In mid-sentence, mid-farewell, Derek Fisher stopped, composed himself, and started again.
Having agreed Thursday to leave the Lakers for the Golden State Warriors and a six-year, $37-million contract, Fisher had said his goodbyes to "my guys" -- Devean George, Rick Fox, Luke Walton and others -- and to the only NBA team he'd ever known.
When it was time to say so long to Los Angeles, however, Fisher, the sensitive one in an often cold locker room, the first to cry when a season ended poorly, did again.
"Make sure your readers know that I appreciate them," he said. "Add a quick thank you somewhere in the column to all the fans who had something nice to say to me, who shouted and screamed for me. Tell them I said goodbye, and thanks."
In the month since the Laker season ended, ownership has let Phil Jackson go, traded Shaquille O'Neal and nearly lost Kobe Bryant. Familiar faces and games have left, new ones have arrived. Assistant coaches are looking for work.
So, in keeping with his mostly low-key career, Fisher drifted out the door. General Manager Mitch Kupchak made an 11th-hour run at him, but Fisher already had his offer and an impression the Warriors had bigger plans for him.
"Mitch obviously was distracted with so many things he had to deal with," Fisher said. "I understand that. He probably couldn't really put the type of effort he would have if those things weren't in front of him."
In the end, Fisher said, the Lakers made a "respectable offer." He said thanks, but no. At 29, he has won three championships. He lived the Laker life for eight years, the last five some of the most turbulent the league had ever seen.
When teammates argued for the basketball, Fisher got open, went to the corner and waved his arms. When big dogs refused to guard the porch, Fisher took charges. When they hid in the trainers' room or crept through Staples Center's kitchen, Fisher dressed at his locker, turned around and answered for them.
"There comes a time," Fisher said, "you can't continue to defer to those guys."
A year ago, hoping to defend better, the Lakers signed Gary Payton to be their point guard. Fisher was crushed, said nothing, and by spring was getting as much or more playing time than Payton. Due $3 million next season, he opted out of his contract, became a free agent, considered places such as Houston, Seattle, Toronto and Miami, talked one last time to the Lakers, then accepted an opportunity in Golden State, where the basketball team hasn't played a postseason game in more than a decade.
