Joe and Tom sit down with Mike Abdenour, the longtime head athletic trainer for the Detroit Pistons and one of the most respected figures in the NBA. With decades of experience on the sidelines, Mike shares how the role of athletic trainers has transformed - from old-school tape jobs and gut instincts to cutting-edge technology and sports science. He offers rare insight into what it takes to keep elite athletes performing at their best, along with stories from a career spent behind the scenes of professional basketball.
The CUSP Show is hosted by Joe Favorito (@Joefav) and Tom Richardson (@ConvergenceTR) and produced by Karthik Iyer, Sam Henry, LJ Holmgren (@LJ_Holmgren), and Danny Hagenlocher (@DhColumbiaSPS), with social media efforts led by Pragna Prasanna, Breah Banks, and Lissa Ruiz.
466: Mike Abdenour on the Evolution of Athletic Training
Mike Abdenour joins The CUSP Show
Oct 30, 2025
The CUSP Show
Home of the Columbia University Sports Management Podcast ('The CUSP Show'), faculty members Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson host thought leaders from across the sports industry as they discuss a wide array of topics.
Home of the Columbia University Sports Management Podcast ('The CUSP Show'), faculty members Joe Favorito and Tom Richardson host thought leaders from across the sports industry as they discuss a wide array of topics. Listen on
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