What makes Derek Fisher so great?
Growing up during “The Lake Show” era of the 90’s, Nick Van Exel was Basketball God and nobody else even came close. Van Exel was one of my childhood heroes growing up, right up there next to Luke Skywalker, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Rocky, and Ah-nold.
When Derek Fisher joined the Lakers in the same season as Kobe Bryant, (1996-1997) I immediately didn’t like him. In fact, for the first 4 seasons of his career, I hated Derek Fisher. Why? Because he was so uncool, he was so unsexy, and dare I say it, he sucked.
But throughout the years, my opinion of Fisher has changed. Part of the reason was because I grew up, and part of the reason was because Fisher changed as well. This is the story of how I learned to stop hating, and love the Fish.
Next: Can’t Shoot, Can’t Dunk, What CAN He Do?
A few months ago I was cleaning my room and found some paper cutouts that I made during my elementary school/middle school years of human figures that I used as targets for my bb gun. On each of these figures, there was the name of a certain person whom I despised and wanted to pump full of copper. The first was my middle school principal, the second was Ivan Drago, and the third was Derek Fisher.
Looking back, I can still list the reasons why I hated Derek Fisher. As a player, he was not a good shooter, he wasn’t terribly explosive or a great finisher. He wasn’t a flashy ball-handler, and he almost never dunked. Actually, I did manage to find this highlight video online of Fish throwing down, and some of them look pretty nice. Of course, this clip probably encompasses all of Derek Fisher’s career dunks, but that’s aside the point. Check out the video below:
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FefXiS_qmXQ
Instead of being known as a good shooter, clutch player, or a buff defensive menace, Derek Fisher back then was known as being energetic, dependable, and full of hustle. Those three adjectives don’t quite describe the coolest NBA players. Throw in the fact that any time he was in the game, that meant Nick Van Exel wasn’t playing, and it’s no wonder I didn’t like him.
Derek Fisher was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1974 and attended high school and college in Little Rock. Throughout his 4-year collegiate career, he averaged 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds 4.2 assists and led the team in assists and steals each season. In his senior season, he averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game.
Fisher was selected by the Lakers in the 1996 NBA draft 24th overall to be their backup point guard behind Van Exel. Although he was selected to play in the All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge, his season averages of 3.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 11 minutes of playing time with a 40% field goal percentage, 66% free throw percentage, and 30% three point field goal percentage were vastly underwhelming.
Throughout the next four seasons, Fisher’s stats and playing style didn’t really change. Even with the trade of Nick Van Exel (a moment even sadder than when Apollo Creed died), Fisher could never really crack the starting rotation. In the first four seasons of his career, Fisher never averaged more than 6.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, or 4.1 assists per game. In his fourth season, Fisher played backup to Ron Harper and won the first championship of his career.
During this time, I saw Fisher in two other television appearances. In the first, he had a cameo role in the TV sitcom “In The House” starring LL Cool J and Alfonso Ribeiro aka Carlton, from Fresh Prince. In the second, he appeared on MTV’s Spring Break, where a selected audience member engaged in a 5 shot free throw contest against Fish for a prize. The audience member made 3 free throws and beat Fisher’s 2 makes. Now that I think back on it, maybe Fish was being nice and letting the other guy win, but at that time I couldn’t believe that he sucked so much a normal person could beat him.
Next: The Fish That Saved LA
I’ve already mentioned this in an article I wrote previously, but at the start of the 2001 NBA season Derek Fisher was injured and that was the best thing that could’ve possibly happened to him.
Fisher missed the first 62 games of the season due to a stress fracture in his foot. Since he was immobile for much of the recovery, he worked on the two things he would become known for: working out and shooting. When Fisher came back near the end of the season, the Lakers were in disarray with Shaq and Kobe feuding and their repeat chances not looking good.
Derek returned as a dead-eye sharpshooter who still brought tons of smarts and defensive hustle to the team. Now that he was even buffer than before, he even looked cooler too. Don’t believe the discrepancy in his play? Below are his stats from the season in question and the season prior.
