Los Angeles Lakers: Building the all-time underappreciated team
By Jason Elbaum
Point Guard: Derek Fisher (Laker from 1996-2004, 2007-2012)
When Laker fans think about the 1996 NBA Draft, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is the infamous deal that brought Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles after the Charlotte Hornets selected him with the 13th overall pick. People forget that the Lakers had a first round pick of their own that season, as Derek Fisher was selected 24th overall out of Arkansas-Little Rock.
D-Fish would go on to help the Lakers win five championships in two separate stints with the team. His unselfish style of play fit perfectly in Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, and was known for his playoff heroics against the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals in 2004, and against the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals in 2009.
Fisher became somewhat of a defensive liability in his last few years with the team, as he was over-matched by much quicker guards such as Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. However, his relentless hustle and consistent production made him a key component to the Lakers dynasty of the 2000s.
He served as the President of the NBA Players Association from 2006-2012 and coached the New York Knicks for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.