Derek Fisher "excited" about return to L.A. but declines questions

Derek Fisher “excited” about return to L.A. but declines questions

By Mark Medina

March 29, 2012 12 AM PT

In what marked his first return to Los Angeles since the Lakers traded him, Thunder guard Derek Fisher noticed how much time has flown by.

“It’s only been a couple of weeks,” Fisher said, “but it seemed so much longer.”

It sure has. After acquiring Ramon Sessions in a separate trade from Cleveland, the Lakers traded Fisher and a first-round pick to the Houston Rockets for Jordan Hill. Fisher and Houston then negotiated a buyout, before he signed with the Oklahoma City for the rest of the season.

But Fisher was hardly interested in revisiting any of that. After Thursday’s morning shoot-around at Santa Monica High School, Fisher talked to the media for two minutes, 23 seconds in which he thanked unnamed teammates, fans and media members for their support during his storied 13-year career with the Lakers that earned him five NBA championship rings. But not once did he mention the words “Los Angeles” or “the Lakers” during his comments. Shortly after signing with the Thunder, Fisher released a statement thanking his former Laker teammates by name but didn’t mention the Lakers, the coaching staff or the front office.

Fisher said he would speak more at length before tipoff, but he stressed one important thing:

“This city and these fans and everyone I grew close to over the years, they and this place will always hold a special place in my heart,” Fisher said. “That will never change.”

What does change regards the circumstances surrounding his role.

Instead of starting at point guard for the Lakers and sharing co-captain duties with Kobe Bryant, Fisher plays backup point guard behind Russell Westbrook. Instead of playing for an experienced team still adjusting to a new roster and a new coaching staff in the Lakers, Fisher plays for the Western Conference’s top team. Instead of frustrating the Lakers with his inconsistent shooting and declining defense, the Thunder appreciate his unassuming nature in which he adds championship experience to a youth-laden roster. “He’s fitting in really well for us,” Thunder forward Kevin Durant said. “It’s a youthful team, so it’s a change for him, but he’s doing a good job. You can tell he’s having a good time. I’m glad he’s on my team. He’s big for guys like myself, Russell. He played alongside Kobe [Bryant] and he mentored him a little bit. So he can do the same for me.”

Fisher may have averaged 3.8 points on 22.7% shooting in 22 minutes off the bench for Oklahoma City, but the Thunder praise him for his spacing, quick acclimation for the playbook and his veteran leadership. The coaching staff has also considered him a good source as they prepared their scouting report against the Lakers.

“I’ve talked to him a little bit and our assistant coaches spent some time with him,” OKC Coach Scott Brooks said. “We know what they do and they know what we do. But he has some insight on what he can give us.” The backdrop to all this could elicit strong emotions once Fisher steps on the floor. His former Laker teammates all acknowledged the hole he left as a locker-room leader and clutch player. Durant and Brooks predicted he’d receive a large video tribute and loud standing ovation, a custom the Lakers provide for returning ex-players. And Fisher himself said he felt “excited” in several instances about coming back.