During the 2024 Summer Olympics, Team USA star Jimmer Fredette revealed that he had torn two ligaments in his adductor. In a poignant Instagram post, Fredette conveyed his deep disappointment about the injury and reflected on the extensive effort he had devoted to qualifying for the Games over the past two years.
He projected a six-month recovery time, which will unfortunately keep him out of action for an extended duration.
The injury had a notable impact on the team’s performance in the men’s 3×3 basketball tournament. The United States failed to advance past the pool stage, finishing with a disappointing 2-5 record. Fredette’s injury occurred during Team USA’s narrow 19-17 loss to Poland, where he contributed three points before being sidelined for the remainder of the tournament.
The absence of Fredette left the remaining players—Canyon Barry, Kareem Maddox, and Dylan Travis—short of a crucial rotation option. This shortage of fresh legs became evident as the tournament progressed, culminating in a lopsided 21-6 defeat against the Netherlands in their final game. The lack of depth seemed to have a tangible effect on the team’s performance.
The overall showing by the U.S. men’s 3×3 team has prompted broader concerns about the state of the program. Critics, such as Rodger Sherman, have highlighted the team’s disappointing results across two Olympic cycles, questioning the effectiveness of USA Basketball’s strategy. The team’s failure to advance beyond the pool stage has fueled discussions about the need for improvements ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Despite the setback, it’s worth noting that Team USA had a strong performance at the FIBA 3×3 World Cup in 2023, finishing as runners-up. The roster that competed in Paris was the same one that narrowly missed out on gold in Vienna the previous year. Fredette’s injury was a significant factor in the less favorable outcome at the Olympics, leaving a sense of what might have been had he been fully fit.
