Apr 22, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) leave a court after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 94-85 in game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Five-Time NBA Champion Provides Answer For LeBron, Luka Lakers

Originally posted on Back in the Day NBA on SI
By Shandel Richardson | Last updated Jul 12, 2025 11:22 AM ET

Ex-NBA player Derek Fisher knows all about winning championships. He captured five when he played with Los Angeles Lakers, including three straight from 2000-02. He recently took the time to give his thoughts on the current Lakers, who are led by LeBron James and Luka Doncic.

After starting strong, the James and Doncic duo was eliminated in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. During an interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio, Fisher said the Lakers need to find continuity from teams of the past.

"In terms of the Lakers specifically, the ability will be there any time you have LeBron James, Luka Doncic on the same team," Fisher said. "There's no doubt about that but to win a seven-game series when it matters the most, I gotta know how you're going to react when that fire gets hot."

"To be a championship level team, you need to have some valuable experience together."

Long-time Laker Derek Fisher talks about the team’s continuity with @TermineRadio, @Jumpshot8, and Ryan McDonough pic.twitter.com/b79lXVm2nw
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 11, 2025

Fisher's Lakers, which included Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, returned mostly the same core each season during the first three titles. There were minimal changes when they won in 2009 and 2010. The current Lakers have only been together since Doncic joined the team at midseason.

"If you're more of a guy that's going to let your whole arm burn off and I'm trying to get away from the fire, if we don't know that about each other yet, it's hard to get that key stop you've got to get in the fourth quarter of a big game," Fisher said. " ... To be a championship-level team, you need to have some sort of valuable experience as a group that playing 40 games doesn't do."

MORE BACK IN THE DAY NEWS

Shawn Kemp once starred in promotional cartoon for Supersonics

Shaquille O'Neal responds to social media hackers

Giannis and Michael Jordan meet for the first time?

This article first appeared on Back in the Day NBA on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: