S6 Ep14: Meet the NBA referee who took down the mob
Update: 2025-11-27
Description
Bob Delaney isn’t just one of the most respected referees in NBA history. Before officiating over 1,700 NBA games and standing toe-to-toe with Michael Jordan, he was living a completely different life.
In this episode, Delaney breaks down his remarkable journey from undercover law enforcement on a federal organized-crime task force to the biggest stages in basketball. He shares how he infiltrated the mob, paid off real-life gangsters, lived under constant threat, and later used basketball as therapy to survive PTSD.
We dive into:
In this episode, Delaney breaks down his remarkable journey from undercover law enforcement on a federal organized-crime task force to the biggest stages in basketball. He shares how he infiltrated the mob, paid off real-life gangsters, lived under constant threat, and later used basketball as therapy to survive PTSD.
We dive into:
- What it actually takes to referee NBA superstars
- Why “superstar calls” aren’t a conspiracy
- How officials manage chaos, egos, and volatile games
- The untold realities of undercover work and organized crime
- Why the NBA court became his path to healing
This is not a basketball interview. It’s a story about double lives, pressure, fear, control, and resilience at the highest level.
One of the most unique conversations ever on Hoop Genius.
🎧 Listen to the full Hoop Genius Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all platforms.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes 2x a week.
This podcast is brought to you by NBA2K26: https://nba.2k.com/2k26/buy/
Learn more about Bob here: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/in-case-you-didnt-know-with-nick-nanton-bob-delaney-hiding-in-plain-sight?plsrc=nba&collection=must-watch-videos
One of the most unique conversations ever on Hoop Genius.
🎧 Listen to the full Hoop Genius Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & all platforms.
📺 Subscribe for new episodes 2x a week.
This podcast is brought to you by NBA2K26: https://nba.2k.com/2k26/buy/
Learn more about Bob here: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/in-case-you-didnt-know-with-nick-nanton-bob-delaney-hiding-in-plain-sight?plsrc=nba&collection=must-watch-videos
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