Colorado Springs, CO, July 11 - A three-member medical staff for the USA Basketball 2002 Men's World Championship Team has been announced by USA Basketball and it includes NBA Indiana Pacers team orthopedist Dr. Sanford Kunkel, Denver Nuggets head athletic trainer Jim Gillen and Milwaukee Bucks head athletic trainer Troy Wenzel. The medical staff will cover the 2002 USA World Championship Team during its training and through the 2002 FIBA World Basketball Championship for Men that is being conducted Aug. 29-Sept. 8 in Indianapolis.
Dr. Kunkel is currently the president of the National Basketball
Association (NBA) Team Physicians Society and previously served from
1996-2001 as the organization's secretary-treasurer. The team orthopedist for the NBA Indiana Pacers and the WNBA Indiana Fever, he is also a team physician for DePauw University (Ind.), Zionsville Community High School (Ind.) and Brebeuf Prepatory School (Ind.).
Gillen recently completed his 11th season with the Denver Nuggets. He is responsible for the treatment and rehabilitation of all injuries, in conjunction with the team's medical staff. In addition, he serves as the team's travel coordinator and works closely with strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess to monitor the Nuggets' workout regimen and diet.
Gillen traveled across town in 1991 to join the Nuggets after serving as the assistant trainer for the Denver Broncos from 1987-90. During his tenure with the Broncos, Gillen accompanied the team to three Super Bowls. He and Broncos head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos were named the NFL's Athletic Training Staff of the Year in 1987.
Wenzel completed in 2001-02 his seventh overall season in the NBA and second with the Milwaukee Bucks as the team's athletic trainer and
traveling secretary. He joined the club prior to the 2000-2001 campaign
from the Vancouver Grizzlies, where he spent the previous five seasons as head athletic trainer. Wenzel oversees the day-to-day prevention and rehabilitation of all athletic injuries, as well as coordinates the team's travel and hotel arrangements for all road trips.
Prior to joining the Grizzlies in 1995, Wenzel served as an assistant trainer with the Denver Nuggets for four seasons. He has also served as a student athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos and the University of Oklahoma.