BOSTON - Apat na NBA titles at may pag-asa pang makalima.
Ito ang magandang relasyong namamagitan kina Kobe Bryant at Derek Fisher ng nagdedepensang Los Angeles Lakers matapos magsabay sa NBA noong 1996.
“We’ve developed a relationship and a level of trust, I think professionally as well as personally, that we respect each other in a way that nothing else comes between that respect,” ani Fisher kahapon sa kanilang paghahanda para sa Game 4 ng NBA finals laban sa Boston Celtics.
Si Fisher ang nagdala sa Lakers sa malaking 91-84 panalo sa Game 3 para sa kanilang 2-1 lamang sa Celtics sa kanilang best-of-seven championship series.
“I think we’ve observed each other’s kind of growth from the ground up, so to speak, in terms of being together as rookies and learning about the NBA and learning about how to be successful in this game,” dagdag pa ng point guard.
Humugot si Fisher ng 19 puntos sa fourth quarter para sa Lakers na pinangunahan ni Bryant mula sa kanyang 29 marka.
“He’s very, very, very, very tough--mentally and physically,” wika ni Bryant kay Fisher. “He doesn’t back down from anything or anyone.”
Si Fisher ang nagbigay ng isang ‘pep talk’ bago magsimula ang fourth quarter nang makalapit ang Boston sa isang puntos mula sa isang 17-point deficit.