Written by: Alex Torres
The Los Angeles Lakers have met with President Barack Obama for two years running as defending NBA champions, but the Lakers have their very own president in their starting five. Derek Fisher or also known as “El Presidente” by his Lakers teammates, has been the president of the National Basketball Players Association since 2006.
Most will remember Derek Fisher for his late game heroics like the 0.4 shot against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2004 Western Conference Semi-Finals, or more recently in Game 4 of the 2009 NBA Finals as he buried some threes to get the Lakers the victory, but what some might not know is that handles his job as President with the same demeanor and determination. As much as D-Fish has accomplished on the court, what is even more impressive is his off the court duties.
Juggling his job as the starting point guard of the Los Angeles Lakers, a husband and a father of four, and still being President of the NBPA can be a very daunting task, but he is the perfect man for the job. Just like he leads the Lakers on the court, he leads and represents every player that either wears or has worn a NBA uniform. With the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring in July, next season could begin with a lockout due to owners and players battling over the salary cap.
As the President of the NBPA he is on the forefront battling the owners for a new CBA that will be fair to the players, but that has proven to be a challenge. No one from the owners, players, and fans want to see a lockout starting next season, but if the owners and players do not come to an agreement then that will be inevitable.
