Gary Vitti’s been a Laker since I was a three-year-old, when he took over prior to the 1984-85 season.
The 2015-16 season will be his last as the head athletic trainer.
Every summer, I sit down with Vitti after the draft, free agency and Summer League have concluded to look ahead to the coming-soon-enough season. Hopefully, this will continue prior to the 2016-17 season, when Vitti will remain with the Lakers to help ease the transition to the new head trainer, and into the future as he serves the organization as a consultant.
The following is a full transcription of our conversation with Vitti about his stepping down from the head job, Kobe Bryant’s 20th season, details of the soon-to-be-built new Lakers’ facility, his thoughts on Purple and Gold youngsters Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell, and more:
Mike Trudell: How did you come upon the decision to step down from the job you’ll have held for 32 years after this season?