Unlike LeBron James, we just feel like pointing him out because he has been in the news for the past week, Derek Fisher decided to stay with his current team, the L.A. Lakers.
Of course the thought of joining the Miami Heat has occurred to Fisher before, he is staying with the Lakers along with its own superstar team. Derek Fisher issued a statement on Monday saying that he’ll re-sign with his current team. He chose to play alongside Kobe and pursue the sixth NBA title with them.
“I have decided to continue with Kobe, continue with our teammates and the fans of Los Angeles. While this may not be the most lucrative contract I’ve been offered this offseason, it is the most valuable. I am confident I will continue to lead this team on and off the court. Let the hunt for six begin,” Fisher said in a statement on his website. That’s right, on his official website. No fancy one-hour cover from ESPN. He just said it and stayed.
Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant have played in all five of the Lakers’ most recent championships. Like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, Fisher became a free agent on July 1. He also entertained offers from several teams including the Heat. The offers were good of course but it’s not good enough for him to pack up and leave the team where he has spent most of his NBA seasons.
“At the end of the day, there’s one person I could not turn away from,” Fisher said. “Kobe Bryant asked me to stay but supported whatever decision I made. He and I have played together for 11 seasons, came into the league together as kids, and has been loyal to me even when others had doubts.” Who could run away from a friend like that?
“While this may not be the most lucrative contract I’ve been offered this offseason, it is the most valuable,” apparently, he values his friends and his team more than he values money. An attitude “The King” doesn’t possess.
