Lakers hires Dr. Vanessa Brooks as head athletic trainer

The Lakers have Dr. Vanessa Brooks was hired as their head athletic trainer, people with knowledge of the situation who are not authorized to speak publicly about the matter told The Times. The position on the Lakers’ medical staff had become open after Roger Sancho left the organization to join the Phoenix Suns.

Brooks had been with the Oklahoma City Thunder since 2019. She was the first black woman to receive dual certification as an athletic trainer and physical therapist.

She is the latest addition in a restructuring of the Lakers’ medical staff this season, with Brooks working under Dr. Leroy Sims, whom the team has hired as director of player performance.

According to Brooks’ LinkedIn profile, she is one of two certified trainers on the NBA’s Emergency Preparedness Committee, which establishes the league’s cardiac, neck and spine emergency protocols.

The Lakers will hold a media day on Monday before opening training camp on Tuesday.

She is expected to be with the team at the start of training camp.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.