1999-2000: 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 35% field goal percentage, 72% free throw percentage, 31% three point percentage, in 23 minutes of play
2000-2001: 11.5 points, 3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.0 steals, 41% field goal percentage, 81% free throw percentage, 40% three point percentage, in 35 minutes of play
That’s a huge difference. Granted he played a lot more minutes, but his percentages improved across the board. At this time, I was skeptical to actually like him as a player, but I couldn’t deny that he was good for the team. In the end, for the next few years he was a push, and I couldn’t decide whether I liked him or not. However, I did defend him from my friends who still argued that he sucked.
During that 2001 playoff season, Fisher set some records and made a ton of clutch shots. The Lakers, who had been waiting for a third double-digit scorer to complement Shaq and Kobe were given exactly what they needed and paraded their way to a 15-1 playoff record, the best in history (could’ve been 15-0 if not for AI’s amazing Game 1 of the finals.)
For the next 4 seasons, Fisher maintained his status as a great shooter, good energy player, smart decision-maker, and solid defender. Even with his demotion to the bench with the acquisition of Gary Payton in 2004, Fisher remained a dependable contributor to the Lakers team.
Next: Enough is Enough and It’s Time For a Change
After the heartbreaking loss to the Pistons in the 2004 NBA Finals, the Lakers core was torn apart and Derek Fisher opted that it was time for a change. It’s no surprise why Fisher would want to sign a contract with the Warriors for a guaranteed starting spot and a 6-year, $37 million contract versus a backup role for 3-years, $15 million with the Lakers.
Fisher had been at the middle of the Shaq Kobe feud for so many years (he was one of the only players whom both the Shaq camp and Kobe camp trusted and could confide in), so it was time for a change. Fisher loved LA, and he loved being a Laker, don’t forget he was visibly crying in the Lakers’ final game when they lost to the Pistons. For Fisher, it wasn’t just about the championship, he knew with this loss the Lakers would be disbanded and they were no longer “one big happy family.”
Fisher’s two seasons in Golden State were remarkably unremarkable. Again, he was a solid player with a dependable shot and displayed good leadership and teammate traits, but he was unable to lead the Warriors to any kind of success. He ended up coming off the bench for most games, and he was eventually traded to the Utah Jazz.
In Utah, Fisher kept on being Fisher. His single season with the team was not exceptionally memorable, except for the playoffs. During the Western Conference Finals, Fisher informed team officials that his one of his children was ill and he was unsure if he would be able to play. Prior to the start of game 2, Fisher was away and nobody knew if he would make it to the game in time. Arriving with the game already in progress, after a flight from New York and a police escort, Fisher arrived to find starting point guard Deron Williams injured.
The entire arena gave Fisher a standing ovation and he played with great passion, heart, and desire. It was definitely a Cool Runnings moment where the entire crowd applauded both his on-court performance as well as the story behind the game. Afterwards, Fisher revealed that his daughter, Tatum, suffered from a rare form of eye cancer and had needed an emergency medical procedure in New York.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31M_MdSVxV8
After the 2006-2007 NBA season, Fish requested to Jazz officials that he be released from his contract so that he could play in a city with medical facilities that were equipped to handle his daughter’s condition. Fisher eventually decided to reunite with the Lakers, signing a 3-year $14 million contract which was $8 million less than he had been promised in Utah.
Next: How I Learned to Stop Hatin’ and Love the Fish
When I learned Derek Fisher was coming back to the Lakers, I was extremely happy. I didn’t know why, but I was genuinely happy he was returning. That was the first time I finally admitted to myself that Derek Fisher had slowly become one of my favorite players in the league.
Part of the reason I and everybody else was so happy to see him back was because of the nostalgia he brought. Fisher was a throwback to better times, he reminded me of the Lakers’ championship teams of the early 00’s and how he had been a key contributor to those teams. Seeing a familiar face come back to the Lakers was a happy sight.
Fisher had remained friends with Kobe throughout the years, and I’m sure Kobe was happy to see him back as well. In fact, Derek Fisher had entered the elder statesmen phase of his career. Teammates, opponents, and coaches all respected him for both his play on the court and his opinion off the court. He was the ultimate teammate, leader, and motivator.
It’s no coincidence that Fisher’s first season back on the Lakers was also the season they started winning. Obviously Bynum’s emergence as a dominant post player and the Pau Gasol trade were HUGE factors as well, but don’t discount Fisher’s 11 points per game, 40% three point shooting, or his locker room presence.
