Years ago, Derek Fisher was a key contributor to the Los Angeles Lakers when they won five NBA championships. On a daily basis, he was around greatness, as he was privileged enough to share the court with Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol while being coached by Phil Jackson.
Today, Fisher is the head coach at Crespi Carmelite High School in the San Fernando Valley, and he also spends time as a guest analyst on Spectrum SportsNet, the Los Angeles-based cable station that televises Lakers games.
This season, the Lakers are attempting to return to greatness, and this renewed attempt at winning it all started in January when they traded for forward Rui Hachimura. He trained closely with LeBron James this summer, and Fisher feels being around the four-time MVP and the organization in general has helped the Japan native (h/t Lakers Daily).
Via The Sporting News:
“Rui’s kind of always had flashes of what we’re seeing on a consistent basis now,” Fisher told The Sporting News.
“It takes time for players to mature and grow into the best versions of themselves. But what I can tell you is from experience of being around guys that are considered one of the greatest to ever do it — the way I was with Kobe Bryant, seeing Shaq’s dominance, seeing Phil Jackson’s coaching brilliance, watching [former Utah Jazz head coach] Jerry Sloan operate with his hard-nosed approach to coaching — when you’re around guys that are really really great, it is definitely contagious.”
While Hachimura’s play has been up and down so far this season, he is averaging 11.8 points in 23.3 minutes a game while shooting 50.5% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range.
“I think being around LeBron on a daily basis and seeing his greatness, seeing Anthony Davis’ greatness, being in the Lakers organization and feeling the weight of, ‘If we don’t win a championship then nothing else really matters,’” Fisher continued.
“As a player, I think that kind of forces you to elevate how you look at things.”
If the Lakers, who are currently 9-7, are going to win their 18th NBA title this season, players not named James and Davis will need to step up on a consistent basis, especially early in games. Hachimura is one player who is capable of giving the team an offensive boost, especially since he tends to spell James when the latter comes out of the game for rest.
