FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
ATLANTA, GA — [October 24th 2025] — The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) and Gatorade proudly announce the continuation of their landmark 40-year partnership, underscoring their continued commitment to innovation, athlete performance, and the advancement of athletic training across professional basketball.
This enduring alliance—established in 1984—has evolved into a dynamic collaboration rooted in science, education, and shared purpose. Spanning four decades, Gatorade has served as the Founding partner to the NBATA, providing evidence-based resources, on-court solutions, and unwavering support for athletic trainers across the league.
“This partnership is built on mutual trust, innovation, and a deep understanding of the critical role athletic trainers play in professional sports,” said Stephen Spiro, NBATA Chairperson and Senior Director of Player Health/Head Athletic Trainer for the Cleveland Cavaliers. “For the past 40 years, Gatorade has empowered our members with tools that directly support athlete health, recovery, and performance.”
The partnership spans hydration, nutrition, and performance optimization—encompassing initiatives such as sweat testing from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) and ongoing professional development through the Gatorade Performance Partner platform.
“Athletic trainers are the heartbeat of athlete care,” said Ernest Eugene, NBATA Chairperson-Elect. “Gatorade has been an invaluable ally in elevating the standard of care in our profession, and we’re proud to continue this partnership into the next generation of sports performance.”
To mark the milestone, NBATA members and Gatorade representatives gathered during the NBATA’s annual meeting in Chicago, reflecting on decades of collaboration and reaffirming their commitment to the future of the profession of athletic training and athlete support.
“For Gatorade, this partnership is about more than products on the sideline—it’s about powering the professionals behind the players,” said Jarod Grace, “We’re honored to celebrate this journey and remain committed to the continued advancement of athletic training.”
Together, NBATA and Gatorade remain united in their mission: supporting the team behind the team, driving innovation in athlete care, and shaping the future of sports performance—one season at a time.
About the NBATA
The National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association is a professional organization of certified athletic trainers who provide world-class health care to the athletes of the NBA. The NBATA is committed to elevating the profession through collaboration, leadership, and education.
About The Gatorade Portfolio
The Gatorade Portfolio, a division of PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP), is a connected performance and wellness ecosystem built to fuel all athletes and exercisers. Bringing together Gatorade, Propel, Fast Twitch and Muscle Milk, the Gatorade Portfolio is the most complete offering in the category today, with a broad range of personalized solutions at every stage of the athlete journey. This integrated system of brands is built on Gatorade's 60-year history of studying athletes and is fueling the future of athletic performance and wellness by delivering solutions across hydration, protein, energy and all-day nutrition to fuel consumers, no matter how or why they sweat. For more information and a full list of product offerings, please visit www.gatorade.com.
Media Contacts:
NBATA –
Gabrielle Dougherty, Director of PR
publicrelations@nbata.com
Jason Daffner, NBATA Legal Counsel
jdaffner@mbdcounsel.com
