Derek Fisher Reflects on 2012 Thunder Finals Run, Expresses Regret

Derek Fisher, the five-time NBA champion, recently opened up about his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder during their 2012 NBA Finals run, expressing regret over not being more vocal as a veteran leader. Fisher, who joined the Thunder late in the 2011-12 season, shared his reflections during an appearance on Paul George‘s podcast, “Podcast P.”

The 2012 Thunder, led by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, made a surprising run to the NBA Finals but ultimately fell to the Miami Heat in five games. Fisher, known for his championship pedigree with the Los Angeles Lakers, was brought in to provide veteran leadership but later admitted he could have done more to guide the young team.

“I wish I would’ve said more,” Fisher said. “There was a generational gap, like dudes in their early 20s compared to guys in their early 30s and mid-30s, which is where I pretty much come from. I was nervous about disrupting the natural leadership of the locker room.”

Fisher recalled a pivotal moment in the series when the Thunder won Game 1 but failed to maintain their momentum. “After leaving the arena, I got back to the facility, and there weren’t that many guys that still went through their normal recovery process,” he said. “To me, it felt like staying super locked in after winning Game 1 of the NBA Finals was crucial.”

The veteran guard, who played 24 games for the Thunder that season, averaged just 4.1 points in 14 minutes per game. Despite his limited on-court role, Fisher believes his experience could have made a difference. “I wish I would have spoken up a little bit more and just made sure that as that series went on, certain things were taking place,” he said. “I would have asserted a little bit more leadership to make sure they understood how hard it is to win an NBA championship.”

The 2012 Finals marked the Thunder’s only appearance in the championship series with Durant and Westbrook. The team shocked the NBA world by trading James Harden to the Houston Rockets the following offseason, a move that many believe derailed their championship aspirations.

Fisher, who retired in 2014 after a brief stint with the Thunder, remains a respected figure in the NBA. His reflections on the 2012 season offer a unique perspective on what could have been for one of the league’s most talented young teams.