The Lakers have hired Dr. Vanessa Brooks as their head athletic trainer, people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter told The Times. The position on the Lakers’ medical staff had been open after Roger Sancho left the organization to work with the Phoenix Suns.
Brooks worked with the Oklahoma City Thunder since 2019. She was the first Black woman to be dual-certified as an athletic trainer and physical therapist.
She is the latest hire in a restructuring of the Lakers’ medical staff this offseason, with Brooks working under Dr. Leroy Sims, whom the team hired as director of player performance.
According to Brooks’ LinkedIn profile, she is one of two certified coaches on the NBA’s Emergency Preparedness Committee, which develops cardiac, neck and spine emergency protocols for the league.
The Lakers will hold a media day on Monday before opening training camp on Tuesday.
He is expected to be with the team at the start of training camp.
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This story originally appeared on Los Angeles Times.