"My kids called, freaking out" - Derek Fisher recalls the hoax reports about him being in the tragic helicopter crash with Kobe Bryant

The tragic passing of Kobe Bryant in a 2020 helicopter crash will always remain one of the darkest days in NBA history, leaving a void that can never be filled. The death of the Los Angeles Lakers legend had millions across the sports world heartbroken, not just in the NBA. Be it his former teammates, peers, or arch-rivals, everyone had a hard time coming to terms with Kobe's death. The situation was even worse for Derek Fisher, who was part of all of Bryant's five championships, with the two forming a great backcourt duo. Their professional relationship eventually culminated in a friendship. So much so that when the news of Bryant's passing in a helicopter crash broke, some reports suggested that Fisher was on it as well. Recently, appearing as a guest on "The Joint Venture Show," Derek revisited the fateful day when not only did he lose a close friend and brother, but also had his near and dear ones freaking out over news of him being part of the crash as well. At the time, Fisher, who was coaching the WNBA team, the Los Angeles Sparks, was catching a flight to the East Coast to recruit free agents, including Angel McCoughtry. What happened next was something no one ever saw coming. "I was about to get on an airplane to fly there. My kids called, freaking out. So, I turn around, go back home, and obviously, the rest of the day is what it was. But we were on the same helicopter, though, previously, the same exact helicopter," Living in the social media age, one cannot deny the plethora of information available to everyone. However, this has also led to the emergence of a lot of fake, unverified, and doctored news and claims, which many miscreants and troublemakers thrive on. These bad elements of society don't even spare occasions like someone's death, especially when it's a public figure. One such case was Kobe's unfortunate death, which had a death hoax about Derek being circulated as well. That said, Fisher was not the only victim of this fake news, with another teammate of theirs, Rick Fox's name, being dragged into it as well. "My family went through, in the midst of all this, something that I couldn't have imagined them experiencing. One of my daughter's greatest fears is finding out that a parent, one of her parents, (has died) through social media instead of from a loved one or a family member," said Fox, who recalled his best friend calling him constantly when he would go on to learn about Bryant's passing and news of him being with him in the crash. Related: Glen Davis exposes other former NBA players he says stole from the health care fund but avoided charges: "People you see on different podcasts" Both Fisher and Fox certainly knew what it took to be teammates with Bryant, having been part of multiple championship runs with the Black Mamba. The one thing that was common to the three of them was the iconic Lakers three-peat from 2000 to 2002. While Rick would retire from the hardwood in 2004, Derek would reunite with Kobe in 2007 and go on to win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Not to mention that Fox and Fisher were among the handful of names in the NBA for whom Bryant always shared the highest regard. Even though Bryant may not be with us today, his teammates and peers often share interesting anecdotes and memories of him, highlighting why he was one of the greats of the game. Related: Derek Fisher recalls how his close relationship with Kobe Bryant developed: "We beat up each other quite a bit" Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved This story was originally published September 7, 2026 at 3:24 PM.