Derek Fisher speaks on Kobe’s Celtic obsession, 2000s Lakers dynasty, Phil Jackson’s teaching philosophy, and extra on “Podcast P with Paul George”.
We share this week’s episode of “Podcast P with Paul George”, introduced by Wave Sports activities + Leisure, the place PG and the fellows are joined by 5x NBA Champion Derek Fisher.
On this episode, Derek goes behind-the-scenes on the early-2000s Lakers dynasty, his iconic 0.4-second game-winner in opposition to the Spurs, and the dynamics between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, in addition to the influence of Phil Jackson’s teaching philosophy on his profession.
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- (07:33): DEREK LOOKS BACK ON ALLEN IVERSON’S MEMORABLE 2002 NBA FINALS GAME ONE PERFORMANCE AND TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR TY LUE GETTING STEPPED OVER BY AI
DEREK: “That complete week in apply main as much as sport one, I used to be getting pissed off with myself as a result of I felt like my timing and rhythm wasn’t the identical because it was main as much as the finals…So sport one begins, we begin off robust, I begin off robust after which I principally tanked. I didn’t have the vitality and the drive that I usually play with. So Phil Jackson had to select for the group to love, okay, certain, let’s get [Tyronn Lue] out right here and see if he can use his pace to attempt to influence what AI [Allen Iverson] was bringing to us that evening. However it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient however that second for me, I put Ty Lue in that place the place he needed to take care of that as a result of I wasn’t at my greatest. That second has at all times been part of me and Ty Lue’s relationship anyway as a result of we had been tremendous shut and nonetheless are, however I respect AI like loopy and there’s nothing about that second of that sequence that may change that, however I actually really feel prefer it was simply all about me not being prepared. Sadly, Ty Lue needed to dwell by way of that man. So I personally really feel chargeable for it regardless that once more, it’s not like Ty Lue didn’t need to be on the market both.”
- (11:42): DEREK ON HIS FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF KOBE AND DEVELOPING THEIR RELATIONSHIP
DEREK: “I couldn’t repair my mind to know that Kobe was so good that he was prepared for that task popping out of highschool. That wasn’t in my mind. I hadn’t seen him play, I hadn’t seen him work out. I knew nothing about him apart from what you learn within the media. So moving into, I used to be not viewing Kobe as this Messiah teammate out of highschool that this dude goes to be among the finest gamers we ever seen earlier than. That wasn’t my vitality. So after I actually look again on it, I believe that allowed us to kind a relationship from day one which was constructed on simply straight work, sweat fairness, respect. I didn’t deal with him totally different as a result of his draft was larger than mine or his choice was larger than mine. He didn’t deal with me totally different as a result of I used to be drafted later or he was higher than me. We simply each got here in with a degree of labor ethic that that’s the one approach I knew how and regardless that he was insanely extra proficient than me, his work ethic was simply pretty much as good or higher than mine as effectively. So he didn’t depend on his expertise to get him by. So our relationship that rookie yr was what actually fashioned the bond for us. We had loads of comparable experiences, however I used to be nowhere close to what the expectations had been on draft day.”
- (26:16): DEREK SAYS HE HAD MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT THE 0.4 SECOND WIN AGAINST THE SPURS
DEREK: “For me I had blended feelings about it as a result of we didn’t win the title that yr. So for a very long time it jogged my memory of a down yr, if that is smart as a result of we misplaced within the finals to the Pistons. So I’m like, I don’t need to be reminded of that. I don’t need to keep in mind 2004, however you’ll be able to’t escape the second. Yeah, the play wasn’t designed for me and should you’re on a group with Kobe and Shaq, the play isn’t for you. I’m not mad about that in any respect both. It was actually the gravitational pull that the 2 of these guys have by pulling gamers in direction of them. I simply sort of stood there and waited for the best second to go to the open house and I at all times give Gary Payton a ton of credit score as a result of he was taking the ball out and most guys will drive it to the superstars in that state of affairs as a result of they don’t need to be the one which needed to clarify why you attempt to throw it to this dude versus attempt to throw it to Kobe or Shaq. So I at all times give GP main love for making what was the best basketball choice. It ended up understanding, however loads of dudes would’ve compelled that ball to Kobe or Shaq for certain.”
- (36:55): DEREK SHARES HIS INSIGHT ON SHAQ AND KOBE’S TENSION WHILE ON THE LAKERS
DEREK: “I believe Kobe began to really feel like ‘To ensure that me to be the GOAT that I do know I’m able to accessing, I’m keen to place the time in. I’m keen to get up at 4 within the morning, no sleep, practice exhausting, play in each sport, play by way of accidents, do every part to turn into one of many biggest gamers of all time. Why am I being requested to do much less and be much less when my teammate that’s able to simply as a lot or extra greatness isn’t possibly investing that a lot time, vitality, et cetera.’ I believe that was the yr the place it modified a bit of bit from wholesome, a few of the pressure that nice groups do have to a bit of bit extra like one man is possibly standing in the way in which of the opposite and so for the remainder of us on the group, we simply at all times made certain that each guys understood we’re not choosing the facet although.”
- (42:55): DEREK ON KOBE’S OBSESSION WITH THE BOSTON CELTICS AFTER LOSING TO THEM IN 2008 AND PROVING HIMSELF TO THE MEDIA
DEREK: “That’s how a lot we had been listening to what the Boston Celtics had been doing. We had been obsessive about like, nah bro, they obtained us in ‘08, cool, take pleasure in your title, however that may by no means occur once more and in order that vitality from Ok[obe] was on the floor of every part that we did from that season on. That’s what actually drove the ‘09, the 2010 push was we’re by no means going to expertise that feeling once more, bro, that we simply skilled in ‘08. So once we get to the cusp of successful the title in ‘09, yeah, the vitality of successful one with out Shaq is there. Extra of that was media than Kobe actually carrying it round each day, regardless that you knew at the back of his thoughts it was there, however it wasn’t nearly, I need to present Shaq, it was additionally the identical folks that had been questioning whether or not or not he might truly lead a group to a championship with out Shaq. It was additionally for them too. So it wasn’t a lot of a like I obtained to point out Shaq this. It was additionally for the writers and the newspaper folks and those that Cole can’t win with out Shaq. Cole can’t do that. He doesn’t know find out how to be a frontrunner. He additionally needed, I believe, affirm his potential to guide a group to the highest.”
- (01:07:35): DEREK ON THE COACHING PHILOSOPHY FROM PHIL JACKSON THAT RESONATED WITH HIM THE MOST
DEREK: “That’s the place Phil actually began to assist me. I believe a lot of his gamers perceive the facility of letting go of issues that aren’t in your management so that you could truly deal with these micro particulars that you must be targeted on in an effort to excel on the proper time. One of many examples he would use could be like a frog on a lily pad, which is tremendous old-fashioned, however a frog sitting on a lily pad or wherever it’s sitting. It’s actually sitting there nonetheless the entire time and also you may hear it ribbet, however there’s no motion. Earlier than you realize it, that mosquito or that insect flies by, that tongue comes out, he grabs it and he goes proper again to the identical spot, doesn’t transfer and so it represents this calmness and this potential to take a seat nonetheless earlier than motion. You may’t at all times be in motion after which attempt to go make one thing occur. There are occasions the place it’s important to actually simply sit nonetheless in order that the second when it presents itself then you definitely act and I hadn’t been introduced with that strategy earlier than.”
