Lakers To Hire New Athletic Trainer, Expected To Restructure Approach To Player Health

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Los Angeles Lakers did not renew head athletic trainer Nina Hsieh's contract, sources told ESPN.

Hsieh, who had been with the organization for over a decade, was promoted to the role two years ago. Hsieh replaced Marco Nunez in 2019.

Lakers players missed 201 games this season. LeBron James missed 26 out of the team's last 30 games, with Anthony Davis sitting out 36 games.

More changes are expected as the Lakers seek to restructure their approach to player heath.

Via Dave McMenamin/ESPN

[niha17]

You just have injury prone Anthony Davis it not the training staff

[Winsome Gerbil]

You want to "restructure player health" you trade your man of glass and 38yr old star for more durable personnel, you don't fire the trainer and go looking for some magic man who can magically hold together notoriously fragile pieces.

[Lockdown504090]

You want to "restructure player health" you trade your man of glass and 38yr old star for more durable personnel, you don't fire the trainer and go looking for some magic man who can magically hold together notoriously fragile pieces.

Thats literally what head trainers do for a living

[Winsome Gerbil]

You want to "restructure player health" you trade your man of glass and 38yr old star for more durable personnel, you don't fire the trainer and go looking for some magic man who can magically hold together notoriously fragile pieces.

Thats literally what head trainers do for a living

Not really -- some, many in fact, things are beyond your control. A.D. is easily breakable. Always has been. There's no magic potion to fix that. And LeBron is now old. Nothing to fix that either.

If guys who shouldn't break down are breaking down left and right that's one thing. But the Lakers front office created the injury situation just by their personnel decisions, not the trainers.

[Lockdown504090]

You want to "restructure player health" you trade your man of glass and 38yr old star for more durable personnel, you don't fire the trainer and go looking for some magic man who can magically hold together notoriously fragile pieces.

Thats literally what head trainers do for a living

Not really -- some, many in fact, things are beyond your control. A.D. is easily breakable. Always has been. There's no magic potion to fix that. And LeBron is now old. Nothing to fix that either.

If guys who shouldn't break down are breaking down left and right that's one thing. But the Lakers front office created the injury situation just by their personnel decisions, not the trainers.

There is. you just arent aware.

[kblo247]

You want to "restructure player health" you trade your man of glass and 38yr old star for more durable personnel, you don't fire the trainer and go looking for some magic man who can magically hold together notoriously fragile pieces.

Thats literally what head trainers do for a living

Not really -- some, many in fact, things are beyond your control. A.D. is easily breakable. Always has been. There's no magic potion to fix that. And LeBron is now old. Nothing to fix that either.

If guys who shouldn't break down are breaking down left and right that's one thing. But the Lakers front office created the injury situation just by their personnel decisions, not the trainers.

Kuzma missed games with a calf injury and other leg injuries.

Kcp missed games including a playoff game with a leg injury and spent his last two weeks being treated for back problems

Caruso missed games for injuries along with concussion and covid

Kieff missed games for leg injuries

Dennis had a foot injury he played through.

Tucker missed games for injury

It was far more than just and injured lebron or ad and covid protocols. Multiple lakers had lower leg problems they missed games for or were being treated for. It was common to see kcp with his back wrapped and a machine on him and him cramping up. It was common to see Kuz all taped up, limping and getting his legs worked on

[thegreatone1b]

Thats literally what head trainers do for a living

Not really -- some, many in fact, things are beyond your control. A.D. is easily breakable. Always has been. There's no magic potion to fix that. And LeBron is now old. Nothing to fix that either.

If guys who shouldn't break down are breaking down left and right that's one thing. But the Lakers front office created the injury situation just by their personnel decisions, not the trainers.

Kuzma missed games with a calf injury and other leg injuries.

Kcp missed games including a playoff game with a leg injury and spent his last two weeks being treated for back problems

Caruso missed games for injuries along with concussion and covid

Kieff missed games for leg injuries

Dennis had a foot injury he played through.

Tucker missed games for injury

It was far more than just and injured lebron or ad and covid protocols. Multiple lakers had lower leg problems they missed games for or were being treated for. It was common to see kcp with his back wrapped and a machine on him and him cramping up. It was common to see Kuz all taped up, limping and getting his legs worked on

So Lebron is wrong when he said it is the NBA fault that there are so many injuries? What about the other teams that have injuries? I don't think there is a team that is without. Should the players not be held accountable for injuries too? Why are they taking care of their bodies? Why did the coaches play their players so much and risk injuries? To me, this sounds like a scapegoat excuse.

