ANAHEIM, Calif. — Derek Fisher knows that to this day — even with his daughter still recovering from a rare form of childhood eye cancer — there are those who wonder why he felt compelled to leave Utah last summer.
But Fisher, the longtime Los Angeles Laker now back with his old club in L.A., has no qualms whatsoever about the decision he made to walk away from the final three years and nearly $21 million of his contract with the Jazz.
"Obviously you will never say anything that will please everyone," Fisher said before the Jazz's 102-81 win over the Lakers in a preseason game at Honda Center here in Anaheim. "But the response would be what it was then — that I would make a decision that my wife and I felt was best for us, from a family dynamic and perspective, and to be able to provide closer proximity to great medical care in the event of emergencies.
"As a father and a husband," he added, "it's not for me to really worry about the concerns of others. It's really about my family."
Young Tatum, a 15-month-old twin, continues to battle the effects of retinoblastoma — but is doing much better than last postseason, when Fisher made trips to New York so he could be with the little girl while she was being treated by a specialist there.
"Her vision's actually improving," Fisher said.
"When we first started, she almost had no vision — and it's improved a lot," he added. "We're cautiously optimistic. We don't look too far ahead, but day-to-day we're trying to make sure she's enjoying life."
Now three months removed from her last treatment, Tatum — accompanied by Fisher and his wife — was back in New York just last week for observation.
At least one more trip there is planned for next month.
In the meantime, Tatum has a team of specialists at both Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the medical facilities at UCLA.
As for the suggestion he didn't necessarily have to leave Utah, where in his lone season there he both started at shooting guard and backed up point guard Deron Williams for a Jazz team that advanced to the NBA Western Conference finals, Fisher offers a steadfast defense.
Ditto for his relatively quick decision to re-join the Lakers for about $14 million over three years.
"It's one thing to say, 'Well, of course you can fly to New York from Salt Lake City just like you can from L.A.,' but in the event something comes up and logistically you can't get to New York, then what?" asked Fisher, who had five points in 19 minutes Tuesday.
"Anyone that experienced cancer themselves," he added, "recognizes how important it is to also have support systems, and people in and around your family that can help hold it together."
Fisher's wife is from the Los Angeles area and has extended family living there.
"All those things," Fisher said, "played a role in being in L.A."
Back in Utah, two of Fisher's closest former teammates fully understand the decision.
"I'm not gonna talk about that, man," Williams said when asked about the perception, popular among at least some fans in Utah, that Fisher bailed on the Jazz. "I'm not even gonna answer that."
"He had to do what he had to do for his family, and the opportunity came, and that's what it was," power forward Carlos Boozer added. "We obviously wish him well basketball-wise, but we wish Tatum well life-wise."
Fisher suggested Tuesday that he'll forever treasure his short one-season stay in Utah — especially the way he was so warmly welcomed by fans after returning to EnergySolutions Arena following a treatment trip for Tatum.
"The response in that game when I came back from New York is a personal moment that will outlive any basketball accomplishment I will ever achieve," said Fisher, who won three NBA championship rings during his first stint with the Lakers. "I mean that.
"We had a great time while we were there," he added. "We've remarked several times since we've been gone how much we missed it."
And he always will, no matter what some segment of the population — evidenced largely by comments on Internet message boards — may think of his departure.
"We're thankful," Fisher said. "We don't claim to know everything, to be perfect in any way, but we're just thankful, and we're just trying to do what we think is best right now."
E-mail: tbuckley@desnews.com