Today’s Playbook

What a big day for basketball yesterday!
The EuroLeague Final was played, and Fenerbahçe came out on top, lifting the trophy!

Congratulations to the entire Fenerbahçe team, they’ve been outstanding all season long. Trust me, we’ve played against them plenty of times this year, and they absolutely earned this moment. I’ve been in that position, so I know exactly what it means and the wave of emotions that come with a win like this. Cherish it, moments like these are unforgettable.

Here’s what’s on my mind in this week’s newsletter:

• 🏀 EuroLeague Format Talk: From a Player’s POV

• 🌱 Mindset: The Power of Letting Go

• ▶️ YouTube → Game 5 Breakdown vs Panathinaikos | Players Corner

• ❓ Q+A → @gogi09 from the Newsletter asked…

🏀Euroleague Format Talk: From a Player’s POV

As a player who lives and breathes this game, I’ve been thinking lately about the EuroLeague's structure, especially the Final Four. I get why people love it. It’s exciting, it’s high-stakes, and it feels like a Big Event. You win, you advance. You lose, you go home. Simple.

But here’s the thing: it might actually be holding us back.

Don’t get me wrong, the Final Four is great in terms of experience and intensity. It creates drama. But it also feels like a missed opportunity. Imagine if instead of one do-or-die Final game, we had a best-of-five or best-of-seven series, just like the NBA. Think about the basketball fans we’d draw in.

Take our series with Panathinaikos this year. That was high-level, elite basketball. Imagine that stretched out across the Euroleague Final, multiple games, storylines developing, and rivalries building.

And to be honest, More Games = More Fans = More Money

From a player's perspective, you want the season to end with the most meaningful basketball, not a single night that could swing on a cold shooting streak.

Look at what happened with Sasha Vezenkov in the semifinal against Monaco. Sasha is one of the league’s top scorers, with +30 games scoring in double digits — but that night, he was held to just 7 points for the first time.

Stretching out the Final and Semifinals with a series would showcase the best teams and the best basketball more consistently. It’s more fair, more entertaining, and better for the growth of the league.

If we want to take EuroLeague to the next level, we have to be bold. That might mean cutting back on regular-season games, and don’t even get me started on the domestic leagues! EuroLeague should be the main focus, the main event. Consolidating the best talent and the best energy into one elite product could elevate the league into something even more global.

That’s my take. I love where the game is going, but I think we have a chance to make it even better. More competitive, more entertaining, and more valuable.

Let me know what you guys think:

Faith + Consistency™. That’s the formula.

🌱Mindset: The Power of Letting Go

I’ve been following the news about Luka Dončić since he got traded to the Lakers, and what really stood out to me is how seriously he’s taking his mindset and conditioning right now. Word is he’s locked in.

It’s cool and motivating to see a player like Luka still finding ways to grow, and honestly, it reminded me how important it is to never get too comfortable, no matter where you’re at in your career.

Mindset is everything, and a concept I heard recently really stuck with me:

What does that mean? After a good game or a bad one, they literally wash it off. Once they step out of the shower, it’s done. They’ve left it behind.

It’s a simple but powerful mental reset. Especially in long seasons filled with pressure and highs and lows, learning how to let go, win or lose, keeps you balanced. You’re more than just your performance on the court. Carrying too much excitement or guilt back home can wear you down. I’ve found this lesson to be a game-changer in my own growth as an athlete.

Here’s the link, as always, to my full list of guides, available to you as a part of the Playbook Community! Playbook Guides (Workouts, Pro Tips, Mobility Guides, Recovery info, etc)

▶YouTube Journey

Lately, I’ve been working on a new series on YouTube, ‘Players Corner’, where we dive into film study together, watching, analyzing, and learning from real game footage. Sometimes it’s my own games and plays, and other times it’s matchups that really catch my eye because of how players and coaches bring their skills to life.

The goal is simple: We’re all students of the game. I’m here to learn, grow, and get better together with you. Let’s study the game, improve our basketball IQ, and level up together. Hope you enjoy it!

❓Q&A

@gogi09 from the Newsletter asked…

“Great question — and one that hits deep if you've been in the trenches of a playoff series.

For me, the hardest thing about playoffs isn’t the physical fatigue or the high stakes, it’s the mental discipline required to stay locked in. In the playoffs, every possession matters. The pressure doesn’t just come from outside expectations, it comes from within, from knowing how much we’ve put into getting here.

The toughest part is sticking to your identity, both as a team and as an individual. When the game speeds up, the emotions get high, and opponents throw adjustments your way, it’s tempting to step outside the system, to force plays or try to do too much. But the real challenge is trusting the work, trusting your teammates, and staying true to the game plan.

As I said before, Mindset is everything. The playoffs are about being present. You can’t think ahead to the next game or dwell on the last play. It’s a test of emotional maturity. You have to be consistent in your routine, in your preparation, and in your focus, even as everything around you becomes more chaotic.

Pressure doesn’t change who you are; it reveals it. That’s why I lean on my habits, my faith, and the belief in the group we’ve built. That’s how you stay grounded when the spotlight is at its brightest.“

🚨Want to see your question answered above? Reply to the newsletter or reach out to me on social. I will group all the questions together and be answering them on the newsletter and vlog in the coming weeks. Cheers!🚨

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Thank you for grabbing your 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!

Let’s Build Confidence + Consistency™, on and off the court!

Elijah