Fisher’s Dramatic Return
Posted by Andrew on May 9, 2008
It was exactly to the day, Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, that Derek Fisher made a dramatic entrance in the third quarter to a standing ovation. His presence, including his defense against Baron Davis and a key three pointer with just over a minute to play helped the Jazz to an emotional win against the Golden State Warriors in Salt Lake City.
As we all know now, Derek Fisher arrived late to that game after spending the day in New York City at a hospital with his family, who were there for his 11-month old daughter Tatum, who had surgery on a cancerous tumor in her eye.
“It seemed like the community and all the Jazz fans and everybody was inspired, and really felt for our family, and for me, in our situation, “ Fisher recently said.
After the season, Fisher asked the Jazz to let him out of his contract so the he and his family could move closer to appropriate medical care and facilities that could help his daughter get the treatment she needed. This left two options of where to move his family, New York or Los Angeles.
Terminating the contract, which contained the remaining two years on his contract and over $10 million in guaranteed money. At the time he said he wasn’t concerned with playing basketball and would consider retiring if he wasn’t able to find an NBA team willing to sign him. He said at the time that he planned to devote his energies to fighting his daughters ailing health and that if a team was willing to sign him, he’d consider continuing his career.
As many anticipated, Fisher wound up signing a three year contract with his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he’d won three titles with, which ultimately cost him millions of dollars in the process. Most Jazz fans resented Fishers decision to leave, and even more so for signing with the hated Lakers, and expressed that by booing him heavily when he and the Lakers visited Salt Lake City on November 30, 2007.
“It was a very difficult thing to grasp or understand in terms of what was it that the fans or the people didn’t quite understand about our story as a family,” said Fisher. “I think the fact that it was the Lakers, and I had played for that team before, I think added to whatever suspicion or whatever question people may have had about my motives.”
On the one year anniversary of that dramatic playoff victory over the Golden State Warriors, and of that emotional day for Fisher and his family, it’s very possible that tonight’s game, the first playoff game for Fisher back in Utah, could get a little crazy. What kind of reaction does Fisher believe he’ll receive in Game 3 now that the Lakers will be playing in Utah in a game that really matters, and is considered to be a must-win for the Jazz?
“I think it’ll be as crazy and as hostile of an environment as I’ve played in ever in my career. I think the fans will be totally wrapped up in the moment in the fact that ‘we’re playing against the hated Lakers,’ and I think that’s what the focus will be on,” Fisher said.
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May 9, 2008 at 9:28 pm
As a life-long Jazz fan and someone who knows the intimate details of the Jazz/Lakers rivalry over the past twenty years, It’s my opinion that the select Jazz fans who actually decided to boo Fisher are doing so because of all teams, he chose to return to the Lakers. Most players who leave by their own free will and choice, regardless of the circumstances, are likely to get booed in Utah, and especially if they choose to leave in favor of the Lakers, who have had a rivalry with the Jazz as far back as the late 80’s, when Stockton and Malone were starting to emerge as contenders to overtake Magic and the Lakers for dominance in the West. Not that I condone it, because I don’t, but only people who understand the rivalry would understand why it would happen.
May 10, 2008 at 12:15 am
I’m just coming down from the Jazz win tonight so this might sound a little emotional. I totally agree that Derek Fisher is a class act and the Jazz fans should not be booing him because of his move for the sake of his daughter. On the other hand, booing him because of the uniform he now wears is perfectly appropriate and it would be disappointing if they didn’t boo him.
