Derek Fisher facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids
Derek Fisher
Personal information
Fisher with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2014
Head coach
Born	(1974-08-09) August 9, 1974 (age 50) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
High school	Parkview Arts and Science Magnet (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Listed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College	Little Rock (1992–1996)
NBA Draft	1996 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Los Angeles Lakers
Pro career	1996–2014
Coaching career	2014–present
Career history
As player:
1996–2004	Los Angeles Lakers
2004–2006	Golden State Warriors
2006–2007	Utah Jazz
2007–2012	Los Angeles Lakers
2012	Oklahoma City Thunder
2012	Dallas Mavericks
2013–2014	Oklahoma City Thunder
As coach:
2014–2016	New York Knicks
2019–2022	Los Angeles Sparks

Career highlights and awards
As player: 5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010) Sun Belt Player of the Year (1996) 2× All-Sun Belt (1995, 1996)

Career NBA statistics
Points	10,713 (8.3 ppg)
Rebounds	2,658 (2.1 rpg)
Assists	3,804 (3.0 apg)

Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 18 seasons. Most of his career was with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he won five NBA championships. He also played for the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Dallas Mavericks. After retiring as a player, he became a coach for the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA.

Early Life and College Basketball

Growing Up in Arkansas

Derek Lamar Fisher was born on August 9, 1974, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He went to Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School in Little Rock. There, he was a star player in basketball.

College Career at UALR

Fisher attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) for four years. He studied communications. He became one of the best players in the school's history. He ranked second in points (1,393), assists (472), and steals (189).

As a senior, he was named the Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. In 2005, Fisher gave $700,000 to UALR. This money helped build a new gym named after him.

Professional Basketball Career

Joining the Los Angeles Lakers (1996–2004)

Fisher was picked 24th in the 1996 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. He spent his first eight seasons with the team. The Lakers also got Kobe Bryant in the same draft. Fisher and Bryant became good friends and won five championships together.

Fisher played in 80 games in his first season. He averaged 3.9 points per game. In the 1997–98 NBA season, he became a starter in 36 games. The Lakers reached the Western Conference finals.

When Phil Jackson became the Lakers' coach in 1999, Fisher worked hard on his shooting. He helped the Lakers win the 2000 NBA championship, his first title.

Fisher missed many games in the 2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers season due to a foot injury. When he returned, he helped the Lakers' defense. He started all 16 playoff games. He shot very well from the three-point line. The Lakers won their second straight title against the Philadelphia 76ers.

In the 2001–02 Los Angeles Lakers season, Fisher continued to play well. He helped the Lakers win their third straight championship. By the 2002–03 NBA season, he was the main point guard.

The Famous "0.4 Shot"

One of Fisher's most famous moments happened on May 13, 2004. It was Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. The game was very close. With 0.4 seconds left, the Spurs took a 73–72 lead.

The Lakers called a timeout. When the game restarted, Gary Payton passed the ball to Fisher. Fisher quickly caught the ball, turned, and shot. The ball went in just as the clock ran out! The referees checked the video and confirmed the shot counted. The Lakers won 74–73. This shot is known as the "0.4 shot." The Lakers then won the series and reached the 2004 NBA Finals.

Playing for Other Teams (2004–2007)

On July 15, 2004, Fisher signed with the Golden State Warriors. He played two seasons there. In the 2005–06 NBA season, he averaged 13.3 points per game, his highest scoring average.

In July 2006, Fisher was traded to the Utah Jazz. He played in all 82 games in the 2006–07 season. He averaged 10.1 points per game.

During the 2007 playoffs, Fisher's daughter, Tatum, was diagnosed with a rare eye cancer. She needed emergency surgery. Fisher flew from New York to Salt Lake City during Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals. He arrived during the game, suited up, and helped the Jazz win in overtime. He later asked the Jazz to release him so he could find a team in a city with better medical care for his daughter.

Returning to the Lakers (2007–2012)

Fisher playing for the Lakers

On July 19, 2007, Fisher rejoined the Los Angeles Lakers. He took a pay cut to be closer to his daughter's doctors. He became the Lakers' starting point guard again.

In the 2009 NBA Finals, Fisher made two big three-pointers in Game 4 against the Orlando Magic. These shots helped the Lakers win and take a 3–1 lead in the series. The Lakers went on to win their 15th NBA title, Fisher's fourth.

Fisher (left), Kobe Bryant (center) with President Barack Obama (right) on January 25, 2010.

