Welcome to another episode of Finding Small Wins Podcast, a space for conversations that pull back the curtain on sports, where to learn how to upgrade health & performance, and shed some light on how some of the best at what they do are finding the small wins that help them along the way.

Adam Loiacono, your host, is a physical therapist in the NBA & a former performance coach in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. 

In this episode, Adam is joined by Scottie Parker, Head Athletic Trainer in the NBA and former athletic trainer in the NFL, who shares a few stories while teaching some life lessons. 

Key Takeaways:

[1:48] Scottie started in the NBA in a full-time, seasonal internship position.

[2:02] Scottie shares the exceptional experience of winning a Superbowl.

[3:51] How loud was it to break that Record Guinness?

[5:55] What was the schedule for Scottie when he was a seasonal intern?

[8:04] How much equipment were they loading onto trucks?

[9:06] Scottie talks about the time he went to the NFL Superbowl.

[11:09] Scottie was living full-time in New York.

[11:29] Scottie talks about the details of his everyday life back in NY.

[13:35] Scottie realizes that now that he has three children is not sustainable to keep working as he used to.

[15:12] Scottie was invited to be interviewed by the Hawks.

[17:10] Scottie advises his younger self: Don’t get your identity too tied up to what you do.

[18:19] How do contracts work in this space?

[20:22] What does Scottie think he was doing right for him to keep the job?

[23:14] What are some common characteristics of those who Scottie saw coming and leaving during these nine seasons?

[24:56] What is one of Scottie’s favorite things about the sport?

[26:45] Why is January such a hard month for those in the NBA?

[29:08] What is packing for a ten-day trip?

[30:57] Scottie reaffirms the importance of compassion and care for the players since it is emotionally draining to be separated from their families.

[32:57] Scottie talks about some of the responsibilities of a Head Athletic Trainer.

[34:45] Where did the ‘Jerry Scale’ originate?

[39:05] How does Scottie raise a family across different states?

[41:40] What challenges does Scottie encounter when he travels but really wants to spend time with his family instead?

[45:00] How does Scottie define a small win?

[47:34] How does Scottie help others find their small wins when leading from the middle?

[49:29] How does Scottie create a welcoming space for others to come to him when they are in need?

[51:05] To achieve changes, consistency is the game. 

[53:12] Scottie shares a few more thoughts about small wins.

[57:57] After working within sports, where is Scottie taking that passion?

Mentioned in this episode: 

Learn more about Finding Small Wins 

Follow  Adam Loiacono on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow Scottie Parker on Instagram

Tweetables and Quotes:

“The margins of winning in pro sports are so small.”

“Don’t get your identity too tied up to your job.”

“At the end of the day, it is fun to be part of the wins and loses of the Team.”

“The schedule doesn’t care about you and your family.”