Abdenour's career has been marked by his dedication to helping players stay healthy and recover from injuries. He has been praised for his attention to detail and his ability to develop personalized training programs for each player. In addition to his work with the Pistons, Abdenour has also served as the Head Athletic Trainer for the USA Men's Basketball team, and has worked with several other professional sports teams throughout his career.
Throughout his career, Abdenour has been recognized for his contributions to the field of athletic training. In 2011, he was inducted into the National Athletic Trainers' Association Hall of Fame, and in 2014, he was named the NBA's Athletic Trainer of the Year. Today, Abdenour is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected athletic trainers in the NBA, and his legacy continues to inspire and inform the next generation of trainers and sports medicine professionals.
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April 30, 1976 - After sneaking into the postseason with a 36-46 record, the Detroit...
Pistons' John Mengelt Hits the Deck, Young Mike Abdenour Arrives on the Scene (1976) / April 30, 1976 - After sneaking into the postseason with a 36-46 record, the Detroit Pistons took down the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round and nearly pushed the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors to the brink in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Late in Game 6, with their season on the line, Pistons guard John "Crash" Mengelt canned a jumper then drew a foul in the paint on back-to-back plays.
Mengelt's visible pain following his tumble sprung young Pistons trainer Mike Abdenour into action (red pants, blue shirt, sideburn, mustache, glasses). Abdenour went on to spend 35 years as the team's trainer, with a three-year stay in Philadelphia (1992-1995) wedged in-between. As of 2018, Abdenour remains on staff in Detroit, serving as Director of Team Operations, now in his 42nd year in the NBA.
Back to Game 6, two clutch blocks from Bob Lanier helped forced overtime before the Warriors ultimately brought the Pistons' season to an unceremonious close. Lanier's game-saving blocks can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNhPxxQito
Three additional notes:
-The man in the tan jacket bending over next to Abdenour is Pistons head coach Herb Brown, brother of future Pistons head coach Larry Brown.
-Jerry West was working color commentary for Game 6.
-The Detroit Pistons played in the Western Conference until 1979-80, hence the matchup with the Warriors.
Box Score: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197604300DET.html