Reports are out that recently D-League drafted NBA veteran Jimmer Fredette is keen on working his way up to the New York Knicks' main roster this season or the next as he suits up for the Westchester Knicks this year.
ESPN reported that the 2011 National College Player of the Year Awardee and NCAA Division I scoring champion is thankful for the chance to play for New York's D-League squad and that he is also ultimately targeting a "roster spot" in Phil Jackson's triangle kingdom.
Jackson's Knicks still has an open roster position, the 15th and final spot, which is reportedly what Fredette will try to occupy in the near future.
"We talked to them beforehand and we hoped to make it work so I'd be drafted by the Knicks," said the 26-year-old point guard, who was the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft, referring to his and his agent's discussions with the Big Apple franchise prior to signing with Westchester. "We had phone calls from other organizations. We're very excited the Knicks were interested."
Fredette was selected by Westchester second overall during the recent D-League draft and is considered a "marquee name" at that level, as per LoHud.
"This is a good opportunity for me to play, to get a lot of games in, to progress as a basketball player," said Fredette whose current B-team is practicing at the MSG Training Center where the A-squad also conducts their training sessions. Reportedly, this gives him the opportunity to interact with head coach Derek Fishes, increasing his chances of taking the Knicks final roster spot.
"Hopefully, at some point, I'll be able to be back in the NBA," he said. "Right now, I'm not focused on that, I'm focused on playing hard, playing well and we'll see what happens in the future."