Laker's Derek Fisher Joins Sparks' Broadcast Team

By the Los Angeles Sparks
Posted Wednesday, July 2, 2008

LOS ANGELES – Three-time NBA champion and Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Derek Fisher is using the off-season to be a guest color analyst on five Los Angeles Sparks telecasts on the Fox Sports Network, it was announced.

Fisher joins veteran play-by-play announcer Larry Burnett, who is in his 11th season as voice of the Sparks. Fisher began his guest commentator role July 1. Other telecasts Fisher will work are July 6 vs. Phoenix, July 14 vs. San Antonio, Aug. 28 vs. Sacramento and Sept. 1 vs. Minnesota, which is on FSN West. The other telecasts are on FSN Prime Ticket. Fisher also serves as president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA).

“I’m excited to be working with the Sparks,” said Fisher, a 12-year NBA veteran. “The front office has done a great job in assembling a crowd-pleasing and entertaining team to watch.

“Talking about basketball comes very easy to me. It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, so it’s great that I get the chance to share my knowledge and experiences with basketball fans."

“I’d like to give the fans at home something interesting to listen to. I can tell them what a coach might be saying to his or her players during an important time out. Or what kind of play a team should run during a key possession.”

For Sparks’ ticket information, call 1-877-44-SPARKS. Tickets also are available by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX or by visiting either Ticketmaster.com or wnba.com/tickets.

About the Los Angeles SparksThe Los Angeles Sparks are in their 12th season in the Women’s National Basketball Association. The Sparks are one of the eight original teams in the WNBA. In December 2006, the Sparks were purchased by Gemini Basketball, LLC and they are one of seven WNBA teams owned and operated independent of NBA teams. For the first time in franchise history, the Sparks won the top pick for the 2008 WNBA Draft and selected college basketball player of the year Candace Parker of two-time NCAA champion Tennessee. The Sparks were led to back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2001 & 2002 by head coach Michael Cooper. The team’s roster of star athletes is led by three-time league MVP Lisa Leslie and includes All-Star forward DeLisha Milton-Jones, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson, stand-out 2007 rookie Sidney Spencer and Parker. The Sparks play their home games at STAPLES Center in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. For Sparks’ ticket information, call 1-877-44-SPARKS.