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Basketball Illuminati

Basketball Illuminati

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan & Anthony Mayes 217 Episodes Sep 17, 2026

Basketball Illuminati is an NBA podcast hosted by insiders Amin Elhassan and Tom Haberstroh. It offers behind-the-scenes analysis and aims to reveal the hidden reasons behind NBA events, free from agenda-driven commentary.

Episodes

Distractions
Distractions Sep 17, 2026 4647 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes are taking accountability... for the distractions and distress this podcast will cause. Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star shares how the Raptors legendary sports scientist Alex McKechnie was crucial in approving the original Kawhi trade and the sliding doors of Leonard's departure that altered NBA
Scarce Human Experiences
Scarce Human Experiences Sep 10, 2026 5093 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes wonder who will follow in the footsteps of Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons. Truth Teller Joe Pompliano of Huddle Up has had a busy August writing about all the wild ownership stories in the NBA. We explore the business relationship between Mark Walter and Magic Johnson, Steve Ballmer's options
Third Eye Open LLC
Third Eye Open LLC Aug 26, 2026 5046 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes have found their own Pepe Silvia: Guggenheim Partners. We take you back to the first domino that led to Peyton Watson's sign and trade to Cleveland and induct James Harden into the $500 Mil club. Truth Teller Henry Abbott of ⁠TrueHoop⁠ and author of ⁠Ballistic⁠ is fed up with the
Emergency Pod  - Minnesota Timberwolves Sold
Emergency Pod - Minnesota Timberwolves Sold Aug 21, 2026 2495 Tom, Amin, Wos and Mayes react to the second NBA team sale of August, at an absurd price increase, to a buyer leveraging their OpenAI investments. Who is Marc Stad? Another venture capitalist looking for a stable place to park his highly volatile riches? Or is there some other connection to NBA ownership at play here? All that and more on the future of the Timberwolves. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
The Summer Of Adam
The Summer Of Adam Aug 19, 2026 5521 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes are more than close, they're vacation close. Ethan Strauss of House of Strauss is here to discuss the various ownership stories simmering across the NBA: Mark Walter's financial troubles, Bob Iger & Adam Silver's relationship, why the NBA would choose to expand to Vegas and the fallout from Monda
The Chosen Successor
The Chosen Successor Aug 18, 2026 2150 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes can't decide which Prestige HBO TV show best describes what's going on with the Lakers right now. Truth Teller Yaron Weitzman, author of A Hollywood Ending, helps us understand the machinations unfurling before our eyes with the premiere NBA franchise. The three pronged ownership story (Buss Fami
Achilles Last Stand
Achilles Last Stand Aug 5, 2026 4369 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes wonder if the latest development in the Terry Rozier investigation should end the case. We unpack KD's superteam comments comparing LeBron's new 76ers with his death lineup Warriors, and reveal our picks for First Team All Wedding. Truth Teller Dr. Nirav Pandya from UCSF unpacks the findings fro
Reformed Optionalitists
Reformed Optionalitists Jul 29, 2026 4299 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes reveal the unlikely source of the first "optionality" in sports. Sam Presti continues to play 4-D Chess with other GMs, and the conspiracy goes deeper than you could ever imagine. Truth Teller Spike Eskin of ⁠The Rights to Ricky Sanchez⁠ and WIP is the proud new owner of a mercenary su
Do You Believe... The Wizards Extend Anthony Davis?
Do You Believe... The Wizards Extend Anthony Davis? Jul 23, 2026 3111 Zach Harper, Mo Dakhil & Wosny Lambre are threatening to move this podcast unless listeners pay for a new studio. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Do You Believe? On YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This week's docket, Do You Believe: Restricted Free Agency Needs To Be Amended? The Wizards Extend Anthony Davis? Caleb Wilson Leads The Chicago Bulls To T
Financial Decisions
Financial Decisions Jul 22, 2026 4472 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes are not going to be rushed. Truth Teller Henry Abbott of ⁠TrueHoop⁠ and author of ⁠Ballistic⁠ is here to wonder if paying a player over 30 the Super Max is viable in team building, explain why Mark Cuban is the de facto advocate for ownership and divine what happiness truly means to LeBron on day
Do You Believe... In Optionality?
Do You Believe... In Optionality? Jul 16, 2026 2934 Zach Harper, Mo Dakhil & Wosny Lambre are hoping for their own Gary Trent Jr. style contracts after career worst years. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Do You Believe? On YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This week's docket, Do You Believe: In Optionality? Victor Wembanyama Should Have Taken A Discount? LeBron Makes Any Team A Title Favorite? Basketb
The Cuck Chair
The Cuck Chair Jul 15, 2026 4858 Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes wonder if a strike lands in the head area, does it leave a mark? Will LeBron announce his next team at Fanatics Fest this week? Or wait til after the world cup? Or will he continue to keep the whole world right where he wants them: in the cuck chair. Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star makes his tr

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