Derek Fisher is ‘moving on’ with the Thunder
With 1 minute 42 seconds left in the first quarter Wednesday night, Derek Fisher checked into the game as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder to play against the Clippers.
He had spent 12-plus seasons of his 16-year career with the Lakers over two stints, winning five NBA championships.
Fisher was traded March 15 by the Lakers to the Houston Rockets, something Fisher said surprised him. He worked a buyout from the Rockets and signed a free-agent contract with the Thunder after he cleared waivers.
Fisher said it wasn’t about “what went wrong and why it happened,” but about moving on and trying to help the Thunder win.
“At the right time, I’ll be able to make statements and say things related to the Lakers and my teammates and guys I used to play with,” Fisher said at a pregame news conference.
“But right now for me, I’m excited about this team and the potential that they have and what it is that I can bring to something that’s already doing pretty good.”
Fisher had worn a No. 2 jersey when he played for the Lakers but chose to wear 37 with the Thunder, “because it’s my age.”
He played 19 minutes and scored five points.
Fisher will return to Los Angeles when the Thunder faces the Lakers at Staples Center on March 29.
“Like I stated earlier, I’m going to do my best right now to refrain from focusing too much, if at all, on what has transpired, what was said, what could have happened, what should have happened,” Fisher said. “I’m more focused on the positives of why I’m here. I’ll be able to address those things in due time.... Right now it’s about the Thunder and Oklahoma City.”
Butler rests
Because Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro decided to rest Caron Butler on Wednesday night, Randy Foye started after not playing Tuesday night at Indiana.
Foye had been the starting shooting guard after Chauncey Billups suffered a season-ending left Achilles’ tendon injury.
But the Clippers acquired Nick Young from the Washington Wizards on March 15, meaning that Foye was going to the bench.
Foye took advantage of his start against the Thunder, scoring 23 points on nine-for-15 shooting, five for 10 on three-pointers.
“No, I didn’t know I wasn’t going to play yesterday either,” Foye said. “I knew I wasn’t going to start. I didn’t know I wasn’t going to play.
“But I just prepared the way I always do. That was my main thing tonight, be aggressive.”
Because the Clippers were playing the second of back-to-back-to-back games, Butler was given the night off. He said he’ll play Thursday night in New Orleans.
“It was great for me from a physical standpoint,” Butler said. “Even a mental standpoint.”
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