NBA Entertainment
20 years ago today, the Los Angeles Lakers emerged victorious against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of the 2001 NBA Finals, 98-89, and tied the series at 1-1. One highlight from that night's contest, which turned the momentum in the Lakers' favor after their surprising Game 1 loss against Philly two days before, was the authoritative dunk that Derek Fisher made against the Sixers' Allen Iverson. Fisher rarely dunked in NBA games during his 18-year career...and the fact that he did so against a future Hall of Famer showed that he was totally serious about conveying a message that this championship was for the Lakers to take. After being injured for much of the 2000-'01 regular season, Fisher became the team's X-factor upon returning to the court in the few weeks leading up to the NBA playoffs. And this dunk was his way of letting Lakers fans know that a back-to-back title was within the City of Angels' reach.
The fact that Fisher's return to Los Angeles several years later (after playing for other teams like the Utah Jazz) lead to him winning two more NBA championships—this time with Pau Gasol as his and Kobe's teammate—solidifies Fish's standing as one of the most endearing players the Lakers franchise has ever known.
#OTD in 2001, Derek Fisher posterized Allen Iverson in Game 2 of the NBA Finals...#Lakers #BackInTheDay pic.twitter.com/j8ZGNp2dfS
— Richard Par (@RichTPar) June 8, 2021
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