lefty
04-12-2011, 12:44 PM
Not really, I lied.
L.A. Lakers Debate: Will the Lakers Retire Derek Fisher's No. 2?
By Andre Khatchaturian (http://bleacherreport.com/users/498659-andre-khatchaturian)
(Contributor) on April 10, 2011 - Los Angeles
960 reads
22 comments (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/657606-lakers-debate-will-the-lakers-retire-derek-fishers-2?search_query=magic%20johnson#comments)
1 like
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/176/845/101967223_crop_340x234.jpg?1302471525 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images In the summer of 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-lakers) drafted a young point guard from a small school in Arkansas.
A decade and a half later, he is known as one of the most clutch Lakers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-lakers) of all time.
Earlier this year, he scored a layup as time expired to beat the Clippers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-clippers). Last year in the Western Semifinals, he came through in Game 3 with a huge three-pointer with 28.6 seconds left that sank the Jazz (http://bleacherreport.com/utah-jazz) to the abyss.
Lakers fans won't forget his valiant effort to get past three Boston Celtics (http://bleacherreport.com/boston-celtics) and score on an amazing play in Game 3 of the Finals.
There definitely was not a dry eye in Laker Nation during his tearful postgame speech.
The year before, he had one of the most legendary performances in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic (http://bleacherreport.com/orlando-magic), where he hit yet another three-pointer with four seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. Later in the overtime period, Fisher struck again to give the Lakers the win.
Most importantly, Fish is most known for his miraculous shot against the San Antonio Spurs (http://bleacherreport.com/san-antonio-spurs) back in the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals which is now simply known as "0.4."
The Lakers did not win the title that year, but it definitely wasn't Fisher's fault. He propelled them to the Finals because of that shot. And it will continue to be seen in highlight reels for decades to come.
Aside from his playoff heroics, Derek Fisher (http://bleacherreport.com/derek-fisher) has served as president of the NBA Player's Association. His high IQ on and off the floor has facilitated the game for the Lakers throughout the years.
His touching family life and his daughter's condition with eye cancer also has touched the hearts of Laker fans.
Fisher seems to be an iron man as he gets older as well. He hasn't missed a game since the 2004-05 season, when he was with the Golden State Warriors (http://bleacherreport.com/golden-state-warriors).
With all of this being said, it is apparent that Derek Fisher is a Laker legend. As he approaches the twilight of his career, the following question arises:
Does Derek Fisher deserve to have his No. 2 retired by the Lakers?
The answer to this question is a simple no. Yes, he has been clutch in big games, but he has never been a star. He hasn't been the focal point of the offense.
Sure, he's been a great leader and hit some great clutch shots, but the team shouldn't become emotional about a few big shots and retire his number. If he were on the Celtics (http://bleacherreport.com/boston-celtics), then retiring his number makes sense. The Celtics retire almost everybody's number that contributed for them.
The Lakers don't. They are highly selective.
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/151/601/111679219_crop_340x234.jpg?1302471589 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Currently, the Lakers have retired the numbers of Jerry West (No. 44), Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Elgin Baylor (No. 22), Gail Goodrich (No. 25), Magic Johnson (No. 32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 33) and James Worthy (No. 42).
Be honest with yourself. Does Derek Fisher really stack up with those names? Really?
The answer is obvious. If Derek Fisher's going to be up there with those guys, then players like Kurt Rambis and Robert Horry who contributed to Laker championships should also be retired. Like Fisher, Rambis and Horry were great leaders and were big in the clutch. But they are not even close to having their numbers retired.
In order to have your number retired as a Laker, the player needs to have close to hall-of-fame or better credentials. They need to be perennial All-Stars.
Gail Goodrich was a five-time All-Star. Kareem was a 19-time All-Star and a six-time NBA champion. Magic was a 12-time All-Star and a three-time NBA Finals MVP.
See a trend?
The players the Lakers retired are transcendent athletes. Derek Fisher is a great leader who has hit clutch shots in big games. He has never been close to being the best player on his team and does not deserve to have his name mentioned with those guys.
It may seem like the Lakers do not honor the hard-working players who helped win championships like the Celtics do. Instead of just retiring everyone's number, the Lakers should have a corner in Staples Center in the concourse area with a Lakers Hall of Fame, honoring guys like Rambis, Horry, Rick Fox and Fisher.
There is no question Fisher is a Laker legend. However, one clutch shot is not equivalent to a consistent and illustrious career.