In Game 3 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Fisher scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. This helped the Lakers win against the Boston Celtics. In Game 7, he hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the game. The Lakers won the championship, giving Fisher his fifth NBA title.

Later Playing Career (2012–2014)

In March 2012, Fisher was traded to the Houston Rockets. He then asked to be released and signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He helped the Thunder reach the 2012 NBA Finals, his eighth Finals appearance.

Fisher with the Mavericks in 2012

In November 2012, Fisher signed with the Dallas Mavericks. He played nine games before getting injured. He asked to be released again to be with his family.

In February 2013, Fisher re-signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He played with them for the rest of the 2012–13 Oklahoma City Thunder season and the 2013–14 Oklahoma City Thunder season. He helped the Thunder reach the Western Conference finals in 2014.

Coaching Career

New York Knicks (2014–2016)

On June 10, 2014, Fisher became the head coach for the New York Knicks. He worked with Phil Jackson, who was the team's president. Fisher wanted the Knicks to use the "triangle offense," which he learned from Jackson. The Knicks finished the 2014–15 New York Knicks season with a tough 17–65 record. Fisher was fired in February 2016.

Los Angeles Sparks (2019–2022)

On December 5, 2018, Fisher was named the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In his first season (2019), the Sparks finished 22–12 and made the playoffs. They reached the WNBA semifinals.

In his second season (2020), the Sparks had a 15–7 record and made the playoffs again. In December 2020, Fisher also became the general manager for the Sparks. He left the Sparks in June 2022.

High School Coaching (2023)

In August 2023, Crespi Carmelite High School in California announced that Fisher would be their new head basketball coach.

Television Analyst

Fisher has also worked as a television analyst. He has appeared on TNT's Inside the NBA and NBA TV. He also worked as an in-studio analyst for the Los Angeles Lakers on Spectrum SportsNet.

Player Profile

Fisher in a game with the Lakers

Derek Fisher had a long and successful NBA career. He was known for his leadership, toughness, and making big plays in important moments. He averaged 8.3 points per game in his career. He was also a good three-point shooter and free-throw shooter.

When he retired, Fisher held NBA playoff records for games played (259) and games won (161). These records were later broken by LeBron James. Phil Jackson called Fisher "the spokesman for [the Lakers] as far as leadership goes." Kobe Bryant said Fisher was his favorite teammate.

Players Union Role

Fisher was the President of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) starting in 2006. This is the union that represents NBA players. He played an important role during the 2011 NBA lockout, working with the league to reach an agreement.

NBA Career Statistics

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field goal percentage	3P%	3-point field goal percentage	FT%	Free throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1996–97	L.A. Lakers	80	3	11.5	.397	.301	.658	1.2	1.5	.5	.1	3.9
1997–98	L.A. Lakers	82*	36	21.5	.434	.383	.757	2.4	4.1	.9	.1	5.8
1998–99	L.A. Lakers	50*	21	22.6	.376	.392	.759	1.8	3.9	1.2	.0	5.9
1999–00†	L.A. Lakers	78	22	23.1	.346	.313	.724	1.8	1.8	1.0	.0	6.3
2000–01†	L.A. Lakers	20	20	35.5	.412	.397	.806	3.0	4.4	2.0	.1	11.5
2001–02†	L.A. Lakers	70	35	28.2	.411	.413	.847	2.1	2.6	.9	.1	11.2
2002–03	L.A. Lakers	82	82*	34.5	.437	.401	.800	2.9	3.6	1.1	.2	10.5
2003–04	L.A. Lakers	82	3	21.6	.352	.291	.797	1.9	2.3	1.3	.0	7.1
2004–05	Golden State	74	32	30.0	.393	.371	.862	2.9	4.1	1.0	.1	11.9
2005–06	Golden State	82*	36	31.6	.410	.397	.833	2.6	4.3	1.5	.1	13.3
2006–07	Utah	82*	61	27.9	.382	.308	.853	1.8	3.3	1.0	.1	10.1
2007–08	L.A. Lakers	82*	82*	27.4	.436	.406	.883	2.1	2.9	1.0	.0	11.7
2008–09†	L.A. Lakers	82*	82*	29.8	.424	.397	.846	2.3	3.2	1.2	.1	9.9
2009–10†	L.A. Lakers	82*	82*	27.2	.380	.348	.856	2.1	2.5	1.1	.1	7.5
2010–11	L.A. Lakers	82	82*	28.0	.389	.396	.806	1.9	2.7	1.2	.1	6.8
2011–12	L.A. Lakers	43	43	25.6	.383	.324	.830	2.1	3.3	.9	.1	5.9
2011–12	Oklahoma City	20	0	20.4	.343	.314	.929	1.4	1.4	.6	.1	4.9
2012–13	Dallas	9	9	25.4	.354	.435	.913	1.7	3.6	.6	.2	8.6
2012–13	Oklahoma City	24	0	14.4	.333	.351	.933	.9	.7	.6	.0	4.1
2013–14	Oklahoma City	81	0	17.6	.391	.384	.775	1.5	1.4	.9	.0	5.2
Career		1,287	731	25.4	.399	.374	.817	2.1	3.0	1.1	.1	8.3

