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Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9, 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an NBA player for the Golden State Warriors. more...

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Fisher was a graduate of Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He was selected 24th overall in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, and spent his first eight seasons with them. He averaged double digits in points in three different seasons (2000-2001, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003) and won three consecutive NBA championships with the team. An underrated part of the supporting cast behind superstars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, Fisher played a vital contribution to the 2000-2001 playoff run, which the Lakers stormed through with an NBA record 15-1 mark.

Basketball career

Los Angeles Lakers

Fisher's finest moment

However, Fisher's finest playoff hour came in Game 5 of the 2003-2004 Western Conference Semifinals between the Lakers and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. With the series tied at two games apiece, Game 5 was a tight affair. Neither team was willing to give the other the lead in the series, and the Lakers wanted to avoid a Game 7. With 11 seconds remaining, Kobe Bryant hit a jump shot to put the Lakers up 72-71. The Spurs, needing last-minute heroics, thought they clinched the game when Tim Duncan somehow made an 18-foot shot despite falling away from the basket and solid defense from Shaquille O'Neal. The Spurs led 73-72 with 0.4 seconds on the clock. After three time-outs, Gary Payton found Fisher, who managed to catch, turn, and shoot to win the game. Fisher sprinted off the court in jubliation. The Spurs immediately filed a dispute regarding the shot. The referees reviewed video footage of the play and concluded that the ball had indeed left Fisher's hand before the clock expired. the referees allowed the basket to the count and the Lakers had won.

Fisher was nicknamed "The Fish that Saved L.A" for the play and was credited with saving the championship run, for losing the game would have extended the series to seven games, which would have put undue strain on the Lakers. The Lakers went on to close out the series with a fourth victory to defeat the Spurs. They went on to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves to clinch the Western Conference championship, but were upset in the NBA Finals by the Detroit Pistons 4-1. That memorable season was Fisher's last with the Lakers.

Golden State Warriors

After the 2004 season, Fisher became a free agent. Although Fisher was popular, the Lakers saw him as a role player. With Gary Payton and Karl Malone also on the team, Fisher was also removed from the starters list to the bench and playing 18-20 minutes a game . The Lakers also offered him $15 million USD over three years. In contrast, the Golden State Warriors offered Fisher $37 million over six years and guaranteed him the role of the team's starting point guard.

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