When the final horn sounded on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2014 playoff run on Sunday night, it evoked a breadth of emotions for veteran point guard Derek Fisher.

The Thunder came up just short of forcing Game 7, falling 112-107 in overtime to the San Antonio Spurs at Chesapeake Energy Arena, ending what might be Derek’s last season as a player.

D-Fish re-signed with the Thunder in July, announcing that it would be his final playing season. He donned the No. 6 OKC jersey, symbolizing his quest for his sixth NBA title, but after falling just shy of that goal, he’s left knowing that this Thunder squad is still championship-caliber.

“This group, they have it. They want it,” Fish said of the Thunder. “Just have to do it, though. There’s no shortcuts. There’s no group of guys that want to experience it more than this group though. If this is it for me, that’ll be the saddest part. One day this team is going to have a championship trophy. And if I’m there, great. If I’m not, I’m going to be just as happy because they all deserve it.”

Now approaching the offseason that will bring with it his 40th birthday, Derek will spend the coming weeks mulling his options. Should he try to return to the Thunder on the court and embark on that quest for title No. 6? Or will he choose to pivot into a new career path, perhaps as a NBA coach?

Fish said after the game that he’ll step back, once the emotions of the season have subsided, and make that decision.

“Obviously, there are a number of people that are going to be impacted by the decision I do make whether I continue to play or

[if] I decide to do something else within the game,” Fisher said. “Whatever it is, there is a lot at stake. I’m not going to rush. I’m not going to be emotional.

Right now there is a lot of emotion. As soon as possible, I’m going to try to take the best next steps.”

In the meantime, Derek had no trouble putting on his coaching hat and giving an in-depth analysis of the Thunder. No. 6 said that this young squad is still compiling the experience and the poise that it takes to make a championship run.

“It’s still a really, really young team, to be honest … Growth, maturity, a continued understanding of how much sacrifice it really does take to be the absolute best. You can’t put that in someone else. That really has to be an experience. There has to be a turning point and a defining moment that lights a fire in an individual and a group that says, ‘I won’t accept anything less than being the best.’ And in recent years, I think this group has experienced it. More than any other group or basketball team.

The last four years, three trips to the Western Conference finals, a trip to the NBA Finals, and a year where Russell Westbrook got hurt and didn’t even have a chance. In comparison to the Miami Heat, who have gone to four straight Finals and won two championships, and in comparison to the San Antonio Spurs, who have been one of the most consistent and well-run basketball teams and organizations in the last 15 or 20 years, nobody else is in that class, or even close to it, but this team.

This is the team that is scratching on the surface of the best in all of basketball in recent years and in the history of the game. It’s not as far off as it seems in terms of how bad it hurts, but to get across that finish line, it’s still a long stride there at the end.”

In Game 6, Fish and the Thunder showed just how close they were to that level, nearly forcing a Game 7 in San Antonio.

But at the same time, OKC also showed their youth with a third-quarter collapse and a frigid overtime period.

A poor third frame left the Thunder down by 10 going into the fourth in Game 6, which forced the home team to put on their rally caps. Derek knocked down a key triple amid the furious fourth-quarter run, and a pair of Russell Westbrook free throws in the final 10 seconds sent the game to overtime.

However, the OKC offense went cold in the extra period, producing just one field goal in the added five minutes. And as he fell short of winning championship ring No. 6, Derek was left feeling a bit empty—particularly since he knows the Thunder, guided by newly crowned league MVP Kevin Durant, have what it takes to go all the way, once they find out how to conjure up that last little bit that turns an elite team into a championship team.

“The toughest distance to make up is that little distance there at the end. Whatever happens going forward, just have to figure out how to get those last inches,” Derek said of the Thunder’s title hopes.

After the defeat, now comes perhaps the most important offseason of Fish’s career. No. 6 played 33 minutes, pulling down six rebounds to go with five points, a steal and an assist in Saturday night’s defeat. And although he’ll turn 40 in August, he showed this season that he still has what it takes to compete on the court in the NBA.

Derek scored in every game in the conference quarterfinals against Memphis, as well as every tilt of the conference semis against the Spurs—including a 16-point outburst in Game 1.

But even more important than the physical capability, Derek still has the same burning passion for playing the game that he has carried from his childhood growing up in Little Rock, Ark.

“If you watched the game last night, you know my heart is definitely still in it,” he said. “But I’m also realistic about knowing I can’t do this forever, even if I’m physically capable of still doing it.”

Whether he continues on as a player or a coach, one thing is for sure: Derek Fisher will find some role inside the game of basketball’s highest level.

RELATED ARTICLES 

• Exit Interviews: There is no clock (DailyThunder, June 1, 2014)
• Derek Fisher Undecided on Plans (ESPN, June 2, 2014)
• Fisher: Too early to determine future (CBS Sports, June 1, 2014)
• Could Fisher be better coach than Brooks? (SportingNews, June 2, 2014)
• Fisher says it’s his “calling” to be coach (NY Post, June 1, 2014)
• Fisher will consider coaching options (Yahoo! Sports, June 1, 2014)
• Fisher’s future could be game of allegiance (LA Times, June 1, 2014)