IT IS RARE THAT AN ATHLETE'S HUMANITY is a credit to the game he plays, to his teammates and his adversaries, to his loved ones and his fans.

All too often, our role models in sports are a far cry from the players and people we want them to be.

But Derek Fisher embodies everything one desires in a role model. He is revered by his peers, so much so they voted him to the highest representative position a player can hold within their league. He is a leader, a floor general who can quietly bring even the most combustible personalities together in harmony, the glue that not only can help hold a championship caliber club together, but help it realize its potential. He is a man who puts his family first, whose impact as a community servant can be felt from the cities where he has played to his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas.

Yet the truth is that for all that 34 year-old Derek Fisher has accomplished in his life so far, he holds the promise of so much more.

LITTLE ROCK
Derek was born on August 9, 1974, and spent his entire pre-NBA life in Little Rock, Arkansas. His work ethic and determination were evident even from a young age, but basketball was always what drove him. His older brother, Duane Washington, would go on to play for brief stints with the New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, allowing Derek to see the hard work and sacrifice it took to realize his dreams.

A stand-out guard in high school, Derek starred for Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High. Even as a teenager, his leadership qualities were on display for all those who encountered him.

"He's been about as straight on anything as any youngster that we've had," said Derek's former high school coach, Charles Ripley.

Still, despite his outstanding skills, college programs did not heavily recruit Derek in his junior and senior seasons. He decided to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, remaining close to his family while honing his game with an eye on bigger things.

THE GREATEST TROJAN
From the moment Derek arrived at UALR, it was clear he would make an incredible impact on the basketball court. Over his four years, he was not only his team's hardest worker, but also an outstanding teammate and player.

His career as a Trojan is widely regarded as the greatest in the history of the program. While majoring in communications, Fish averaged 12.4 points and 4.4 rebounds a game over his four years. He finished second in Trojan history in career points (1,393) assists, (472) and steals (189). He was always among the team leaders in the latter two, and even set a school record for free throws made in a career (399) and even finished third all-time in three-pointers made (125). His senior year saw him attain his greatest honor to date, earning Sunbelt Conference Player of the Year honors.

His intensity and vision on the floor -- coupled with his ability to create opportunities for his teammates -- made Derek one of the premier point guard prospects entering the 1996 NBA draft. His dreams now closer than ever, Derek had transformed himself from an overlooked small-college player into a first-round NBA talent.

WELCOME TO SHOWTIME
With the 24th pick in the draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Derek, making him the newest addition to a Lakers team rebuilding towards a championship. General Manager Jerry West also added another young gun to LA's roster when he traded his starting center, Vlade Divac, to the Charlotte Hornets for the 13th pick in the draft, Kobe Bryant.

When dominant Orlando Magic center Shaquille O'Neal was added as a free agent, the Lakers suddenly seemed capable of reviving the Showtime years that had marked the 1980s. For Derek and the 19 year-old Bryant, was also the beginning of friendship and bond that would remain to this day.

"There's something that's unbreakable," Bryant said. "We're inseparable. We came into the league together. We practiced together when everybody else had a day off. We go way back."

"When we first came in the league, the rule was that if you played less than 20 minutes a game you had to go in the gym the next day after playing on back-to-back nights. So he and I were always in there. Always. We were competing, shooting and playing one-on-one. We'd challenge each other. So that's where that bond really started."

The hard work in the gym paid off for Derek, who appeared in 80 games his rookie season and was selected to Rookie Game during All-Star weekend Cleveland, where he notched 16 points and 6 assists.

PART OF A DYNASTY
The next two seasons saw Derek's minutes increase steadily each season, and as his game developed, so too did his role on the Lakers. Shaq and Kobe were the stars, but Fish's influence and leadership on the floor and in the locker room were evident for anyone who came in contact with the team.

The result was a three-year run that established the Lakers as the newest dynasty in the NBA. The Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers in the 2000 NBA finals, announcing themselves as the new superpower. Fish had established himself as a key cog of a championship club, reaching the highest totals of his career in points, assists and minutes per game.