Portland Trail Blazers

For years the Portland Trailblazers were synonymous with poor health as possible superstars like Greg Oden and Brandon Roy were beset by injury. However, those fortunes turned around with the arrival of Damian Lillard. Lillard, once considered an injury risk, flourished in Portland, leading the team to a Western Conference Finals in 2019. The arrival of Dame Time coincided with the promotion of Geoff Clark to head athletic trainer. With Clark in a lead position with the team, the Blazers saw a notable improvement in player health.  From 2013 to 2019, the Blazers surrendered the second fewest games lost to injury or illness in the NBA, trailing the Oklahoma City Thunder by just two games. Clark’s hard work did not go unnoticed as Lillard personally thanked Clark in his goodbye letter following his offseason trade.

After two subpar performances by their improved standards, the Blazers medical team added a few fresh faces with Clark assuming the role of Scouting Medical Director. Dr. Courtney Watson becomes the head athletic trainer and remains the only female head AT in the NBA. Dr. Watson spent 15 years as the Director of Sports Medicine and Head Athletic Trainer for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA. Watson also a pioneer in boxing, becoming the first female athletic trainer as the trainer for welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather. Dr. Evan Ellis, a co-physician with the team since 2014, will now serve as the Director of Health and Performance. The new group will monitor the health of a reconstructed roster that includes rookie Scoot Henderson and former Suns big man Deandre Ayton.