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May 9, 2007, in the evening.

After surgery, but before leaving the hospital, Fisher — longtime Laker, winner of three NBA title rings, but at the time with the Jazz — called his coach.

"I talked to (Jerry Sloan) after surgery, once Tatum got up to recovery, and just gave (him) and (Jazz general manager) Kevin (O'Connor) the update," he said.

Utah had to play that night — against Golden State, second round of the playoffs, Game 2 with the Warriors.

Fisher had no idea if the Jazz had kept him on their 12-man active roster.

"I told Coach, 'I worked out when I got to New York just to work out some stress and get a sweat going, but I hadn't touched a ball in four days. So it's totally up to you.' "

The guard soon learned he indeed was needed.

His personal assistant, Fisher recalled with a grin, already had "arranged through Salt Lake City police to have me escorted to the arena, just because he knew I wanted to go anyway just to see the game and let the guys know I was back.

"When we landed, he told me, 'All heck's broken loose, basically. Dee Brown's hurt, and D-Will (Deron Williams) is in foul trouble. You're on the active roster; they want you there.'

"I asked (Candace) on the spot, 'Is it OK for me to play?' She didn't want me to stink up the gym, either ... Once she said she was OK with it, that she would be OK at the house by herself, then I rushed over, and the rest is history."

He arrived late in the third quarter, barely with time to warm up.

"I was hyperventilating a little bit ... and the trainer was trying to tell me to slow down and relax and catch your breath, and I was like, 'Wow,'" Fisher said, chuckling now. "I walked out onto the floor, the crowd's going crazy, and I'm really just saying hello to my teammates ... and before I could even sit down, Jerry's like, 'Fish, go in the game.' My legs were wobbling."

Fisher subbed for Andrei Kirilenko, made it through the quarter, forced Warriors point Baron Davis out of bounds late in regulation, then took a Williams pass and buried a left-side trey that stood up as the game-winner in OT.

Utah loved him.

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Nov. 30, 2007

During the summer, Fisher asked out of his Jazz contract, citing the need to be closest to the best possible medical care for Tatum.

The request was granted; Fisher soon re-signed with the hated Lakers.