Derek Fisher may be playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder with a diminished role, but he will always be remembered for his big shots and plays in the post-season as a member of the Lakers. Fisher hit a plethora of clutch shots while with the Los Angeles Lakers, and fans of the team will always respect Fisher and his career.
We looked at our favorite Derek Fisher shots, but now the man himself gave his top four shots. Many will be surprised by the outcome as the number one spot occurred when Fisher was a member of the Utah Jazz.
4) May 13, 2004: Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs
Zero point four seconds. That is all that is needed to describe this incredible shot. It was perhaps Fisher’s greatest game winning shot, and definitely the most improbable.
The Lakers faced a one-point deficit in the post-season versus the Spurs with only 0.4 seconds left to play. The odds were against the Lakers, but the veteran guard threw up a shot and it hit nothing but net. It wasn’t Kobe Bryant who took the shot, it wasn’t Shaquille O’Neal or even Karl Malone, it was the small guard from Little Rock.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RodiAAns6Jk
3) June 11, 2009: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic
The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA Finals and in Game 4 the team had a chance to go up 3-1 series lead. However, the Lakers faced a deficit in the final minute and it looked like the Magic would even up the Finals.
However, the Lakers once again relied on Fisher to come up clutch and he delivered. First Fisher nailed a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. And then in the extra session, Fisher hit another three with 31.3 seconds left.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4VtUlez2Gc
Next Page: Shots Two and One
2) June 8, 2010: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics
The Los Angeles Lakers returned to the NBA Finals the next season and played their arch rivals, the Boston Celtics. In the first game in Boston, the Lakers were hoping to bounce back after their Game 2 loss, but had their hands full against the Celtics.
Los Angeles had a four point lead in the final minute, but the Celtics were poised to make one last push. Nevertheless, it was Fisher, not Kobe Bryant, who hit the dagger. Fisher scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and cemented the Lakers’ win with an incredible three-point play.
Fisher was very emotional after the game and he eventually helped the Lakers win the series in seven games.
The play can be seen from the 3:40-3:54 mark of the video.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UePN_c6Seck
1) May 9, 2007: Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz
Not many people remember Fisher and his days with the Utah Jazz, but if you ask him, his biggest shot came while in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz were playing Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals and Fisher was almost forced to miss the game as he was with his 10-month-old daughter, who had developed a rare form of eye cancer.
Two days prior to the game, Fisher had to fly to New York where his daughter was scheduled to undergo surgery and chemotherapy the day of the game.
After successful surgery, Fisher flew back to Salt Lake City and arrived during the third quarter. Without any warm-up or preparation, Fisher delivered for the Jazz and showed his championship poise.
The game eventually made its way to overtime and in that extra session, Fisher buried a corner three with 1:06 remaining to put away the Warriors.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eftrqq-_N2w