In his current stint with the Lakers, Fisher has shown again and again why he’s such a valuable player. Not convinced of his greatness? Take a look at Game 3 of last year’s finals and you’ll remember that the Lakers don’t win the championship without his heroics. What about Game 4 of the NBA finals two seasons ago where he hit two of the clutchest 3s in Lakers history? Or the 0.4 shot of the 2004 Western Conference Semi-Finals vs the Spurs?
0.4 Shot
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mav2iBA1cwo
Big Shots vs. the Magic
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWabHLi2rJY
Clutch Play against the Celtics
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8C0-8dAx5A
Still not convinced of Derek Fisher’s greatness? Here are a few more reasons:
There’s a reason why Fisher was heavily recruited this off-season. The Miami Heat, which had freshly assembled its Team of Extraordinary Ballplayers, tried their best to pry Fish away from the Lakers. In the end, Fish remained loyal to LA and Kobe and stayed with the Lakers.
Fisher is known as the ultimate role player. He’s always ready to play, and he can be depended on to make the right decision and not hurt the team. Fisher leads by example and he’s also a vocal leader on and off the court. Fish isn’t the kind of guy you build your team around, but there’s no doubt that whatever team he’s on benefits from his presence.
Fisher is known as one of the classiest guys in the league. Elbowing Luis Scola aside, everybody respects Fisher for his personality wherever he goes. Known as “el presidente,” Fisher was recently voted as the player most likely to become a coach someday. Additionally Fisher has been the president of the NBA Players Association since 2006, serves as color commentator for the LA Sparks, and he’s probably the only player Kobe Bryant 100% trusts. Fisher is the ultimate “glue” guy, and every championship team needs a player like him.
Elbowing Scola:
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9E6rfgWpzY
At 36 years of age, Derek Fisher is one of the most durable players in the league. In his 14 years in the league, he’s played in every game of the season 9 times. In fact, take away the aforementioned 2000-2001 season where he missed 60 games due to a fracture in his foot, and Fisher has played in 1008 out of a possible 1034 games. He’s like Bruce Willis in Unbreakable, it’s like the dude’s got 9999 hit points or somethin’.
Some interesting Derek Fisher records: He has the highest 3 point field goal percentage in NBA finals history, he has played in the 5th most playoff games in NBA history, his 15-20 performance against the Spurs in 2001 is the best 3 point shooting performance in a 4 game series in NBA history, and Fisher has the 2nd most 3 point field goals in NBA finals history, second only to the legendary Robert Horry.
Here’s one of the personal reasons why I like D-Fish: Derek Fisher is short, buff, a good shooter, and has a penchant for hitting big shots. People have used the same adjetives to describe me.
Fisher was not the most talented player coming into the NBA. However, he worked on his game, played with his heart, and carved a niche for himself in the NBA. His work ethic, leadership skills, and clutch shooting have made him one of the most popular players of Laker fans everywhere.
As Fisher heads into the twilight of his career, he’ll likely take on more and more of a Ron Harper and Brian Shaw type role when they were on the Lakers. He may not be depended on to play an entire game, but when the game’s on the line you can be sure he’ll be in the game. He’ll continue his role as team leader and mentor, and he’ll continue to knock down big shots.
Fisher’s current contract is guaranteed through the end of the 2011-2012 season with a player option for the 2012-2013 season. My best guess is that he will remain with the team for the 2012-2013 season (assuming they remain competitive, cross your fingers), and he will retire following the 2013 season when he’s nearly 40 years old.
Derek Fisher is great. Although he may never be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I’d say right now there’s a 95% chance he will be the one who presents Kobe Bryant when he’s eventually inducted. Fish is about two or three big shots away from joining Robert Horry in legendary clutch-ness, and he’s hopefully 8 months away from winning his 6th championship ring.
Think about it, 6th championship ring. If Fisher wins his 6th ring, there will only be 9 players in the history of the NBA (all of them are Russell-era Celtics except Big Shot Rob) who have won more championships than Fish.
Derek Fisher is the heart and soul of the Lakers, and without him the Lakers don’t win championships. Fisher is a consummate professional, ice-cold assassin, and NBA hero. I’m sorry Derek for hatin’ on you all those years, and I just want you to know—we love ya.