L.A. Lakers Debate: Will the Lakers Retire Derek Fisher's No. 2?
By Andre Khatchaturian (http://bleacherreport.com/users/498659-andre-khatchaturian)
(Contributor) on April 10, 2011 - Los Angeles
960 reads
22 comments (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/657606-lakers-debate-will-the-lakers-retire-derek-fishers-2?search_query=magic%20johnson#comments)
1 like
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/001/176/845/101967223_crop_340x234.jpg?1302471525 Ronald Martinez/Getty Images In the summer of 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-lakers) drafted a young point guard from a small school in Arkansas.
A decade and a half later, he is known as one of the most clutch Lakers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-lakers) of all time.
Earlier this year, he scored a layup as time expired to beat the Clippers (http://bleacherreport.com/los-angeles-clippers). Last year in the Western Semifinals, he came through in Game 3 with a huge three-pointer with 28.6 seconds left that sank the Jazz (http://bleacherreport.com/utah-jazz) to the abyss.
Lakers fans won't forget his valiant effort to get past three Boston Celtics (http://bleacherreport.com/boston-celtics) and score on an amazing play in Game 3 of the Finals.
There definitely was not a dry eye in Laker Nation during his tearful postgame speech.
The year before, he had one of the most legendary performances in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic (http://bleacherreport.com/orlando-magic), where he hit yet another three-pointer with four seconds left to tie the game and send it to overtime. Later in the overtime period, Fisher struck again to give the Lakers the win.
Most importantly, Fish is most known for his miraculous shot against the San Antonio Spurs (http://bleacherreport.com/san-antonio-spurs) back in the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals which is now simply known as "0.4."
The Lakers did not win the title that year, but it definitely wasn't Fisher's fault. He propelled them to the Finals because of that shot. And it will continue to be seen in highlight reels for decades to come.
Aside from his playoff heroics, Derek Fisher (http://bleacherreport.com/derek-fisher) has served as president of the NBA Player's Association. His high IQ on and off the floor has facilitated the game for the Lakers throughout the years.
His touching family life and his daughter's condition with eye cancer also has touched the hearts of Laker fans.
Fisher seems to be an iron man as he gets older as well. He hasn't missed a game since the 2004-05 season, when he was with the Golden State Warriors (http://bleacherreport.com/golden-state-warriors).
With all of this being said, it is apparent that Derek Fisher is a Laker legend. As he approaches the twilight of his career, the following question arises:
Does Derek Fisher deserve to have his No. 2 retired by the Lakers?
The answer to this question is a simple no. Yes, he has been clutch in big games, but he has never been a star. He hasn't been the focal point of the offense.
Sure, he's been a great leader and hit some great clutch shots, but the team shouldn't become emotional about a few big shots and retire his number. If he were on the Celtics (http://bleacherreport.com/boston-celtics), then retiring his number makes sense. The Celtics retire almost everybody's number that contributed for them.
The Lakers don't. They are highly selective.
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/article/media_slots/photos/000/151/601/111679219_crop_340x234.jpg?1302471589 Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Currently, the Lakers have retired the numbers of Jerry West (No. 44), Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Elgin Baylor (No. 22), Gail Goodrich (No. 25), Magic Johnson (No. 32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 33) and James Worthy (No. 42).
Be honest with yourself. Does Derek Fisher really stack up with those names? Really?
The answer is obvious. If Derek Fisher's going to be up there with those guys, then players like Kurt Rambis and Robert Horry who contributed to Laker championships should also be retired. Like Fisher, Rambis and Horry were great leaders and were big in the clutch. But they are not even close to having their numbers retired.
In order to have your number retired as a Laker, the player needs to have close to hall-of-fame or better credentials. They need to be perennial All-Stars.
Gail Goodrich was a five-time All-Star. Kareem was a 19-time All-Star and a six-time NBA champion. Magic was a 12-time All-Star and a three-time NBA Finals MVP.
See a trend?
The players the Lakers retired are transcendent athletes. Derek Fisher is a great leader who has hit clutch shots in big games. He has never been close to being the best player on his team and does not deserve to have his name mentioned with those guys.
It may seem like the Lakers do not honor the hard-working players who helped win championships like the Celtics do. Instead of just retiring everyone's number, the Lakers should have a corner in Staples Center in the concourse area with a Lakers Hall of Fame, honoring guys like Rambis, Horry, Rick Fox and Fisher.
There is no question Fisher is a Laker legend. However, one clutch shot is not equivalent to a consistent and illustrious career.