D-Fish was in Phoenix with plenty to do this weekend, enjoying the All-Star festivities and getting some work done, too.
“It’s been busy, busy, busy,” Derek told Lakers.com in an exclusive video interview. “During the day, players association and union business, that went really well. Also, NBA Cares and Day of Service events where we’ve gotten out into the community and done different things around the Phoenix area.”
Derek, the President of the NBA Players Association has been a very active participant in the festivities all weekend.
After his Players Association duties were finished, D-Fish represented LA in the Haier Shooting Stars Challenge. Despite a valiant effort, Team LA, comprised of Derek, Former Laker great Michael Cooper and Lisa Leslie didn’t make it out of the first round.
The team of three breezed through their two-point shots and No. 2 knocked down his three-pointer on his third attempt sending the team to their half court shot at the 30-second mark, but the team struggled to hit the mark until Cooper sank a toss at the 1:15 mark.
“The first one I shot was close,” Derek said. “But it seemed like I got further away after that. That’s not exactly how it’s supposed to go though.
“I think it’s very evident in everyone’s face that even though you’re here to have fun and it’s All-Star Weekend that you want to win. It’s a competition that we wanted to win.”
Team Detroit went on to win the competition. And although he seemed to be very loose in the minutes after the competition, it was obvious that Derek still isn’t too fond of Detroit after their defeat of LA in the 2004 NBA Finals.
“Especially because Detroit won. That’s really bad,” Derek continued in his Lakers.com exclusive session. “I’m not very fond of Detroit and the Pistons and anything that has to do with them. Although Katie Smith and Bill Laimbeer and Aaron Affalo are very nice people, it’s not personal. But anything Detroit wins rather than us is not good. I don’t like it at all."
You can check out footage of the competition here:
BACK NEXT YEAR?
Though he’ll be looking for a new teammate after Cooper declared his retirement from the Shooting Stars competition, Derek said he’ll be ready if LA wants him to represent again next year.
“If the people of LA want me to represent, I’ll represent,” D-Fish told Lakers.com in a highly sarcastic interview. “The All-Star Game is in Dallas next year, so they might try to bump us. But after we win a championship this year, I don’t think they’re going to be able to tell us no. If we want to be in the Shooting Stars competition we can be in the Shooting Stars competition. It’s very simple. Championship teams should have some power and some influence and some weight around the league. We have four months to accomplish that goal.”
DUNKIN DEREK?
On Saturday night Cleveland’s LeBron James drew the attention of the league when he announced preliminary plans to participate in the 2010 Slam Dunk Contest in Dallas.
But LeBron wasn’t the only one who was declaring himself ready for the competition:
“I think I would be the hands down favorite for the dunk contest if I got in,” Derek quipped. “The things that I couldn’t do out there, I think, would amaze the judges so much that they would give me all tens.”
MORE FROM THE FISH TANK
For more of Derek’s deadpan humor in the All-Star Interview room, check out Lakers.com and YouTube:
In the clips, Derek talks about All-Star Weekend, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, Valentine’s Day and catching up with friends from around the league.
NEXT UP
With the All-Star Break over and done with, it’s the home-stretch for the Lakers 2008-2009 season with 30 games remaining in the regular season.
LA opens the second half at home where they’ll play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. PST and all the action can be seen in LA on Fox Sports Network. Radio coverage is provided by KLAC AM 570.
RELATED STORIES
Lakers: D-Fish at All-Star Weekend (Lakers.com, February 15, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/090214dfishatallstar.html?rss=true
Team Los Angeles Falls in Shooting Stars Competition (Lakers.com, February 15, 2009)
http://www.nba.com/lakers/news/090214shootingstars.html?rss=true
Shooting Stars Results (ESPN.com, February 14, 2009)
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=3907978&campaign=rsssrch&source=derek+fisher