Los Angeles Lakers: The five best players that were never all-stars

BOSTON - JUNE 08: Derek Fisher #2 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 8, 2010 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON - JUNE 08: Derek Fisher #2 and Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Boston Celtics in Game Three of the 2010 NBA Finals on June 8, 2010 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

3. Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher is one of the most beloved Los Angeles Lakers players in the modern era as he was a part of the team for all five of the same championships that Kobe Bryant was. He was never an elite point guard, heck, at best, he might have just been slightly above average, but he was a consistent presence for the team and a fan favorite.

Fisher ended up playing 13 seasons in two different stints for the Lakers and is fifth all-time in total games played in the purple and gold. He was a consistent presence on the court, playing in all 82 games his last two years before leaving the Lakers the first time and then in his first four seasons back in the purple and gold.

Fisher’s most memorable moment with the Los Angeles Lakers was his 0.4-second buzzer-beater against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Playoffs. It was one of the most remarkable shots in NBA Playoff history and was made even better by the fact that it was him, not Kobe Bryant, that drained the shot.

Like we mentioned in the Odom article, Odom was definitely the more talented player at his best than Fisher was. Fisher never averaged 12 or more points with the Los Angeles Lakers and never averaged five assists in his entire career.

He ranks 19th in all-time win shares in franchise history, four spots behind Odom. However, because of his consistency and the fact that he played a role in all five of the championship-winning teams, he checks in at number three.