President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today that the Orlando Magic has appointed Arne Kander as Vice President of Player Performance and Wellness.
Kander, who brings more than 24 seasons of NBA experience, will be responsible for overseeing the high-performance Magic team, including managing athletic training services, injury reduction and rehabilitation programs, strength and conditioning, sports science and recovery, and player nutrition.
“We are thrilled to welcome Arnie (Kander) to the Magic family,” Weltman said. “Throughout his career, Arnie has helped define the player performance space. His experience and expertise will be invaluable as we coach and look after our players. We look forward to him leading our performance team.”
An innovator in the fields of injury prevention, sports rehabilitation and physical conditioning, Kander is known in the world of professional sports for his unique methods of application. He has designed recovery and exercise programs that are proven to be successful.
Kander spent 23 seasons with the Detroit Pistons, originally joining the team during the spring of 1992, when he became the team’s first strength and conditioning coach. His assignments at Detroit included injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as designing and implementing specific programs aimed at enhancing individual players’ flexibility, strength, and aerobic conditioning.
Kander also spent the 2015-16 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves as Vice President of Athletic Performance. After his stint with Minnesota, Kander consulted with the Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers, while also working one-on-one with a group of NBA players.