The SuiteSpot
The Suitespot Interview Series: Roger Hinds-- The Untold Legacy Behind 30 Years in the NBA. #MakingMovesMonday
Guest interview, part of the show’s Interview Series
Listen on BuzzsproutAbout this episode
In this interview, Derek H. Suite, MD talks with Roger Hinds, who spent 21 years with the New York Knicks organization, including 17 as Head Athletic Trainer. Hinds traces his own path into professional sports medicine back to Brooklyn College and a knee injury, and credits specific mentors for opening doors early in his career. He describes the “map of pins” lesson he carries from that mentorship and explains why he sees mentoring as a multiplier for anyone building a long career in high-performance sport. The conversation covers the early challenge of earning trust and buy-in from veteran NBA players as a young trainer, and the practical tactics that actually build trust in high-performance locker rooms, not just the theory of it. Hinds also reflects on his transition out of a long NBA career and the mental side of figuring out “what’s next,” on giving back to his home community in Trinidad through coaching and conditioning clinics, and on a proud moment speaking at his alma mater’s commencement. He closes with advice for young athletic trainers entering the field: adapt to change, stay true to yourself, and keep developing your craft. This episode is a first-person account of three decades inside NBA training rooms, useful for athletic trainers, sports-medicine students, and anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes side of professional basketball.
From the show notes
Send us Fan Mail
Science Soul Success
New format alert!
Welcome back to The Suite Spot. We've got a new format to tell you about — starting today, we're moving from our regular daily schedule to dropping just once a week. If you're missing the daily drops, revisit our archive of over 300 episodes to catch up!
Now, stay tuned for today's episode. We sit down with Roger Hinds, who spent 21 years with the New York Knicks, including 17 as Head Athletic Trainer.
Suite Spots • Roger’s NBA career path and why his story reflects modern basketball medicine • Retirement transition and the mental side of “what’s next” • Origin story from Brooklyn College, a knee injury, and mentors who opened doors • The “map of pins” lesson and why mentorship is a career multiplier • A defining proud moment speaking at Brooklyn College commencement • Giving back to Trinidad through coaching and conditioning clinics • Early NBA challenge of earning buy-in from veteran players • Trust-building tactics that actually work in high-performance settings • Three core lessons: adapt to change, be yourself, stay on top of your game • Advice for young athletic trainers on service, stability, and family sacrifice
If today's episode was helpful, please feel free to share it and subscribe. There's no cost to subscribing, and it helps others to discover the channel.
Remember our once weekly format which starts today. See you next week!
Read the full episode transcript on Buzzsprout (automatically generated; may contain transcription errors)
Back to The SuiteSpot