Posts tagged History

My prediction is Derek Lamar Fisher will hang’em up after his current contract expires in three years, when he’ll be almost 40.  You didn’t think he was going to retire now, did you?  After winning his 5th NBA Championship with Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson in his 11th year as a Laker, there is no reason to think he won’t continue playing for more rings.  This 6’1″ 36 year old was born in Little Rock, Arkansas and played there in college; he will be playing his 15th year in the pros this season.  Fisher has numerous detractors; no one would argue that he is the best point guard in the league.  He is just the best point guard for the Lakers, providing leadership and clutch shooting.  He has the highest 3-point field goal percentage in NBA Finals history, and is second in made 3-pointers.  The good thing about Fisher slowing down as he ages is that he wasn’t exactly quick in his youth, so the decline is less drastic than with speedier players like Allen Iverson.  And at least Fisher is durable, having played every game in 7 of the last 8 seasons and averaging 80 games in the 12 seasons he didn’t have a serious injury.  With the Lakers having an excellent back-up for Fisher, the goal should be to limit his minutes during the regular season and have him well rested for the playoffs. Fisher is president of the National Basketball Players Association, and Theo Ratliff is vice president.