Derek Fisher is one of the most beloved role players in the history of the Los Angeles Lakers. Fisher played in the NBA for 18 seasons, spending 13 of them in a Lakers uniform. In that time, his role fluctuated from depth piece to backup point guard to the 82-game starter. But the Lakers were at their best when Fisher was in the biggest role.
The Lakers won five titles and went to seven Finals between 2000 and 2010. Fisher was the backup point guard for two of those runs and the starting point guard for five. He hit massive shots, made great plays on both ends of the floor and became a lifelong fan favorite in L.A. However, Fisher is unlikely to ever see the Hall of Fame due to his lack of personal accolades. He knows and is understanding of this fact.
“The Hall of Fame is rightfully designed for guys that individually are by far the best players that have ever played professional basketball in terms of their production, their stats, their impact,” Fisher said on The Joint Venture Show. “It’s different than being part of great teams, in my opinion. I’m OK with it. I know the five championships didn’t just fall into my lap. I know how much I had to do with them. But at the same time, I do recognize there’s a difference between me and Magic Johnson. I should not be in the same room with Magic Johnson.”
This is pretty great self-awareness from Fisher, despite coming from an era where many players are loud and proud in their convictions about how they compare to current players or other all-time greats. Fisher is forever a legend in Los Angeles for his role on all those title teams, but he’s right about the purpose of the Hall of Fame.
Fisher, in 18 seasons, never made an All-Star team, an All-NBA team, or finished top 10 in voting in a single award category. He was never a league leader in any category — besides games played — and was largely a complementary piece to the team’s superstars.
NBA history needs players exactly like that. The Kobe Bryant’s and Shaquille O’Neal’s of the world need Fisher’s in order to achieve what they did, and that’s something every all-time great from every era would agree on.
Adam Silver could step in to help smooth Lakers drama over
The current-day Lakers are going through a potentially massive legal battle when it comes to ownership of the team. Mark Walter is selling his majority stake in the team to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and the Buss family voted 5-1 to sell their minority stake to them as well.
But Jeanie Buss, the lone vote against, believes her vote is the only one that matters, legally and will be contesting the sale of the minority stake. Commissioner Adam Silver may have to step in to help facilitate any dealings.
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