New phone, who this??

It’s been a while but we’re back and going stronger than ever!! 💪💪

I have been working in the background on how to bring more value to my Playbook community and how we can all live the game, both on and off the court, better together. My goal is to share my honest journey and insights across life and basketball.

I hope you like the new Playbook!

Looking Back🏀

So, I had a tough game against Monaco.

It was just one of those days. Nothing was going for me. But that happens during the season.

And I think the hard part as a player is to allow those emotions to come out. And like we talked about before, emotions are a big part of the game.

Whether it's fans, whether it's players, it's what makes you have your passion during the game. But after the game, it's always hard for me to sleep when you play bad.

You just feel like you could have done so much more. You feel like you could have done this better when you've actually calmed down. And for me personally, I can't flip the page until I watch the film.

How to deal with bad performance:

Focus on three things you did good and one thing you can do to work on.

And if you find yourself in that negative mindset, the thing is three to one. So, three positive to one negative.

Because when those bad games happen, it’s easy to have imposter syndrome.

Am I really that good? Or am I really that bad? Or am I supposed to be playing here?

No matter what you've done before, it could be one bad game, it could be one bad practice. The biggest thing is to make sure that you are staying focused on your systems.

Make sure you're reiterating a positive mindset and iterating as well. I like to talk about games, practices, whatever, as experiments. Everything's an experiment allowing you to learn and grow. 

Looking Forward🏀

4 Games, in 1 week! Mersin, Baskonia, Real Madrid, Fener. OUCH.

With these big weeks, there's A LOT of emphasis on Recovery.

And the #1 MOST IMPORTANT RECOVERY TOOL IS…..

Sleep.

If you aren’t getting your proper sleep in, you are drastically reducing your ability to recover. So, on these busy weeks, with airports, airplanes, and buses, I’m trying to find ways to get extra naps in.

A big part of my sleep routine is my chili pad because I’m a hot sleeper and it affects my sleep cycle. But whatever your ideal sleep routine is, focus on making this a priority for recovery and in general!

In addition, I also get my massages at night to reduce stress, promote circulation and blood flow. And then have my morning routine flows for mobility. I’ll share those exercises soon with you all.

Moment of Reflection 🙏

Something I realized that I need to be better at is finding time to hear that still small voice when the Lord can talk to me. If I'm always on my phone, if I'm always listening to a podcast, if I'm always doing something, then I can't hear that still small voice.

I found the best time for me is when I'm doing my morning stretches in the morning. It's a very long season and we need to prioritize also our mental health. For me this is also my commitment to my faith and commitment to Christ.

Because at the end of the day, you are more than a basketball player. You offer more things to this world than just basketball.

Off The RECourt 📺

Since the last time we spoke, I’ve been putting in work with Shane off the court and behind the mic. We started a Podcast interviewing some Euroleague and Basketball legends. Already we’ve had Bryan Dunston, Ergon Ataman and Nigel Hayes-Davis on the show. Check it out and let Shane and I know what you think!

Q&A ❓

Jake from Minnesota asked…

I can definitely relate to Jake when I think about my high school basketball journey. And I am telling my brother the same as he navigates it now as well.

I think the most important thing is mindset here. It’s not how to attract the focus of your coach. It’s focusing on improving what you can control daily, which will make you a better basketball player. Your coach wants you to be the best basketball player you can be. Focus on what you can do in your daily life to get there and they will notice.

What Is The Bryant Family Eating This Week 🍽

We’re snackers, through and through. Savory and Sweet. We love them all. But, as an athlete, I need to put the right fuel in my body to play at the highest level. And just to feel healthy in general. Diet and Nutrition is a HUGE part of physical AND mental health.

SAVORY

Chips and dip. Basically anything semi Mexican cuisine is a hit in our family and I was dying for some Queso. Jen found this amazing recipe for Vegan Queso made from Cashew and a few other ingredients. Simple, Delicious. Gone in one sitting. 10/10 will make again (next week).

SWEET

Dates are a great snack for a lot of reasons. They don’t spike your blood sugar, they are sweet but high in fiber and antioxidants. Their nutritional benefits may support brain health and prevent disease, AND they are just delicious. They have a lot of ayurvedic medicinal properties as well which is an added bonus! This week we tried them with Peanut Butter and Chocolate (in moderation, not to overindulge). It’s a nice sweet alternative to our other favorite (Dates soaked in Ghee).

YouTube Journey ▶

Another upgrade to the Playbook community, I’ve decided to be more intentional about documenting my journey also through my YouTube channel. I’ve started working on video content to showcase what it’s like playing professional basketball in Euroleague and Turkey, along with my other jobs of husband, father, and follower of Christ. I will continue to make content, mostly weekly. Check out the most recent videos and subscribe to see the rest of the season unfold!

Thank you for grabbing your Playbook 🙏

I hope you like the new version of Playbook. If you have comments or questions or suggestions, PLEASE respond to the newsletter about anything. I want to hear from you and I promise, I read every response. My goal is to continue making a great Playbook and building a great community where we all get better together. And you’re a part of that journey!

Elijah