Jimmer Fredette went viral on social media Wednesday after receiving treatment for a groin injury during the 3×3 basketball competition at the Paris Olympics.
Fredette was competing when the USA team narrowly lost 19-17 to Poland, and at one point, it appeared his ability to continue was in jeopardy.
Television cameras captured him showing signs of pain on the sidelines, indicating discomfort in his groin and upper thigh with three minutes left in the game.
He required assistance from a USA physiotherapist, who applied pressure to his thigh and subsequently taped him up. Predictably, this footage became a viral sensation online.
‘I tuned into the Olympics and saw Jimmer Fredette getting medical aid,’ commented one viewer, accompanied by a shocked emoji, with the clip quickly gaining over a million views.
Jimmer Fredette went viral on social media after his injury during 3×3 basketball
Although Fredette was playing through an existing issue, he had hoped to contribute after the USA’s loss to Serbia in their opening 3×3 match the previous day.
He nearly made a significant comeback, narrowing the score to 1 point with just 90 seconds remaining, but Michal Sokolowski’s free throw reinstated Poland’s lead at 19-17.
According to the Associated Press, Fredette chose not to address the media post-game, opting instead to receive additional treatment from team staff.
‘We’re not worried,’ stated Kareem Maddox regarding the USA team’s future prospects following the defeat. ‘We simply need to make some adjustments.’
Teammate Canyon Barry echoed this sentiment: ‘We’re just not hitting our shots. That’s the bottom line. We had plenty of good opportunities, but they just didn’t go in tonight.’
Fredette and his teammates will return to the court on Thursday against Lithuania.
