New Details Emerge On Role for Mavs Athletic Trainer Casey Smith

Longtime Mavs athletic trainer Casey Smith will no longer be serving in a bench role as he is set to be in the final year of his contract.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks underwent no shortage of roster changes after a disappointing 38-44 finish to their 2022-23 campaign. Among the various organizational changes ahead of the upcoming season involves Mavs director of player health and performance Casey Smith.

As first reported by ESPN's Tim MacMahon, Smith will have a different role this season. He will no longer be on the team's bench during games despite doing so since 2004-05 when he was named the head athletic trainer after departing the Phoenix Suns to join the Mavs organization.

Smith has a year remaining on his contract and his future with the Mavs organization remains unclear after it expires. The team's head athletic trainer, Dionne Calhoun, is likely to overtake Smith's role on the bench. When the team announced the 2023-24 roster, Smith wasn't mentioned altogether.

Dallas Mavericks athletic trainer Casey Smith’s role is being adjusted this season / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The results achieved by the Mavs' training staff will be pivotal throughout the season, given Luka Doncic has continued to deal with a lingering thigh injury that he first mentioned to reporters in early March of last season. Doncic has a close relationship with Smith, who has worked with the four-time All-NBA First-Team guard since the start of his NBA career and was often a member of the Mavs delegation that traveled to Slovenia to visit Doncic. 

"I do not know what to say," Doncic told reporters at the FIBA World Cup. "It's not okay. At the same time, I have to prepare for one more game, and then for a whole season in the NBA."

Many around the NBA hold Smith in a very high regard, including the Mavs' top talents over the years between Doncic and Dirk Nowitzki, among planty of others. He served as the lead athletic trainer for Team USA from 2005 to 2012 in addition to his impact with the Mavs.