Tired of agenda-driven basketball talk that only offers glimpses of the truth? Wish there was a place you could get the full picture? Basketball Illuminati offers you salvation. Go behind the scenes with exclusive analysis previously restricted from the general public. Fearless NBA Insiders Amin Elhassan and Tom Haberstroh peel back the curtain on why things happen in the NBA.
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Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes question Wemby's barefoot agenda.
Author Jonathan Abrams joins the show to discuss his new book "When We Were Young And Fearless" that covers the formation and dissolution of the Thunder's first great team with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
We revisit the crucial roster decisions that altered the course of NBA history, from Jeff Green's swap for Kendrick Perkins, Presti's one-hour ultimatum to Harden and Durant’s departure for Golden State.
Plus, the failed Tyson Chandler trade, the Thunder’s biggest what-ifs, lessons for Wemby’s Spurs, and determining which Wire characters best represent the core Thunder pieces.
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The Camden Championship
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 • Duration 47:47
Tom Haberstroh and producer Anthony Mayes are staggered by the proliferation of star player injuries in the first week of the season.
How exactly did Leon Rose and World Wide Wes turn their connections into a Knicks championship? Can they keep this delicate tightrope act together to run it back?
Yaron Weitzman joins the Illuminati to discuss his New York Magazine story on the unlikely friendships behind New York’s rise, from a Camden shoe store to the franchise-changing bet on Jalen Brunson.
The difficult decisions to fire Tom Thibodeau and trade Donte DiVincenzo tested the Knicks’ family-business approach, while Karl-Anthony Towns’ stalled extension talks and James Dolan's looming specter haunt the beginning of the season.
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Eternal Flame
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 • Duration 01:14:42
Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes celebrate Tom's new job as sideline reporter for NBC Sports Philadelphia, Kyrie Irving's veteran wisdom and Kyle Kuzma's new podcast.
Jeff Stotts from In Street Clothes joins the show to discuss Ben Simmons’ season-ending injury, the questions surrounding Achilles recovery for Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, and why workload spikes may matter more than the shoes players wear.
Plus, Kyrie Irving’s comeback, the Knicks’ repeat challenge, Victor Wembanyama’s durability, Steph Curry’s pool workouts and the challenges of managing blood clots in professional athletes.
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Midseason Form
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 45:02
Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes are in the best podcasting shape of their lives, just in time for the season to begin.
Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic takes us inside the vibe shift in Minnesota upon LaMelo Ball's arrival. Can he and Anthony Edwards turn positive energy into a championship?
We break down their early chemistry, how LaMelo’s playmaking changes Ant’s role, and why the Timberwolves’ front-office future remains an open question.
Plus, Karl-Anthony Towns’ extension drama in New York, Micah Nori’s challenging situation in Portland and what went wrong with Rob Dillingham.
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Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
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ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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Fantastic Four
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 01:07:57
Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes think it's high time to normalize commuting by helicopter.
Nate Duncan of the Dunc'd On podcast has been campaigning for the NBA to do something about offensive players pushing off since 2019, and he has finally been vindicated.
We Focus on the Four Fs (Feeling, Firming, Force & Full Extension) and what other Factors could affect rule enforcement going Forward (Falling? Follicle length?).
Then we put Nate's legal skills to the test as he examines Jeanie Buss' chances to retain governorship and whether this really was The Summer of Adam after all.
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Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
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ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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Valuing Imperfection
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 58:33
Tom and Mayes sit down with Brandon Payne of Accelerate Basketball, who reveals the advanced training principles behind Stephen Curry’s sustained excellence, from protecting Curry’s body with recovery-focused and underwater work to building faster decision-making through cognitive overload drills.
Brandon also explains why Steph is an “AI learner,” the value of imperfect reps, how Jalen Brunson wins with patience and why youth athletes should consider sports like soccer and water polo.
Plus what he has learned working with Trae Young, Tyler Herro, Davion Mitchell and Julian Champagnie this summer.
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Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
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ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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Soulless Transaction Robots
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 01:08:57
Dr. Tom "The Scientist" Haberstroh, Pulitzer Prize Winner Amin Elhassan... and producer Anthony Mayes revisit the Doc Rivers Decision Tree™.
Keith Smith of Spotrac breaks down the ongoing negotiations between Jalen Duren and Detroit Pistons that could drag on until training camp.
We also discuss the Thompson twins and Keyonte George extensions, how Restricted Free Agency is changing, the Second Apron and Spotrac's Trade Machine.
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Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/countthedings
ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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Distractions
Thursday, September 17, 2026 • Duration 01:17:27
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 Championship history.
Bruce expects Kawhi to complement a ferocious Raptors defense capable of holding up in a reloaded Eastern Conference, but believes they could still make a move to improve along the margins.
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Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/countthedings
ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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Twitter: @bballilluminati
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Scarce Human Experiences
Thursday, September 10, 2026 • Duration 01:24:53
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 going forward and whether or not sports franchise valuations are in a bubble.
Plus Stan Kroenke's recent Angels acquisition, LIV golf, the greed of the US Open and so much more.
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Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/countthedings
ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
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Twitter: @bballilluminati
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Third Eye Open LLC
Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 01:24:06
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 NBA PR machine and urges you not to take the NBA at their word.
The league’s response to the Terry Rozier and Tim Donaghy scandals gives us insight into their current PR playbook. Are NBA investigations designed to find the truth or protect the league’s brand?
Plus the rise of private equity, ultra-wealthy ownership groups and teams as tradable assets is reshaping the future of the sport.
Subscribe to the Illuminati YouTube Channel
Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network.
Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/countthedings
ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH
Follow Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify
Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com
Twitter: @bballilluminati
Instagram: @basketballilluminati
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