Derek Fisher is probably most famous for his legendary shot in against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2004 playoffs. It came directly after an incredible shot by Tim Duncan that would probably be much more famous were it not for the shot that came immediately after it. Derek Fisher was able to catch and release a three-point shot in just 0.4 seconds. It has become one of the most well-known shots in NBA history. As the Lakers celebrated their win, they rapidly sprinted off the court. Derek Fisher credits Shaquille O’Neal sans clothes for their running speed. From Mark Medina of the Orange County Register:
“We had a rule you can’t be late to the center huddle,” said Lakers coach Luke Walton, who played with O’Neal as a rookie in 2003-04. “He got here where he didn’t have time to get his clothes on. So he made sure he was on time in the center circle.”
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“Shaq walked onto the court, put his hands up and said ‘I’m ready to practice,’ said Lakers assistant coach Mark Madsen, who was O’Neal’s teammate from 2000 to 2003. “He had not one inch of clothing on. So he was there in all of his glory.”
The shtick prompted laughter, before turning awkward.
“He would start running around looking for guys to hug. Everybody was trying to get out of the way,” mused former Lakers guard Derek Fisher, who played with O’Neal from 1996 to 2004. “That’s why when I hit that shot in San Antonio in 2004, that’s why we were so good at sprinting off of the court.”
O’Neal is well-known for his lightheartedness, so if a player chased his teammates naked, it’s unsurprising that it’s Shaq
