Among The Most Admired La Lakers Players Fisher And Gasol

Below are profiles of two admired Lakers players, Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol. Fisher is admired for his continuing perseverance in his career despite challenges in life. Gasol, on the other hand, is admired for being one of the best and aggressive players in the team.To see Fisher and Gasol play live, purchase your Lakers tickets now.

Derek Fisher

Derek Lamar Fisher is the younger brother of former NBA player, Duane Washington. Fisher plays point guard for the LA Lakers at jersey number 2. Fisher was born on August 9, 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has four children to wife, Candace.

Fisher went to high school in Parkview Arts and Sciences Magnet and was a basketball letterman. After high school, Fisher proceeded to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) where he majored in communications and established a school record for free throws 399. In UALR, Fisher also took third place among all-time UALR leaders in three-point field goals made (125) and earned a Sunbelt Conference Player of the Year.

Fisher played for three teams during his career, the LA Lakers first, the Golden State Warriors next, and the Utah Jazz third, before returning to the Lakers. During his first stint with the Lakers, Fisher made headlines by making a successful final shot in the team's 5th game against the Spurs within 0.4 seconds. He then joined the Warriors after being offered $37 million over six years. Disappointed that he was unable to run his own game with the Warriors, Fisher was traded to the Jazz for Andre Owens, Devin Brown, and Keith McLeod.

It was during his stint with the Jazz that Fisher once again made headlines. He was unavailable for the opening of the 2007 NBA Playoffs, Jazz against Spurs, because of his daughter's physical condition. But right at the time his team needed him most, Fisher appeared at the court straight from his daughter's eye surgery and helped the Jazz win Game 2.

Now that Fisher is with the Lakers for the second time, he, along with Kobe Bryant, provides veteran influence to younger members. The Lakers played against Jazz in the 2008 NBA Playoffs, where Fisher played a bigger role for his team.

Paul Gasol

Pau Gasol Saez was born on July 6, 1980 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He is the son of Agusti and Marisa Gasol, with two younger brothers, Adria and Marc, also an NBA player. Gasol is the power forward and center of the LA Lakers. He holds jersey number 16 and will soon mark hist first year with the LA Lakers.

Gasol started playing basketball for his school team in Spain. At 16, Gasol played for Barcelona's junior team that won the 1998 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and the 1998 Albert Schweitzer Tournament. Gasol also played and continues to do so for Spain in various basketball events including the European and World Championships as well as the Olympics.

Gasol was drafted into the NBA in 2001 by the Atlanta Hawks but was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Gasol led the team to qualify for various playoffs during his seven-year stint with them. Then, in 2008, he was traded to the Lakers and is now one of the key players to boost Lakers ticket sales.

Watch Pau Gasol in the 2008-2009 season. Buy Lakers tickets now.