LOS ANGELES — Too old and too slow are two of the common knocks on Lakers point guard Derek Fisher.
Fisher might not have the speed of the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo or the savvy of Utah’s Deron Williams or the craftiness of Phoenix’s Steve Nash.
But 14 years since he entered the league, the durable Fisher could be on his way to guiding the Lakers to the franchise’s 16th championship.
“Definitely since I’ve got here, he’s helped me out with the basketball aspect of it and what to expect,” Lakers reserve guard Shannon Brown said Friday. “Kind of the little things to do and just watching him make big shot after big shot, make play after play despite what everybody says about him” has been a great example.
“During the regular season, people talk about how he can’t do it, but his minutes go up in the playoffs and he produces.”
Fisher, who will turn 36 in August, is seeking his fifth NBA championship in his 11th season with the Lakers.
Former Lakers guard Robert Horry earned the nickname “Big Shot Rob” for the clutch shots he made in helping the Lakers win three titles, and by the time Fisher’s career is over, he too might be finally credited for taking and making numerous key baskets.
But the reminiscing will have to wait.
“My plan is not to retire,” Fisher said. “Only thing that would change that is something that would be a physical limitation, but at this point I’m not (retiring).”
Fisher will be an unrestricted free agent this summer but said he hopes to finish his career as a Laker.
“I would love to,” Fisher said. “I’ve spent 11 of my 14 years here. We’ve had a great deal of success.”
Behind the scenes, he has been the steadying force for the team and helped mentor understudies Brown and Jordan Farmar.
“If we get off-track, Fish is the one person with one word or one speech who can bring us all back together,” Lakers forward Lamar Odom said.
