Dr. Brooks joined the Purple and Gold in 2024 after serving as a physical therapist and athletic trainer for the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2019-2024. Dr. Brooks executed plans of care to maximize player performance and recovery, becoming the first Black woman to be a dual certified athletic trainer and physical therapist in the NBA. As a member of the NBA Emergency Preparedness Committee, she helps craft the cardiac, neck and spine protocols for the league. Dr. Brooks served as a Sports Physical Therapy Fellow at Wake Forest from 2018-2019 while practicing at Wake Forest Baptist Health.

The Miramar, Fla., native double majored in Athletic Training as well as Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Georgia from 2009-2013.
She earned her clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy from Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Brooks went on to become a nationally-registered emergency medical technician (EMT) after attending the Atlanta Medical Academy. She completed her Sports Residency for Physical Therapy at Duke University. Additionally, Dr. Brooks completed emergency medical technician recertification with Allied Medical Training and underwent a fellowship at the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy.

Dr. Brooks reports to Director of Player Performance Dr. Leroy Sims.

A member of the NBATA since 2005, Mancias has dedicated over 2 decades of service within the NBA Family.

Joining the Lakers Organization in 2018, He assists the Lakers Athletic Performance Team in aspects of player care including: injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of Players both at home and on the road. In 2020, Mancias was part of the World Championship Team that brought the Lakers franchise their 17th NBA Title.

Prior to joining the Lakers, Mancias was member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Athletic Performance Staff from 2014-‘18. During that time he aided in implementing team protocols in Athletic Training and Strength & Conditioning that helped the Cavaliers win their first NBA title in 2016.

Before joining The Cavaliers as Athletic Trainer in 2014, Mancias spent the previous four seasons as Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Miami Heat. During his term with Miami, Mancias was an integral part of the 2012 and 2013 back-to-back World Championship title runs. Prior to joining the Heat, he was the Assistant Athletic Trainer for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-‘10.

He began his work with the NBA in 1998 while working The NBA Pre-Draft Camp as well as The Nike Desert Classic, and NBA Summer leagues in Atlanta, Boston, Orlando and Las Vegas. In 2008 and 2012 Mancias worked as Associate Athletic Trainer for The USA Mens Olympic Basketball Gold Medal Teams in Beijing, China & London, England. He has also worked over 16 NBA All-Star Games and 10 NBA Finals. He is a certified member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He holds Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Mancias graduated in 2000 with a B.S. in Health Education from The University of Texas-Pan American.

Jon Ishop begins the season as Associate Athletic Trainer/Athletic Performance Liaison for the Los Angeles Lakers, subsequent to his 2018-19 return to New Orleans Pelicans as an Assistant Athletic Trainer, he had a four-year stint with the Pistons as the Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer, he also served four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans as Head Athletic Trainer and eight seasons with the Houston Texans as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. Ishop oversees the health care, prevention, rehabilitation of injuries, sports performance development and daily training room operations. In addition to certified athletic trainer, Ishop is also an NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, Graston Technique Certified, kinesiotape practitioner and certified in dry needling.

Octavio Marquez Montoya joined the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2019/2020 season as an Assistant Athletic Trainer. He initially began as an Associate Athletic Training Intern for the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2018/2019 season.

Prior to this he has previously worked as an Athletic Trainer for West Coast Sports Medicine Foundation in Manhattan Beach, CA, overseeing Athletic Training services to high school athletes and mentoring sports medicine interns. In addition, he has also provided medical coverage to Junipero Serra High School working Football, M/W Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball, and Soccer. Octavio has worked as an Industrial Athletic Trainer for FedEx at LAX Airport through Vibrant Care Rehabilitation, facilitating injury prevention strategies for employees.

Octavio obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Athletic Training from California State University Northridge in 2017. He then completed his Master’s in Kinesiology-Exercise Science at California Baptist University in 2020. Additionally, holds Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) certifications through NASM.

Shane Besedick joined the Los Angeles Lakers staff at the start of the 2021-2022 season.

Before his move to the Lakers, Shane spent seven seasons as the athletic trainer for UCLA Men’s Basketball team from 2014-2021. He was able to experience two Sweet 16s and a Final Four appearance. Shane also worked with the men’s tennis, women’s beach volleyball, and track & field teams during his time there.

Prior to UCLA, Besedick spent three years at Pepperdine University as assistant athletic trainer and two years at UC Berkeley as a graduate intern – where he was a part of the 2010-2011 College World Series team.

Shane received his bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Long Beach State and a master’s degree in Performance Enhancement & Health Promotion from the now, PennWest California University.

The Crescenta Valley native currently lives in Santa Monica with his wife, Korina, and their daughter Keaton.

Prior to joining the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant athletic trainer, Micah spent two seasons (2022-2024) as the assistant athletic trainer for the Portland Trailblazers. Micah spent one season (2021-2022) in the NBA G- League as the Head Athletic Trainer for the Wisconsin Herd. He has previously served in assistant athletic training roles at Butler University, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Howard University, and LeTourneau University. Micah earned his undergraduate degree from Anderson University (IN) in athletic training in 2016, a master’s degree from LeTourneau University in healthcare administration in 2018, and a master’s degree from California University Pennsylvania in exercise science with a dual concentration in sports rehabilitation and sports psychology. Micah obtained his strength and conditioning certification in 2023.