Article reposted from Fansided
Author: Bret Stuter
Did you know that Philadelphia 76ers head athletic trainer Kevin Johnson is the NBA Trainer of the Year.
The Philadelphia 76ers head athletic trainer loves his job. Now, mind you, it’s not a glamorous job. But it’s a vital part of an NBA Team. Players are injured. Injuries need immediate attention. And the best of the business is 76ers head athletic trainer Kevin Johnson.
Johnson has been in the field for 22 years. While that seems like a very long time, he is always learning and improving his craft. As a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association (NATA), he continues to stay abreast of the latest and greatest techniques.
And daresay he’s needed all that experience and training in recent years for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Tough career field
So what does an NBA trainer do besides wrap sprains with elastic bandages? It’s not as easy as you think. You help professional athletes heal, but your life is a different level than theirs.
Basketball Insider’s Alex Kennedy wrote a piece about the life of an NBA trainer. I recommend it. Like many worthwhile vocations, it takes a true humanitarian to do the work, and the pay will never match the salaries of the players he works on.
However else you see it, the work is a passion. And it’s vital to the team to get athletes back in service as quickly as possible. In the end, there is not much written about the challenges of an NBA trainer’s career. I think there should be. Kevin N. Johnson is the best at his craft among the entire NBA. And he is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers staff.
Thanks Kevin.