The Lakers hire Dr. Vanessa Brooks as head athletic trainer

The Lakers have Dr. hired Vanessa Brooks as its head athletic trainer, people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Times. The position on the Lakers' medical staff was open after Roger Sancho left the organization to take a job with the Phoenix Suns.

Brooks has worked 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 hire as part of a shakeup of the Lakers' medical staff this offseason. Brooks works under Dr. Leroy Sims, whom the team 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 creates the cardiac, neck and spinal emergency protocols for the league.

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.