Tonight I got to watch the entire Kings game against the Pelicans and I have more than a few observations about Jimmer Fredette.

The first is that he will never be a great on ball defender (like just about everyone else in the league other than LeBron).  That’s okay though because he is no longer the liability he once was.  His foot work was good and so was his effort.  He was able to stay in front of the guy he guarded in one-on-one situations. As a team defender, he was exactly where he needed to be during every rotation.  He got switched onto a big on a pick on one possession, but was able to step through and get a steal on the entry pass.

He went to the glass and helped to rebound the ball when needed which plenty of guards don’t do.

On the offensive end, Jimmer played point the whole time and looked comfortable running the show.  He showed great vision and created plenty of scoring opportunities for the Kings.

As a scorer, Jimmer is still special.  He is great coming off screens and ridiculous in spot up situations.  When his feet are set he is deadly.

He used his body well when handling the ball and going to the basket while not making any bad decisions.

Even though he has seen limited minutes so far this season, his game has improved (especially on the defensive end).   He played with a great deal of confidence and showed that he still has the swagger that made every BYU fan go crazy.  Jimmer doesn’t just deserve a spot on a roster, he deserves minutes.  He can help any number of teams even if the Kings don’t think they are one of them.