Brooklyn Nets looking for new Head of Performance Therapy after injury-filled season

Entering the 2020-21 season, the Brooklyn Nets, led by Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, were widely considered the prohibitive favorites to win the title.

However, the very few non-believers they had were adamant that, given the lack of games their three superstars played together, the team would ultimately come up short.

The crux of that argument stemmed from the fact that Kevin Durant and James Harden couldn’t stay healthy, whereas Kyrie Irving’s commitment was brought into question.

Ironically enough, it was Irving, after landing on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s shoe, who ultimately put the nail in the coffin of the Nets’ title hopes with a right ankle sprain.

It really wasn’t surprising injuries proved to be the Nets’ downfall, and it would appear the front office is doing everything in its power to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

According to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, the Nets are looking for a new Head of Performance Therapy. There’s even an ad on Zip Recruiter, though it’s worth noting this is a newly created position. Brooklyn isn’t looking to replace anyone.

The Nets are being proactive following their injury-riddled season.

If there was ever a proper way to address the injury-plagued season, looking for a new Head of Performance Therapy, short of hiring a new team trainer, is the way to go.

For those curious, the Nets are looking for experience in potential candidates. As far as required skills and experience is concerned, applicants must have 15 years minimum in the field, including “post qualification experience working with elite sporting athletes.”

We’re not going to pretend like we have the first clue of what this job entails, but the fact that applicants must be part of an “integrated elite level sports medicine and sports science program” makes it seem like the Nets covered every possible corner of this ad.

Is it possible Brooklyn is overreacting? After all, injuries were extremely prevalent across the league this season. That’s a fair point, though we’d counter by saying the schedule was overwhelming and clearly played a role in how many stars suffered injuries.

Not to mention, the Nets saw four of their most important players — Durant, Harden, Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie — hit the shelf. That doesn’t even take the rest of the roster into account, so yeah, the front office is right to bolster its Performance Therapy staff.

Don’t expect somebody to be hired right away, either. Given the magnitude of injuries Brooklyn sustained this season, the Nets are in no position to be careless. Given how detailed the advertisement is, expect a few weeks (if not months) to pass before a hire is made.

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