Victor Oladipo will be joined by more of his Pacers family in Los Angeles for NBA All-Star Weekend.
Josh Corbeil, the Pacers’ Senior Director of Medical Operations and Head Athletic Trainer, and Carl Eaton, the Associate Head Athletic Trainer, will serve as the trainers for Team LeBron at the 67th NBA All-Star game, VigilantSports.com has learned.
Corbeil, who sits at the front of the Pacers’ bench beside the coaches, started with the franchise in 2004 and Eaton joined the training staff one year later.
Corbeil was named the Joe O’Toole Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2011, and Eaton was honored with the David Craig Asistant Athletic Trainer of the Year Award.
LISTEN: Podcast with Josh Corbeil
NBA training staffs take turns working All-Star Weekend. The team in the host city has their training staff take care of the team representing their conference. With Los Angeles home to both the Clippers and Lakers of the Western Conference, those two will share in those responsibilities for Team Curry.
The Pacers’ training staff will again work the All-Star game in 2021 when Indy hosts the game for the second time.
By taking care of Team LeBron players, Corbeil and Eaton will be reunited with Paul George. Adam Silver named the former Pacer, who leads the league in total steals and deflections, as a replacement player for the injured DeMarcus Cousins, who was selected by LeBron James in the first-ever All-Star draft last week.
Those two played a big part in George’s rehab from a compound leg injury suffered on Aug. 1, 2014, and are consistently a top-rated duo, according to InStreetClothes.com. When George returned to Indy with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 13, he stopped by the Pacers’ training room before heading to the team bus.
The All-Star game will be played Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Staples Center, and air on TNT (8:00 pm ET).
Already, Oladipo knew he’d at least have his trade buddy, Domantas Sabonis, in Los Angeles. Sabonis was invited to play in the Rising Stars Challenge on the Friday of All-Star Weekend for the second consecutive year.
“It’s just like when you realize you brother is going with you on a school field trip or something, you’re excited,” Oladipo said of Sabonis’ participation. “I’m looking forward to it.”
[Victor Oladipo reacts to being named an NBA All-Star]
Victor Oladipo is on #TeamLeBron for the All-Star game. pic.twitter.com/mkg3YNDkE8
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) January 26, 2018
Corbeil (left side, blue shirt) and Eaton (right side, blue shirt) observe Glenn Robinson III working out.
Pacers head athletic trainer Josh Corbeil checks on Rodney Stuckey’s left knee.