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Derek Fisher‘s emergence on Dancing with the Stars sent fans into a tizzy to see an altogether new side of the NBA legend. The basketball player, paired with professional dancer Sharna Burgess, did a fluid Foxtrot this week, after his basketball-inspired routine last week. So smooth and naturally rhythmic, he has been one of the standout contestants and has captured the attention of viewers across the country. If you’re curious about the former basketball star who’s now shining on the ballroom floor, here’s a closer look at Derek Fisher’s journey.
Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Fisher found his love for basketball at an early age. He fine-tuned his skills at Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High, where he was a driving force behind the school’s basketball team. His hard work and persistence finally paid off, leading him into an outstanding NBA career.
The 1996 draftee for the Los Angeles Lakers, Fisher ushered in an extremely stellar 18-year career, taking him all through to being part of a key component for multiple championship wins-five-that this great team managed to win along the way. Outside the court and beyond his success with basketball, he became an influential player who served as the President of the National Basketball Players Association.
Now 43, Fisher has swapped slam dunks for spins and dips on DWTS, but proving his talents span so much farther than the court. He’s rapidly working his way right into fans’ hearts, oozing charm and determination on that dance floor.
Derek Fisher’s Career after the Lakers
As soon as he retired from playing basketball, Fisher was offered a position as the head coach of the New York Knicks. When he accepted this offer, he cemented his place as the first NBA player ever to go straight to a head coaching job after playing on the court.
Two years later, Fisher moved to Los Angeles to work as a professional broadcaster. He’s made appearances on networks like TNT, NBA TV, and SportsNet. Making frequent appearances on Inside the NBA and Player’s Only, Derek Fisher often gave his commentary on basketball games, working alongside the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill, and Brent Barry.
After spending decades fostering his career in the NBA and sports entertainment industry, Fisher decided to give back to the community and started the Derek Fisher Basketball Academy. Founded in 2009, this organization aims to develop basketball skills in youth, as well as leadership and overall life skills.
With such a rich career in sports, you may be wondering about Derek Fisher’s net worth. A five-time championship winner and the previous head coach of the Knicks, it may come as no surprise that Fisher’s net worth it valued at a whopping $40.0 million.
Derek Fisher’s Personal Life
As for his personal life, Derek Fisher and his wife Candace Fisher were divorced in 2015, and now share custody of their eight-year-old twin boys. They endured a quite public, tumultuous divorce. TMZ reported that his wife was “completely ‘blindsided’ when the NBA legend served her with divorce papers … and was even more shocked that he moved all of his stuff out of their home in the middle of the night.”
As for his social media presence, Derek Fisher’s Instagram is always updated with the latest news about what he’s up to. Recently, he’s shared quite a few pictures of himself and his DWTS partner, Sharna Burgess.
He also shared an adorable video of him chatting with his parents, telling his mom that he’d be on this season of the dance show, which just happens to be one of her favorite programs. He captioned the video, “When your mom finds out you’re going to be on her favorite show @dancingabc, with @sharnaburgess #DWTS #TeamHoopsAndHeels.”
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Derek Fisher on “DWTS”
As for his performances on the show, he’s giving the other contestants a run for their money. He and Burgess scored 19 points out of a possible 30 for their Foxtrot.
Fisher received feedback that included encouragement to work on his technique from Len Goodman and Carrie Ann Inaba told him to try not to dance as “small.”
