L.A. Lakers notebook: Derek Fisher gets razzed by teammate about age

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Not that Derek Fisher needed a reminder of his advanced NBA age — something his younger teammates often do a good job of — but he got the equivalent of being offered the senior-citizen discount on Monday.

Recalling his elementary days, literally, Jordan Farmar played show-and-tell with something that accentuated the 35-year-old Fisher's extended stay in the NBA.

After Los Angeles' practice, Farmar was handed a scrapbook-type photo collection that included a picture of him from the sixth grade posing with a Laker.

The L.A. player?

Derek Fisher, of course.

Fisher, a 14-year veteran, grinned and groaned when asked about his senior moment.

"Only because there's photographic evidence," he said, "it is a true story."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson chuckled after seeing the photo that the-now-23-year-old Farmar had taken with Fisher oh-so-many years ago when his teammate spoke at his school.

And he wasn't the only Laker to get a good laugh.

"That was kind of an interesting thing for him," Jackson said. "(Farmar) thought it was pretty remarkable, actually. ... That's youth and that's a veteran for ya."

Fisher didn't autograph the photo for Farmar, and he good-naturedly admitted "Jordan's definitely one-up in a big way on that one" in the teammate teasing material department.

"I work with a guy that was in the sixth grade when I first came into this business," added Fisher, who was a rookie in 1996. "So, yes, it's pretty humbling, but I guess very positive as well."

The Lakers, when they're not razzing him, sure think so. The veteran leader scored 10 points in the Lakers' 104-99 Game 1 win Sunday in yet another solid outing against the Utah Jazz.

"I think he's done a remarkable job of staying attached to the speed, the quickness, the physical nature of this game and how to recover between game to game," Jackson said. "It's not an easy task for a guy that's his age."

His old (but younger) Jazz teammates are equally impressed with the guy who played in Utah during the 2006-07 season.

"I've seen first-hand his work ethic and how hard he goes," Jazz point guard Deron Williams said. "We use the same shooting coach, so the workouts that he does are great. He's always in great shape. He doesn't look 35."