Playoffs

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1997	L.A. Lakers	6	0	5.7	.273	.000	.667	.5	1.0	.2	.0	1.3
1998	L.A. Lakers	13	13	21.4	.397	.300	.621	1.9	3.8	1.3	.0	6.0
1999	L.A. Lakers	8	8	29.8	.418	.345	.800	3.6	4.9	1.0	.0	9.8
2000†	L.A. Lakers	21	0	15.3	.430	.414	.760	1.0	2.0	.5	.0	4.7
2001†	L.A. Lakers	16	16	36.0	.484	.515	.765	3.8	3.0	1.3	.1	13.4
2002†	L.A. Lakers	19	19	34.2	.357	.358	.786	3.3	2.7	1.0	.1	10.2
2003	L.A. Lakers	12	12	35.3	.520	.617	.818	3.0	1.8	1.5	.1	12.8
2004	L.A. Lakers	22	0	23.0	.405	.418	.657	2.5	2.2	.8	.0	7.5
2007	Utah	16	14	27.8	.405	.375	.933	1.6	2.6	1.0	.1	9.5
2008	L.A. Lakers	21	21	31.6	.452	.440	.836	2.2	2.5	2.0	.1	10.2
2009†	L.A. Lakers	22	22	28.9	.394	.284	.861	2.0	2.2	1.0	.0	8.0
2010†	L.A. Lakers	23	23	32.8	.448	.360	.821	2.5	2.8	1.2	.0	10.3
2011	L.A. Lakers	10	10	32.5	.433	.412	.810	2.7	2.6	1.4	.2	8.2
2012	Oklahoma City	20	0	22.3	.415	.375	1.000	1.6	1.3	.9	.1	6.3
2013	Oklahoma City	11	0	23.7	.457	.471	.667	1.5	.7	.6	.1	8.7
2014	Oklahoma City	19	0	15.7	.315	.293	1.000	1.7	.8	.7	.0	3.8
Career		259	158	26.5	.422	.399	.805	2.2	2.3	1.1	.1	8.3

Head Coaching Record

Legend
Regular season	G	Games coached	W	Games won	L	Games lost	W–L %	Win–loss %
Playoffs	PG	Playoff games	PW	Playoff wins	PL	Playoff losses	PW–L %	Playoff win–loss %

NBA

Team	Year	G	W	L	W–L%	Finish	PG	PW	PL	PW–L%	Result
New York	2014–15	82	17	65	.207	5th in Atlantic	—	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
New York	2015–16	54	23	31	.426	(fired)	—	—	—	—	—
Career		136	40	96	.294

WNBA

Team	Year	G	W	L	W–L%	Finish	PG	PW	PL	PW–L%	Result
LAS	2019	34	22	12	.647	1st in West	4	1	3	.250	Lost in Conference finals
LAS	2020	22	15	7	.682	3rd in West	1	0	1	.000	Lost in Second round
LAS	2021	32	12	20	.375	6th in West	-	-	-	–	Missed Playoffs
LAS	2022	12	5	7	.417	4th in West (at time of firing)	-	-	-	–	Fired after 12 Games
Career		100	54	46	.540		5	1	4	.200

Personal Life

Candace and Tatum Fisher at the White House in 2010

Derek Fisher is the younger brother of former NBA player Duane Washington. Fisher is a Christian and has spoken about his faith. His nickname is D-Fish.

He has four children: Tatum and Drew (twins), Marshall, and Chloe.

Images for kids

Fisher with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2014
Fisher playing for the Lakers
Fisher (left), Kobe Bryant (center) with President Barack Obama (right) on January 25, 2010.
Fisher with the Mavericks in 2012
Fisher in a game with the Lakers
Candace and Tatum Fisher at the White House in 2010