Update:
Derek Fisher took to Twitter to clarify earlier reports about a potential comeback. Fisher left the door open for a return to playing in the NBA but maintained that he is not aggressively pursuing a return to the court:
On-court workouts have been part of my regimen since I played my last game. (1/2)
— DerekFisher (@derekfisher) August 3, 2016
If an NBA team expresses interest, I'm open to dialogue, but at the moment I have no steadfast plan to play again. (2/2)
— DerekFisher (@derekfisher) August 3, 2016
Original Story Follows:
Derek Fisher enjoyed a long playing career in the NBA; he played for 18 seasons, and has played more playoff games (259) than any other player in NBA history. He retired from the NBA after the 2013-14 season, and was hired to be head coach of the New York Knicks in 2014. He signed a five-year, $25 million deal, but was fired by Phil Jackson in 2016.
Given the length of his career, and his age (he turns 42 in less than a week) most would assume that Fisher’s playing days are behind him. Fisher may have other ideas, though. From ESPN’s Ian Begley:
Ex-New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher hinted at a possible comeback on Tuesday night when he posted a workout video with the hashtag “Imnotdoneyet.”
Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that Fisher has indeed been “exploring options and expressing interest in playing again.”
It is unclear what those options are, specifically, but Fisher returning to the NBA after coaching in the league would be a rarity.
Here is the video of Fisher’s workout (posted to his Instagram account):
It’s nice that he’s working out and trying to get in NBA shape, but there’s simply no way that Fisher, who was a role player (albeit an excellent one) throughout his NBA career, can play meaningful NBA minutes at age 42.
What Fisher could bring to an NBA team, though, is what Kevin Garnett is bringing to the Minnesota Timberwolves: Veteran leadership. Fisher could join a young, talented team, and teach young players what it means to be a professional. If he took the Kevin Garnett path, he’d likely join the Lakers, who have plenty of young talent. Fisher spent 13 seasons of his career with the Lakers. Of course, it’s also possible that Fisher is simply looking to win another championship; perhaps he’ll go the route of David West and join the Warriors.