But having established my position, let’s harken back to that memorable night in SLC when Fisher made his dramatic entrance into the arena and was so instrumental in the Jazz win over Golden State. What a night to remember! But let’s think about it. Where had Derek come from that night? New York City at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Derek and his wife determined the best treatment for their little girl was available in New York City. So I find myself asking what many Jazz fans have apparently been asking - “Why isn’t Derek playing for the Knicks or the Nets?” I can accept that he has made a good decision for his family and I applaud him for that. I don’t plan to hold that against in any way. But can the rest of sports world understand why some Jazz fans might question his motives when he ends up in Los Angeles, 3000 miles from “the best treatment available”? I understand that his daughter is receiving excellent care with a doctor in LA and I’m sure they have wonderful treatment available there. But some Jazz fans don’t see it that way. Maybe they assume he took advantage of the good heart of Larry Miller and they’re upset about that. I wish they could get past those thoughts but I also understand their feelings. Just something to think about.
May 12, 2008 at 11:29 am
Fisher was a valuable part of the Jazz success last season, so with him leaving the team, without the Jazz getting any kind of compensation, for the Western Conference rival Lakers, you can only imagine who that makes the fans feel.
Even worse, Fisher is a major reason why the Lakers are the top team in the West this season, and that can’t sit well with Jazz fans who probably feel he could have made a similar impact on their squad.
May 12, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I totally agree that Fisher would be a wonderful veteran presence who would add a lot to the Jazz lineup this season, I’m actually glad that Fisher moved on because it’s opened up a spot for Ronnie Brewer to emerge as one of the better young wing players in the league. On top of that, I love Ronnie Price as the backup at the point, especially for the future.
Sure, I’m a little sour that Fish left the way he did, but there shouldn’t be any hard feelings and I’m glad things have worked out well for him and his family. As a member of the Lakers, I simply have a hard time hoping for the best in his professional career, but I’m glad the move has worked out for him. Mike Tirico has mentioned during this series that he is likely receiving harsh treatment and some boos in Salt Lake City because he is now playing for “Public Enemy Number One from the perspective of Jazz fans,” rather than for his choice to leave the team, and I couldn’t agree more.
May 13, 2008 at 1:11 am
One of the bieest things with Fisher moving to L.A. is the fact that he’d be reunited with his former team and coach, with whom he won three titles with, so it’s easy to see why certain fans were up in arms about the entire thing.
May 13, 2008 at 1:12 am
I meant, “One of the biggest things …”
May 13, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Fisher is not that much better than what the Jazz have the PG position. But he is a huge boost to the Lakers, and he’s killing the Jazz with steals. Could that be that he knows the Utah offense so well and that’s how he’s picking their pocket? LA would be playing with Farmar at PG if it weren’t for Fish and that has to hurt, especially if the Jazz end up losing the series in a close one.
Fisher did nothing wrong, but it’s hard to simply lose a player for nothing and then have him play a big role in knocking you out of the playoffs.
May 13, 2008 at 7:08 pm
…what the Jazz have at the BACKUP PG position.
May 13, 2008 at 9:17 pm
I agree with you here. He wasn’t a major player for the Jazz, but he gives the Lakers a major upgrade at point guard, so that’s makes a huge difference in this series. I still say that the Jazz should’ve forced any team who signs him to hand over a draft pick as part of letting him out of his deal last summer.
May 15, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Fisher is making a difference for the Lakers, no doubt about it. He’s also playing well against Utah because he knows their offense and is picking Boozers pocket on double-teams when he get the ball in the low post.
May 17, 2008 at 11:16 am
Of course it’s possible that he figured, “I’m not starting at the point behind D-Will, so I’m playing out of position, and may not even start with the emergence of Ronnie Brewer. Plus, Kobe’s my boy and needs some veteran support.” But he couldn’t ask for a trade after the way the fans and organization stood by him and his family, or else he’d be villanized, so asking out of his contract was the right way to force his way back to L.A. Just a thought, after watching him with the Lakers this post-season, though it’s likely way off-base.
May 17, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Derick’s wife is from Los Angeles and her family still reside in Los Angeles - I read that D Fish chose LA over New York to get the support and help from his wife’s family
May 18, 2008 at 2:17 pm
That makes some sense, plus the fact that he’d have a much better chance of competing for a championship while playing for a team that he has a bunch of familiarity with. It all makes too much sense.