Meet the Members
NBPTA Members from the NBA
Jump to team:
Atlanta Hawks
Ryan Brooks
PT, DPT, SCS, MA, CSCS
Performance Physical Therapist
“What I love most about being a PT is problem solving. Each case is a puzzle that requires attention to multiple needs including respecting the body's healing process, respecting the unique person in front of you, targeting key tissues and movements to optimize the injured area, and incorporating qualities and abilities specific to the sport that are requisite for an optimal return to play.”
Ryan Donahue
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Head of Medical
“Being a member of the NBPTA provides a sense of community of forward thinking individuals driven to change the narrative of performance healthcare in professional sports.”
Boston Celtics
Steve Mount
MSPT, CSCS, CPSS
Director of Rehabilitation
“What I enjoy most about my job is the relationships built over time with staff members and players, working together towards a common goal, and being able to combine my interests in performance, injury management and elite sport.”
Trac Norris
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Physical Therapist
“I enjoy building relationships with athletes and working with them through the process of turning rehabilitation into performance. I enjoy watching them trust their bodies again and translate that into high-level movement. I also love working with an interdisciplinary team that is cohesive and helps each other grow professionally.”
Brooklyn Nets
Alvin Dike
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Physical Performance Coach and Therapist
“Being part of the NBPTA means joining a community committed to advancing our profession and fostering excellence.”
Cassidy Papa
PT, DPT, SCS. CSCS
Charlotte Hornets
Performance Physical Therapist
“I love working with a group of people with a common goal and mindset. Being a part of the process of keeping athletes on the court or returning them to the court following injury is special to be a part of. I love that my job combines my passion for human performance with my love for being a part of a team and my competitiveness.”
Dallas Mavericks
Thomas Suh
PT, DPT, SCS, ATC, CSCS,
Assistant Athletic Trainer & Physical Therapist
“I love building relationships with my athletes and earning their trust. Problem-solving injuries and seeing the “Aha!” moments when we find solutions is incredibly rewarding. Watching athletes return to play after days or weeks of hard work and seeing their success makes every challenge in the rehab process worth it.”
Denver Nuggets
Jack Friesen
Physical Therapist
DPT, PT, SCS, CSCS
“It is exciting to be a part of the NBPTA, being a part of a community of physical therapist who advocate for the profession, offer opportunity to network with peers, provide valuable resources and provide a platform to elevate the awareness of sports physical therapy, that is ultimately how we all grow individual and as a profession, supporting career development to ensure high quality care.”
Steve Short
PT, DPT
Vice President of Sports Medicine
“I love being able to serve and help people, while being able to pursue the deep challenges of health and performance.”
Steffen Thomas
DPT, SCS, CSCS
Detroit Pistons
Director of Rehabilitation
“What I love most about physical therapy is facilitating the journey back to meaningful movement, and in the case of sports, that usually means returning the athlete to what they love the most. I value guiding individuals through the rehabilitation process and helping them recognize the progress they’ve made along the way. Few moments are more rewarding than seeing someone step back onto the court after an injury that once limited even basic movement. I’m deeply fascinated by the design of the human body and human performance, and I enjoy helping individuals not only recover, but perform at their best.”
Nadine Terlicher
Golden State Warriors
BScPT, MSC, RCAMT, Sports PT Cert.
Physical Therapist/Performance Therapist
“I love the problem-solving aspect of being a PT: being presented with a problem, walking through the steps to tease out the root causes, and then crafting a plan to address them. I love how closely we get to work with our athletes/patients and that we get to be involved through the full course of the rehab process.”
Houston Rockets
Scott Kneller
PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, FAFAS
“I love that I’m able to serve others in my role as a physical therapist.”
Physical Therapist
Los Angeles Clippers
Maggie Bryant
DPT, OCS, SCS, FAFS
President of Performance, Health, and Wellness
“I love seeing patients regain their confidence and independence. Helping someone return to their favorite activities or live pain-free is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just about physical recovery but also helping them emotionally and mentally thrive again.”
Brett Ballesteros
PT, DPT, OCS, ATC, FAFS, CSCS
Los Angeles Lakers
Physical Therapist
“My favorite part of my job is working with a high performance team that is passionate about collaboration to achieve the best outcomes for the players we work with. I enjoy the process of problem solving alongside a multidisciplinary team, including our medical staff, coaches and players.”
Memphis Grizzlies
Cody Benz
PT, DPT
Performance Therapist
“Having the privilege to be a part of something bigger than myself, a team, is what I love most about my job. Working, collectively, with players and colleagues from various disciplines, to solve problems with a shared goal, is truly a special endeavor.”
Jarred Boyd
Bio Coming Soon
Mike Roncarati
Bio Coming Soon
Winta Desta
Bio Coming Soon
Miami Heat
Jeff Ruiz
PhD, DPT, SCS, OCS, CPSS, CSCS
Senior Director of Rehabilitation and Athletic Performance
“What I enjoy the most about my job are the daily challenges that I get to tackle collectively with the team. These challenges make us all think critically and have a shared experience towards a common goal. Working with such an amazing staff and team makes the experience even more rewarding.”
