Legendary trainer helps prep Haliburton and Dotson for NBA
John Wall out of Kentucky in 2010. Anthony Bennett out of UNLV in 2013. John Abunassar got those top overall selections ready for the NBA Draft.
He also trained Kristaps Porzingis (fourth overall, 2015 draft), Emmanuel Mudiay (seventh overall, 2015), Myles Turner (11th overall, 2015) and Kyle Lowry (24th overall, 2005) heading into their respective drafts.
Abunassar even worked with new Los Angeles Clippers head coach Ty Lue way back in 1998 when Lue was preparing for the 1998 draft.
“He lived in my basement for a long time along with Al Harrington,” Abunassar said as Lue went 23rd overall to Denver and Indiana chose Harrington straight out of high school 25th overall in 1998.
That was Abunassar’s first draft as a trainer after working as an assistant coach at Wyoming.
Tyrese Haliburton and Devon Dotson weren’t even born yet, but Abunassar is now training those two and many more as this is his 24th consecutive pre-draft working with NBA prospects.
“It’s just relationships over the years, involvement in all levels of basketball,” said Abunassar, founder of IMPACT Basketball in Las Vegas. “Some of these young guys, I’ve known for a while.”
Abunassar continues to train current players in the league like Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Porzingis (Dallas Mavericks), Troy Brown Jr. (Washington Wizards) and Kyle O’Quinn (Philadelphia 76ers).
A former manager under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Bobby Knight in Indiana, Abunassar was an assistant at Wyoming for four years before taking on the task of working with NBA stars Kevin Garnett and Chauncey Billups.
That experience launched a new path for the now 49-year-old Abunassar.
Going into this year’s draft, Abunassar broke down Haliburton, a projected lottery selection, and Dotson, who is projected to go late first or early second round, have improved at IMPACT.
On Haliburton
“His main concern was his body. With him, again six months, we went into a strong weightlifting program. Really changed his nutrition. Getting more calories in his body. Getting his body stronger.”
Abunassar trained Haliburton with another player of slender build he trained his entire NBA career in mind – Tayshaun Prince.
“If we would’ve put too much muscle on Tay, he would have lost his effectiveness. Tyrese is the same. We’re really working to get his lower body. Definitely he needed to get stronger, which he did overall with muscle strength, but really getting his lower body and core stronger so he’s not bumped off the dribble.”
On Dotson
“His main strength is his speed and power. That’s what he’s known for. He’s so fast. He’s so powerful. He really leaned up. He’s like a little cannonball right now. So explosive but with him, it was a lot more focus on his deep shooting. His 3-point shooting.”
Dotson shot just 30.9% from 3 (38of-123) in his second and final season at Kansas. “What we really focused on with him was quick pullups and really working on his shot. He’s done a great job. His shot looks amazing right now.”