The Los Angeles Lakers will have a new head athletic trainer heading into the 2019-20 NBA season, as the team has named Nina Hsieh to the position, according to a report from Ryan Ward of ClutchPoints.

Hsieh is no stranger to the Lakers organization and the Southern California area. She spent four years with UC Santa Barbara before being named the athletic trainer of the (then) Los Angeles D-Fenders. She spent seven years at that post while assisting the Lakers with Summer League and training camp activities before being named an assistant.

Article Continues Below
More Los Angeles Lakers News
Lakers fans will mock Mike Bibby's 2002 Western Conference Finals claims
Lakers fans will mock Mike Bibby’s 2002 Western Conference Finals claimsJulian Ojeda ·
Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) and forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) and forward Dorian Finney-Smith (17) during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center.
Key LeBron James, Luka Doncic Lakers teammate undergoes surgeryPreston Byers ·
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) moves the ball up court against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Stephen A. Smith calls out Lakers’ Luka Doncic for ‘lacking leadership’Julian Ojeda ·
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) finishes off a dunk in the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers at Ball Arena.
Russell Westbrook’s 10 greatest accomplishments, rankedSpencer See ·
Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the fourth quarter in game three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse with the Lakers logo in the background
Alex Caruso reveals differences between Thunder, Lakers NBA Finals runsJosue Pavon ·
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
Magic Johnson sends Luka Doncic brutally honest ‘championship’ messageDavid Yapkowitz ·

According to a report from NBA.com, Hsieh focused on players who suffered ankle or knee injuries. Another one of her lesser-known roles was keeping the team hydrated in a unique way. She was known as the “Mixologist,” creating specialized Gatorade cocktails for her players as part of a unique research project.

“I have all the results of tests we did for each player and what they need for practices and games, and I make their concoction of Gatorade and water so they get the proper amounts of carbohydrates to electrolytes to water for different intensities,” Hsieh told NBA.com in February of 2018. “We’re hoping that if we continue what we’re doing, we don’t have players experience any of the problems some were having like headaches or cramping.”

The Lakers finished the 2018-19 campaign with a 37-45 overall record, which left the team out of playoff contention. In the coming season, however, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the charge, Los Angles is being viewed as a top contender.