Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher is a former professional basketball player and coach whose career spans nearly three decades in the sport. Fisher played in the National Basketball Association for 18 seasons, spending the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won five championships. Selected by the Lakers with the 24th pick in the NBA Draft, he spent his first eight seasons with the franchise, winning three consecutive league championships with teammates Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and coach Phil Jackson. He later returned to the Lakers and won two more back-to-back championships.

Fisher was known for his reliability and leadership on the court. One of his most notable plays occurred during Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, when he made a game-winning shot with only four-tenths of a second remaining. Fisher held the NBA record for playoff games played until surpassed by LeBron James. Off the court, Fisher was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association, leading the association through significant events, including the NBA owners' lockout and the removal of the union's executive director.

After retiring as a player, Fisher transitioned into coaching. He was hired by Phil Jackson to become head coach of the New York Knicks. Fisher later became head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, becoming the ninth WNBA head coach to achieve 20 wins in a first year and leading the team to the WNBA playoffs as the third seed. He also served as general manager for the Sparks, one of the few in basketball to hold both roles simultaneously. Fisher went 54–46 as head coach during his Sparks tenure before parting ways with the organization. He later served as head coach for Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California. Fisher's career reflects experience in NBA championships, WNBA coaching, basketball leadership, and player development at multiple levels of the game.

Fisher joined NBC Sports in July 2025 as a game analyst for its NBA coverage that began with the 2025-26 season.