Derek Fisher's Most Important Battle

There was a battle fought in the sports world on Wednesday.

It didn't involve a superstar.  It didn't involve an endorsement giant.

But it did involve an integral piece of a championship contender.

Derek Fisher's career numbers—10.1 ppg and 3.3 apg—are by no means gaudy. Still, he's been a consistent contributor on every team he's ever played for.

On Wednesday, Fisher was tested as a basketball player.  More importantly, he was tested as a man—as a husband and a father.

The truth is that Fisher was a spectator in much of the battle. Deep down, he no doubt wished he could have played a bigger role. Instead, there was nothing he could do but put the outcome in the hands of others.

When Fisher made his way onto the court with Game Two of the Utah-Golden State series already in progress, it was time to go to work.

On the easiest part of his day.

His team was counting on him. Utah fans were counting on him. He had to be in the moment. 

But how could he? While his body was in Salt Lake City, his mind was in New York.

That's where the real battle was. This was a game he loved. The other fight involved a person he loved.

Somehow, Fisher kept it together. With 1:06 left in overtime, with the world watching, he found himself in the corner with the ball in his hands.

He did what he was supposed to do.

Fisher's clutch three-pointer put the game out of reach, and helped give the Jazz a 2-0 edge in the series.

After the game, the Warriors players approached him. Not to rattle him for the next game or to congratulate him on the shot—but because he was a peer, a friend.

The guy who just put a dagger in their heart was now being embraced by the opposition.

"It has been unbelievable," Fisher said afterwards.  "I'm speechless."

With the game over, it was time to remember what had taken place in earlier in the day: Fisher's 10-month-old daughter Tatum underwent surgery to remove a tumor between her eyes and brain.

After the procedure, Fisher flew with his family in tow back to Salt Lake City. To be with his other family—a family of teammates.

"We have been on an emotional roller-coaster, and we will probably be on it for years to come, because it is a cancer," he said. "But we're going to help her beat it, and help other kids beat this as well."

Derek Fisher battled on Wednesday.  And Derek Fisher won. 

More importantly, Tatum Fisher battled on Wednesday.  And we should all hope that she'll come out on top too.