jackson that he is ready for another shot.
Perhaps feeling some nerves about his impending call-up, Fredette shot 2-of-17 from the floor in Westchester's 84-80 loss to Iowa on Saturday.
"You got 10 days to show what you can do, and they'll decide from there," Fredette told the New York Post following the game. "I have to focus and try my best, whether it's game, practice or weight room."
Fredette is expected to be part of a crowded Knicks backcourt for Monday night's game against visiting Toronto, but will have no guarantees of playing time. The Knicks have had problems at the point and on the wings all season, and were rumored to be in the market for an upgrade at the trade deadline, though nothing materialized.
The Knicks entered played Monday 24-33 and six games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, New York has lost 12 of 14, but is coming off a 103-95 win in Minnesota on Saturday.