Comments on: Should the Lakers retire Derek Fisher's number?

By: Eric Morales

Eric Morales — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 16:30:41 +0000

Yes they should retire number 2 along with the another laker legends.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:16:40 +0000

I don’t like the idea of a reserve section. It’s almost a backhanded compliment.
That said, I’d be in favor of retiring Fisher’s number. Why? Ask yourself if when Scott, Cooper, Horry or Wilkes retired if there was this kind of discussion about them? I don’t recall it being this prevalent if there was. Fisher’s practically a lifer, has has huge iconic moments in big games multiple times, is the clubhouse co-leader, president of the players association and so on. These put him above the other non-HOF players.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:15:06 +0000

By: TheColonel

TheColonel — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 16:01:37 +0000

I don’t think Fisher will make it, and I don’t think he should. Plenty of great teams have had role players like him step up time and again during championship runs, and you don’t see their numbers in the rafters. Have the Bulls retired Paxson’s number, or Kerr’s? Will the Spurs retire Kerr’s or Horry’s? Will the Lakers retire Horry’s, for that matter? The standard is too high, particularly for a franchise like the Lakers. (Side note: I’m actually kinda surprised they don’t have Miken’s number up there. I know he was a Minneapolis Laker, but it’s still the franchise.)
As for their next retirements, I’d say Kobe and Shaq, definitely. Gasol does have a good shot, though. He’s only 29 and probably has another three or four prime years left and maybe another two or three of decent play after that.

By: lkr_lrkr

lkr_lrkr — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:49:35 +0000

The Lakers have a clear standard for retiring numbers – Hall of Fame.
You either have to be there, or it has to be a foregone conclusion that you’re going there. In 1997(?), Gail Goodrich was inducted into the Hall, and Eddie Jones had to change his number from 25 to 6.
I absolutely LOVE Derek Fisher, but here’s the numbers that have to be retired before #2 can go up on the wall:
52 – Jamaal Wilkes
21 – Michael Cooper
5 – Robert Horry
I give Fish the nod over B. Scott, AC Green, Nixon, LO, etc.
Here are some other issues to consider:
1. Should the Lakers retire Bob McDoo’s #11? He’s in the Hall of Fame & he was a key contributor to the 1982 title (and a hood ornament in 1985). Tough call.
2. Has Pau Gasol done enough as a Laker right now to get his number retired? His body of work in International competition alone gets him into the Hall of Fame, making his work with the Lakers the icing on the cake. But, he’s only been her for 2.5 (admittedly, fantastic) years. I say, 2 more years playing at this level &/or 1 more title cements it.
3. Jerry Buss is now in the Hall, which means he gets a banner up there as a contributor, a la Chick Hearn. Question what image should be on that banner? A Larry O’Brien trophy? A cigarette? A martini glass? A Beaker (he has a PhD in Chemistry)? A real estate sign (how he made his fortune & a SOCAL iconic symbol)? A playboy bunny? Pocket Aces? All of the above?

By: GIO_WHAT!!

GIO_WHAT!! — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 04:05:55 +0000

I think fisher should go up there, or they should make another banner for the “reserves”. Also, is it a given that Shaq WILL be up there? I think Pau will have his name up there too. Dude is amazing and he could have 4 or possibly 5 titles by the time he retires

By: P. Ami

P. Ami — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:55:37 +0000

+1 on comment #1.
I think the Lakers should create some sort of banner and raise the number of important contributors to the franchise, without actually retiring the number.
Fish, LO, Coop, Byron Scott, Wilkes, Nixon, Horry, Happy, etc… Maybe they put up a Miken era banner, one for the Logo era, another for Showtime, and another for the Shaq/Kobe/Pau era. Personally I like the exclusivity of the club for retiring numbers with the Lakers. I also like the idea of celebrating the role players.

By: KBZ

KBZ — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:16:32 +0000

That should be “29 other teams”. The Celtics would retire his number in a heartbeat. they’ve retired about 92 numbers total, right?