Jimmer Fredette Shares How Making Jesus Christ His Plan A Changed His Life

Jimmer Fredette Shares How Making Jesus Christ His Plan A Changed His Life

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Jimmer Fredette told BYU-Hawaii students on Tuesday that making Jesus Christ his “Plan A” changed his life after his professional basketball dreams faced unexpected setbacks.

The former BYU star and professional basketball player spoke during a campus devotional at the Cannon Activities Center in Laie, Hawaii, on Nov. 10, 2026. He shared how a shift in spiritual priority helped him manage the transition from being a national phenomenon to struggling with the realities of the NBA.

“I realized that my Plan A wasn’t going to work out the way that I had imagined, but when I made the Savior my Plan A, he showed me an even greater plan,” Fredette said, according to Deseret News.

What’s Your Plan A? — BYU–Hawaii

A dream realized and derailed

For much of his youth, Fredette’s singular focus was reaching the NBA. He described waking up and daydreaming about basketball from a young age, eventually choosing BYU over Siena University after receiving a distinct feeling through prayer that it was the right path, Deseret News reported.

That decision led to a period of unprecedented success. In 2011, Fredette became a “mini celebrity” as he helped lead BYU to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years, thechurchnews.com reported. He was named the consensus national player of the year and was later selected 10th overall in the NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings.

Professional basketball player Jimmer Fredette poses for a photo prior to speaking
Photo: thechurchnews.com

However, professional basketball proved difficult. Within his first two weeks of his rookie season, Fredette’s coach was fired, and he struggled with inconsistency and a loss of confidence. He felt the sting of public scrutiny as social media comments turned harsh, leaving him feeling mentally and physically low.

The influence of an apostolic challenge

During this period of instability, Fredette received a phone call from Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Fredette recalled pouring his heart out to Ballard for 40 minutes, expressing how unfair and unhappy he felt.

In response to his struggle, Ballard challenged him to read the Book of Mormon daily for the remainder of the season. “Put some time into it, and if you do this, I promise you, your life will change,” Fredette recalled Ballard saying.

Fredette obeyed the invitation and said that while his basketball performance did not immediately improve, his internal state did. “My mood shifted. My thoughts were more positive and uplifting. I was smiling again. I was so much happier,” Fredette said.

“With Christ as your Plan A, you’ll be able to withstand the difficulties that inevitably come your way, but you will also handle your successes the right way as well,” Fredette told the students.

Finding a new perspective

This spiritual shift redefined Fredette’s relationship with his career. While he continued to play basketball—including stints with the Shanghai Sharks, Panathinaikos, and representing the U.S. in 3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics—he no longer viewed the sport as his primary purpose.

He told the students that he has since used his travels through China, Greece, Mongolia, Chile, Switzerland, El Salvador, and the Olympics to share his testimony. He encouraged the students to pursue what they love and work hard, but to keep the Savior at the forefront of their decisions to prepare for life’s inevitable challenges.

Fredette concluded his address by advising students to establish habits like prayer and scripture study to help them handle both successes and hardships.

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