Derek Fisher: These traits will be a Filipino players' ticket to the NBA

TALENT may take one to the top but discipline must always lead the way.

With this mindset, Derek Fisher said it is conceivable for a Filipino to make it to the NBA.

The five-time NBA champion and Los Angeles Laker legend visited the country on Wednesday, April 17, to conduct a coaches’ clinic for Jr. NBA Philippines.

For him, prioritizing these soft skills can be advantageous for any player trying to make it to the big league.

“I think for Filipino players, you’re not gonna usually make it to the NBA to become a 20-point scorer, you’re gonna make it to the NBA for a lot of other things that require discipline,” he told SPIN.ph during a media scrum.

Fish was joined by PBA coach Norman Black and national team assistant coach Jong Uichico in the coach mentorship program.

More than being talented on the court, Fisher bared that nothing beats a diligent player who can bring harmony to a team.

‘D-Fish’ explained: “Oftentimes, [it] only goes to practicing your shooting, practicing ball handling, and skills, that part, it’s given… If you want to be a professional player, you have to be good at basketball.”

He continued:  “But I think there’s discipline in showing up on time, being coachable, there’s a discipline in being a great teammate, wanting others to be successful, sometimes more so than yourself.”