Lake Show Life
Fansided

Rick Fox: Integral part of the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty of the 90s

By ANTHONY BISCIELLO

6 Dec 2000: Rick Fox #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on the court during the game against the Seattle SuperSonics at the STAPELS Center in Los Angeles, California. The Sonics defeated the Lakers 103-95. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographsMandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport
6 Dec 2000: Rick Fox #17 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on the court during the game against the Seattle SuperSonics at the STAPELS Center in Los Angeles, California. The Sonics defeated the Lakers 103-95. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographsMandatory Credit: Donald Miralle /Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit

Rick Fox was always one of those players that I loved. Even when he was back in college, playing for North Carolina, he was one of my favorites. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics where he spent six seasons. He is better known for his stint with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Interestingly enough, Fox agreed on a six-year, $33 million dollar contract in the offseason of 1997-98 with head coach and general manager Rick Pitino.  At the same time, Pitino felt that the Celtics needed more of a big man presence for their team.

That is when they signed ex Laker Travis Knight to a seven-year $22 million dollar contract and also draft guard Chauncey Billups in that year’s draft. Classic Rick Pitino always trying to be a sneak, kept things quiet as he tried his best to mess with the salary cap numbers to make things work.

Things of course did not work out as David Stern got involved and gave Pitino the ultimatum of either having Knight or Fox. Fox’s contract was renounced and he was once again a free agent and thank God! He signed with the Los Angeles Lakers for a lot less money but with the knowledge that the team was headed in the right direction especially with all the talent they had.

MUST-READ: The 10 best Los Angeles Lakers teams of all-time

Then Rick Fox’s tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers began.

Fox was the missing piece to the Lakers puzzle or one of the missing pieces. He took a back seat as a scorer and was unselfish and an ultimate team player as he helped the somewhat young Lakers team grow and mature.

A tough, fearless, and versatile player with great knowledge of the game and a great sense of what was happening on the court at all times. He was just what the Lakers needed.

One of the more important aspects of signing Fox was the repour he had with the young Kobe Bryant at the time. After all, they had somethings in common. Fox, like Bryant, was ultra-competitive.

He loved Kobe’s approach to the game with his incredible preparation of doing grueling workouts both in the gym with a basketball, and in the gym with weights and cardio.

Fox was furious in Boston at how many of the players he played with were lazy, and didn’t take care of themselves as the team continued to do terrible. Like Kobe, he wanted to win.

Fox also had something else in common with Bryant. He also spoke Italian. They both shared similarities in culture as Fox was the product of a Bahamian father and a Canadian mother who was Italian and Scottish.

He knew what it was like to feel like an alien or an outsider the way Kobe did when he first arrived on the scene. He knew that Kobe wanted nothing more than the opportunity to show that he could be great and not just another basketball player.

Rick Fox was one of the toughest and fearless players that I have ever seen. (Remember his classic battles with Doug Christie?) His caliber of talent is so rare these days. If you had a team of players that all had his work ethic, attitude and fearlessness, that would make one dangerous squad. He went on to be part of a Laker dynasty, winning three titles in a row.

Next. The most clutch players in Lakers history. dark

Information from this article was gathered from Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty by Jeff Pearlman. 

Home/Lakers History