[Lockdown504090]

Not really -- some, many in fact, things are beyond your control. A.D. is easily breakable. Always has been. There's no magic potion to fix that. And LeBron is now old. Nothing to fix that either.

If guys who shouldn't break down are breaking down left and right that's one thing. But the Lakers front office created the injury situation just by their personnel decisions, not the trainers.

Kuzma missed games with a calf injury and other leg injuries.

Kcp missed games including a playoff game with a leg injury and spent his last two weeks being treated for back problems

Caruso missed games for injuries along with concussion and covid

Kieff missed games for leg injuries

Dennis had a foot injury he played through.

Tucker missed games for injury

It was far more than just and injured lebron or ad and covid protocols. Multiple lakers had lower leg problems they missed games for or were being treated for. It was common to see kcp with his back wrapped and a machine on him and him cramping up. It was common to see Kuz all taped up, limping and getting his legs worked on

So Lebron is wrong when he said it is the NBA fault that there are so many injuries? What about the other teams that have injuries? I don't think there is a team that is without. Should the players not be held accountable for injuries too? Why are they taking care of their bodies? Why did the coaches play their players so much and risk injuries? To me, this sounds like a scapegoat excuse.

doesnt have to be one persons fault. If the lakers think they can get a better head trainer, they should, there doesnt need to be a villian.

[kblo247]

Not really -- some, many in fact, things are beyond your control. A.D. is easily breakable. Always has been. There's no magic potion to fix that. And LeBron is now old. Nothing to fix that either.

If guys who shouldn't break down are breaking down left and right that's one thing. But the Lakers front office created the injury situation just by their personnel decisions, not the trainers.

Kuzma missed games with a calf injury and other leg injuries.

Kcp missed games including a playoff game with a leg injury and spent his last two weeks being treated for back problems

Caruso missed games for injuries along with concussion and covid

Kieff missed games for leg injuries

Dennis had a foot injury he played through.

Tucker missed games for injury

It was far more than just and injured lebron or ad and covid protocols. Multiple lakers had lower leg problems they missed games for or were being treated for. It was common to see kcp with his back wrapped and a machine on him and him cramping up. It was common to see Kuz all taped up, limping and getting his legs worked on

So Lebron is wrong when he said it is the NBA fault that there are so many injuries? What about the other teams that have injuries? I don't think there is a team that is without. Should the players not be held accountable for injuries too? Why are they taking care of their bodies? Why did the coaches play their players so much and risk injuries? To me, this sounds like a scapegoat excuse.

I’m not saying she was a villain but the way they played has to be looked at along with medical. They paid two prices. 1 was the shortest turn around in the history of basketball when they won the final to when they came back so their bodies were already go be pushed to its limit. 2 was the fact that in order to keep the leagues best defense all year even when Lebron and AD were in and out, Marc got dnps, Dennis missed games, etc the guys Frank had worked their ass off on rotations, taking charges, trapping, and effort which takes a toll.

I mean let’s use kcp for example. People go say well he shoots and that’s it but it’s a lie. He’s the guy who I. The bubble was the primary guy on Murray, Harden, Robinson, and Dame. That’s a lot of times to be hit with pick after pick in your ribs, back, hips, and legs. Then he did it all year too and was the teams primary perimeter defender with no green or Bradley. And you saw it taking it’s toll in March and April when he would be on breaks back wrapped and having cramps and being tired.

Hell Kuzma in the stretch where AD got hurt but Bron was in went from 25 mins a night to 33 mins a night. When Bron went out, it wasn’t Dennis who led them in minutes. Kuzma minutes went to 41 a game and though his percentages weren’t great. His counting stats saw him be first in minutes, second in offensive rebounds, second in assists, second in defensive boards, third in steals, second in total points, and he led the team in charges taken when they were out. And you saw it take a toll on him because he hurt his hip. Then he still played and then he strained his calf and missed a couple games, came back with it all taped up, and played on and even told reporters his legs weren’t a hundred percent but they needed to win games.

Those players gave Frank what they had to they had no more gas at different points to get his D right and I’m not blaming him or them. But if you’re going to play that hard on D you better have the best staff you can find to keep them healthy