Lakers Legend Derek Fisher

Andrew D. Bernstein (0:00)

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Hey, folks, and welcome to this episode of the Legends Of Sport podcast. I'm your host, Andy Bernstein. We are releasing this episode to coincide with the opening night of the 2026-27 NBA season. It also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the 1996-97 season, which also happened to be this week's guests' rookie season.

Our guest is Derek Fisher, 18-year NBA veteran, five-time NBA champion, head coach in the NBA and WNBA, and former president of the NBA Players Association. In addition to this being the 30th anniversary of Derek's rookie season, it is also the 30th anniversary of the great Kobe Bryant's rookie season, and the first time that Kobe and Shaq paired up in the Lakers purple and gold. I was there to document that momentous season 30 years ago, and all the historic moments that came after. Derek and I had a great conversation on this episode about his memories of his rookie year, playing and winning five rings with Kobe, in two different stints with the Lakers, playing under the great Phil Jackson, and so much more. Derek is now coaching the boys' team at Crespi High School in the LA area. He and I talk about how special it is to make an impact on a young person's life through basketball. One of the best people I know and have had the pleasure of photographing throughout his career. Big thanks to Deep Fish for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat with me on this episode. Enjoy this conversation with the legendary Derek Fisher. As always, folks, I'll see you on the back side.

Well, I got to welcome the great Derek Fisher. Deep Fish, my friend to the Legends Of Sport podcast, back to the Legends Of Sport podcast. Actually, you've been a repeat customer, a repeat guest. Hey, Dee, how you doing, man?

Derek Fisher (2:49)

Thankfully, good, Andy.

Appreciate you having me on again, as you said. And yeah, it was good to bump into you recently also. So, yeah, it's great to connect here.

Andrew D. Bernstein (3:02)

Yeah, for sure. We hadn't seen each other in a little while. And then we saw each other literally last night at Pau Gasol's Gasol Foundation event at Crypto, which was awesome. So great to see you there. And so great to see what Pau and his brother are doing at their foundation.

The last time we talked, I don't know if you remember, but it was six years ago. We were both in bubbles. You were the WNBA bubble. I was in the NBA bubble. And I don't know if you've thought about that experience since, but it's like the most surreal memory of all time, I think.

Derek Fisher (3:36)

That's right.

That's right. I mean, the experience of being there, yes, I've thought about it often, but I did not realize you and I hadn't connected, or at least via the show.

Andrew D. Bernstein (3:47)

Yeah. Yeah. We've seen each other at various statue dedications and randomly at games and stuff. But man, that was a crazy summer of 2000

Derek Fisher (3:58)

It surely was.

Andrew D. Bernstein (4:00)

Unbelievable, man. So, Dave, always glad to see you, glad to speak to you. This is a really special occasion that we're speaking today. I hope you realize that opening night of the NBA season, the 2026-27 season, will commemorate the 30th anniversary, my friend, of your opening night with the Lakers in 1996, and the first pairing of Kobe and Shaq, the beginning of the dynasty, the three Pete that you guys did together, of course, five championships that you won with the Mamba.

Does it seem like 30 years ago to you?

Derek Fisher (4:43)

To my beard, it definitely does, that's for sure.

Andrew D. Bernstein (4:46)

At the top of my head, which you can't see, it definitely is.

Derek Fisher (4:49)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it does in some ways.

I know it's obviously like, I know I'm not that fast, I know I can't do the things I used to be able to do 30 years ago, but in some ways, it still feels like it was all a blur. Yeah. It was this really brief experience that was fleeting and now it's gone, and you can look back on it and reflect a little bit, but there was nothing like the experience in real time.