Milwaukee Bucks
Luke O’Brien
PT, M.Phty (Sports), SCS
Director of Sports Medicine & Performance
“I enjoy the opportunity to be impactful. From collaborating with medical experts to problem solving with coaching staff, the variety of challenges keeps the role exciting and provides the chance to contribute to our team's success.”
Tommy Brice
Bio Coming Soon
Greg Signorelli
PT, DPT, ATC
Physical Therapist
“What I enjoy most about my job is managing athletes through the ups and downs of a season. I love helping them to navigate the rigorous schedule of the NBA with not only the physical toll, but also the mental and emotional toll. Life long relationships are made in the trenches and being able to see others succeed and achieve their dreams is the most gratifying part. “
Minnesota Timberwolves
Lisa Pataky
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Sports Physical Therapist
“What I love most about being a PT is the opportunity to help athletes either get back to playing the sport they love or to help them be able to play at their highest level and potential.”
New Orleans Pelicans
Amy Atmore
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Director of Rehabilitation
“Being a member of the NBPTA means being able to connect with other like-minded individuals to better ourselves and our future patients.”
Allie Boudreau
PT, DPT, CSCS
Assistant Physical Therapist
““I am excited to become a member of the NBPTA and join an elite group of practitioners. I look forward to the collaboration and engagement, as we continue to elevate this profession in elite basketball.
New York Knicks
Andrew Small
PT, CSCS RSCC*D
Director of Rehabilitation
“What I appreciate most about my job is being part of a multidisciplinary team working toward a shared goal.”
Orlando Magic
Sameer Mehta
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Physical Therapist
“As an NBA physical therapist, I thrive on our team’s unified push towards victories along with helping world class athletes. Working with advanced practitioners to chase the boundaries of performance, science, and health is incredibly stimulating. I love building players’ physical and mental resilience, fostering team bonds, and helping these young stars grow on and off the court. It’s an unbeatable, fulfilling experience.”
Phoenix Suns
Derrick Nillissen
PT, DPT, SCS, OCS, CSCS
Physical Therapist
Keegan Ross
PT, DPT, SCS
Performance Therapist
What I enjoy most about my role is collaborating with other practitioners to improve the health and performance of some of the most talented athletes in the world.
Cruz Romero
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Physical Therapist
“I enjoy collaborating with elite athletes (as humans first) and high-achieving professionals daily. The fast-paced, ever-changing environment challenges me to constantly adapt, think creatively, and deliver results under pressure. It's incredibly rewarding to contribute to a high performance organization on and off the court.”
Portland Trail Blazers
“I wanted to join the NBPTA Board to collaboratively lead efforts in establishing a legacy within the NBA for the profession of Physical Therapy and further facilitate and establish our voice within the league.“
Sean Johnson
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Physical Therapist
Chris Gerona
PT, DPT, FAFS, SCS
Physical Therapist
“Becoming a member allows a wonderful progression of the PT profession within the league and allows us to collaborate together as a whole.”
Jaclyn Lindell
PT, DPT, OCS, CAFS
Physical Therapist
“Being a part of the NBPTA means expanding on the opportunity to collaborate with other like-minded individuals and continuing to grow as physical therapists in the league.”
San Antonio Spurs
Marilyn Adams
BScPT, MCISc, DPT, PgCert Med MSK Ultrasound
Director of Performance Therapy
“What I love most about my role now is the opportunity to work alongside individuals performing at the highest level—athletes, coaches, the front office, and an interdisciplinary performance team. Every day presents new challenges that require collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation.”
Logan Kelly-Sullivan
PT, DPT, OCS, SCS, CSCS, PhD(c)
Senior Performance Physical Therapist
“The best part of our job is problem solving. Every day brings something new and it provides you with the opportunity to think critically. It’s never boring and very rewarding.”
Jonathon Dickey
Bio Coming Soon
Imani Taylor
Bio Coming Soon
Toronto Raptors
“What I love most about my role now is the opportunity to work alongside individuals performing at the highest level—athletes, coaches, the front office, and an interdisciplinary performance team. Every day presents new challenges that require collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation.”
Amanda Joaquim
BSc Hons, MScPT, MClSc, FCAMPT, SPD, RISPT
Lead Physiotherapist
Alex McKechnie
PT, BSc Hons, MScPT, MClSc, FCAMPT, SPD, RISPT
Vice President of Health and Performance
“The establishment of the National Basketball Physical Therapy Association as a crucial step forward for the profession.”
Nikki Garcia
MClSc, MPT, BScKin, CSCS
“What I love most about being a PT is building meaningful connections and making an impact in not only the athlete's career, but also contributing to the team's success.”
Physical Therapist
Washington Wizards
Anthony Iannarino
PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS
Senior Physical Therapist
“What I love most about being a PT is the journey of problem solving a unique n=1 solution for the individual in front of you while using these individual experiences to drive daily improvement in knowledge base and skillset”