Firmly entrenched as the Los Angeles Lakers starting point guard, Derek Fisher begins his 14th NBA season tonight.
D-Fish hopes to lead the Lakers become the first NBA team to repeat since he and his teammates won three straight titles for the Lakers from 1999-2002.
No. 2 had another solid year in 2008-2009, averaging 9.3 points and 3.2 assists per game, both right around his career averages.
 Fish is ready for No. 5 (Getty Images). |
And in what’s now becoming emblematic of the veteran guard’s credentials, Derek had another clutch playoff performance, hitting two critical three-pointers in game four of the NBA finals, giving the Lakers a commanding 3-1 lead. In the clinching game, Fish tied his playoff-high for the season with 13 points.
SOMETHING MORE TO PLAY FOR
D-Fish certainly doesn’t see himself slowing down anytime soon. He told The Los Angeles Times this preseason he won’t be retiring after this year.
His head coach agrees, as quoted in the the Los Angeles Times:
“I don’t see any reason why he can’t play past this season,” Phil Jackson said to. “I know that we all think that we can get away with age, but age does have a tendency to level us out as we go along. But he’s done such a great job of keeping his whole physique and his training together, it’s awful hard to see any flaws in him right now.”
D-Fish is in the final year of his contract, but would like to remain with the Lakers for the rest of his career, as quoted by the LA Times:
“I hated to see Emmitt Smith have to leave the Cowboys. So, yeah, I’d love to be here.”
NICE RING TO IT
Before tonight’s game, the Lakers will receive their NBA Championship rings. It will be the fourth ring for Derek, but Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak guarantees this one, the 15th in Lakers franchise history, will be different from the rest, as quoted in the LA Times:
“The boxes will be a lot heavier,” he said. “I’ve had a chance to preview the rings, and the box is going to be heavier and a little bigger than past boxes.”
It can mean only one thing.
“A lot of bling,” he said.”
But there’s more to the celebration than just the ring, as reported by the Contra Costa Times:
“The Laker players will wear a special anniversary jacket when they receive
their rings and the championship banner is raised. The back of the Lakers anniversary jacket includes 15 stars, similar to the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one in honor of each championship the franchise has won. (The Lakers won five championships in Minneapolis.)The Lakers will have a champions patch on their jerseys featuring the Larry O’Brien Trophy, annually awarded to the league champion, and the number 15.”
ONE FOR THE THUMB
Derek is part of an elite group this year: NBA players vying for a fifth championship ring. This season, players from three contending teams will be gunning for their fifth title. D-Fish and teammate Kobe Bryant will each be looking for their fifth titles in the Purple and Gold. Two other players can also pick up a thumb ring this season: Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Derek and Kobe’s former teammate in LA, Shaquille O’Neal of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
In addition to training for the upcoming season, No. 2 did something not many NBA players do between June and September. He published a book.
Character Driven: Life, Lessons and Basketball. The book recounts Derek’s life, from his upbringing in Little Rock, Arkansas to his two championship-filled stints with the Lakers.
You can pick up Character Driven here and learn more about it on DerekFisher2.com in the media gallery.
NEXT UP
The Lakers tip-off the regular season tonight when they host the L.A. Clippers at 7:30 PST at the Staples Center. The game can be seen on ESPN.
RELATED STORIES
L.A. Lakers to get championship rings and face Clippers Tuesday night (Contra Costa Times, Oct. 27, 2009)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_13650581?nclick_check=1
Lakers know what it will take to repeat as champions (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 26, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers26-2009oct26,0,1972821.story
Lakers’ Derek Fisher is in prime shape to keep going (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 6, 2009)
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-lakers-fyi6-2009oct06,0,3680331.story
Fisher Goes the Extra Mile (Inside Social, Oct 1., 2009)
http://www.insidesocal.com/lakers/2009/10/fisher-goes-the-extra-mile.html