8. Derek Fisher
Fisher spent four years at University of Arkansas at Little Rock, leaving the school second all-time in points, assists, and steals. The Lakers drafted Fisher with the 24th pick in the 1996 draft, the same year as Kobe. Statistically, Fisher posted numbers that suited his draft position, but Fisher’s impact on the Lakers organization of the course of his career goes way beyond his career totals.
Fisher suffered many injuries during his first tenure with the Lakers, but always seemed ready go come playoff time. Fisher showed early in his career that there was no stage he feared, including Game Five of the Western Conference Semi-Finals in San Antonio (video above). This was Fisher’s first of many game-winners in his Lakers career.
Fisher may not be up there in the points category of Lakers all-time leaders, but he is fifth in games played. Fisher won five championships with the Los Angeles Lakers, and is now trying to do the impossible: coach the New York Knicks.