Injury became opportunity for Kevin Wilson who is healing bodies and shaping futures
January 22, 2026
Rehabilitation after a broken knee sustained during a recess basketball game at Cadarackque Public School was supposed to be about healing.
Instead, somewhere between the exercises and small victories, it became the moment Kevin Wilson fell in love with a profession that would ultimately define his life.
What initially felt like an ending became a turning point, redirecting him toward a successful career in athletic performance and rehabilitation.
During Wilson’s recovery, he worked with the late physiotherapist Graham Doig, whose engaging approach made rehab enjoyable for the then 13-year-old.
“Thanks to Graham, I developed an interest in the profession,” he recalled. “I was supposed to complete 40 clinical hours in high school, but I ended up shadowing him for almost 500.”
Although the Ajax High School graduate fully recovered and went on to play varsity basketball at Fleming College and Brock University, his focus had already begun to shift toward a career beyond playing.
He spent two seasons within the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, primarily working as an athletic performance coach with the G League’s Oklahoma City Blue, which won the 2023–24 G League championship. During that period, he received league-wide recognition as Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.
Wilson later spent the 2024–25 season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Reaching the NBA as a coach would satisfy most people, but he continued to push academically.
Two years ago, he earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, reflecting the strong emphasis his parents placed on education. His father, Colin Wilson, is a manager at CIBC and a professor at Canada Christian College, while his mother, Paulette Wilson, is a manager at TD Securities.
Despite that foundation, Wilson struggled academically throughout elementary and high school. It was not until late in his college years that his trajectory shifted.
“I started to see my true potential academically once I began taking courses within rehabilitation and strength training,” he said. “At Brock, my marks picked up and the competitive side of me kicked in. I wanted to achieve as highly as I could.”
That renewed focus marked a turning point not only academically, but personally.
Though basketball remained central to his life, Wilson became increasingly motivated by the science behind athletic performance, rehabilitation and long-term player development.
While athletes often take the spotlight, fitness trainers play a crucial role working behind the scenes. They not only guide physical recovery but also help athletes navigate the emotional challenges of injury. Recovering from a major injury can be mentally taxing, with many athletes experiencing depression, anxiety or feelings of isolation.
“My job is to provide essential support during these vulnerable times, helping athletes regain both strength and confidence,” said Wilson.
With anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries on the rise in basketball, the demand for prevention and treatment expertise continues to grow.
“The game has changed,” Wilson explained. “Players take more three-pointers, spend more time on the perimeter and attack open space with greater force. Combined with heavy game loads and the tendency for some players to ramp up intensity in the playoffs, it places enormous strain on the body.”
After completing his doctorate, he reached out to physical therapists and performance coaches across the NBA.
“I heard back from about five per cent of them, including Oklahoma City,” he said. “I spoke with Andrew Paul who is part of the organization’s performance and rehabilitation leadership at the time. When the team came to Toronto to play the Raptors, he invited me to see what happens behind the scenes. A few months later, there was an opening, and I got the job.”
During his time in Oklahoma City, Wilson also worked with NBA players, including Canadians Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort.
“They were humble, personable and easy to work with,” he said.
His season with the Lakers presented a different professional environment.
“Most of the players are older and more established,” Wilson said. “They know their bodies and deserve autonomy. My role is to complement what they are already doing. With younger players, especially in development settings, that guidance looks very different.”
Working in the same environment as LeBron James offered invaluable insight into preparation and longevity.
“Seeing his daily work ethic was incredible,” Wilson said. “If an athlete commits to even half of what he does consistently, they can build a long, successful career.”
Strength and conditioning at the NBA level is a demanding and highly specialized role that blends science, communication and trust.
“If an athlete wants to gain 15 pounds of muscle, we work toward that goal every day,” Wilson said. “That includes targeted training, nutrition, recovery monitoring, sleep and daily habits.”
The role also requires close collaboration with coaching staff.
“If assistant coaches identify areas they want a player to improve defensively, my job is to support that by improving lateral movement, foot speed and overall efficiency so it translates on the court,” he said.
Although his evidence-based expertise is transferable across many professional sports, Wilson remains hesitant to pursue opportunities outside basketball.
“Anatomy doesn’t change,” he said. “What changes are the demands of the sport. Once you understand those demands, the training itself isn’t that different.”
Wilson’s love for basketball began at age 10, when neighbour Paul Crawford introduced him to the game.
“He saw that I was taller than most kids my age and encouraged me to try basketball,” he said. “We spent hours in the driveway. He taught me how to shoot and how to be a man.”
Crawford passed away in May 2007.
To honour his memory, Wilson founded the National Basketball Youth Mentorship Program in 2018. His family and Crawford’s son, Vauntee Crawford, continue to help run the initiative, which includes summer camps, an annual Christmas party and discounted Toronto Raptors tickets for participants.
Although Jesus was a carpenter by trade, Christian tradition holds that his greatest legacy was the impact he had on others.
Reflecting on his own career, Wilson said his proudest moments are similarly defined not by titles, but by the difference he is making in people’s lives.
In 2020, Wilson married Audry Wilson, and together they are raising two young daughters, grounded in their Christian faith that is a foundation that continues to shape his priorities.
With a young family and a desire to remain close to home, he began reassessing the next chapter of his career.
Approaching that transition with an entrepreneurial mindset, Wilson founded KAW Performance & Therapy Inc. in June, along with the Canadian Basketball Performance Network, an initiative designed to foster innovation, collaboration and advancement in basketball health and performance.
He also continues to give back to the game as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach with Canada Basketball.
From a broken knee in a schoolyard to shaping the health, confidence and futures of elite athletes, Wilson’s journey reflects a career defined not by where he has worked, but by who he continues to uplift.
