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Consistency Is Key đđ
Good Habits Make Champions. Not Just Hard Work.
Todayâs Playbook
⥠Surviving Long Seasons (Managing Recovery and Energy Levels)
đ¤¸ââď¸ My Current Mobility Routine
đŞ Thoughts on the Luka AD Trade
Let me know what else youâd like to see from my side by replying to the newsletter or leaving me comments on my YouTube channel.
Letâs Build Confidence + Consistency⢠, on and off the court!
-Elijah
Another Euroleague Double Week
![]() Real Madrid | ![]() Panathinaikos |
Managing recovery and energy levels is essential during long and intense seasons. After a big win (like against Real), itâs easy to feel good and let recovery routines slip, but maintaining consistency is what allows for long-term success. Recovery isnât just about bouncing back from a single gameâitâs about making sure your body and mind can handle the demands of an entire season.
One of the biggest lessons Iâve learned is the importance of sticking to the small habits that keep me performing at my best. Ice baths, red light therapy, compression boots, and proper hydration arenât just optionalâthey're necessary. Skipping them might not seem like a big deal after one game, but over time, those missed steps add up.
Nutrition and sleep also play a huge role. Late-night games make it tough to get quality rest, and eating heavy meals after a game can make recovery even harder. Instead, I make sure to get my essential amino acids in so my body has what it needs without weighing me down. Sleep is always a challenge after high-intensity games, but I do my best to prioritize rest, even when early mornings with my kids make it tricky.
Traveling between games adds another layer of difficulty. Staying hydrated is key, and I always make sure to drink plenty of water while on the move. Before leaving for the next city, we usually get in a practice session, but Iâve learned that more isnât always better. Early in my career, I believed that constant work was the only way to improve, but over time, Iâve realized that recovery is just as important as training. Sometimes, doing lessâespecially late in the seasonâleads to better performance.
The mental side of the game is just as important as the physical. Finding ways to stay relaxed, whether itâs taking naps, watching a show, or simply staying in the right mindset, makes a huge difference. The key is to stay present and focused, regardless of what happened in the last game or even the last play. The goal is to react to the present moment as if youâve already reached your desired reality, keeping your mindset in a place that allows you to perform at your best.
Ultimately, success isnât just about hard workâitâs about working smart, listening to your body, and being consistent with the habits that keep you at your best.
Mobilityđ
If youâre following along regularly are likely quite familiar with how seriously I take the upkeep of my body. Itâs our money maker as athletes. Mobility is a crucial component of basketball performance. It enhances movement efficiency, reduces the risk of injury, and improves strength and agility on the court.
Link to a current version of my Mobility Routine here: Mobility Routine - Barcelona
This routine is designed to help young hoopers improve their mobility, stability, and strength, optimizing their performance and longevity in the game. Mobility/stretching is not the sexy part of basketball, but itâs a key component to a long career in the sport, and a healthy and active life overall.
For todayâs routine, you can watch the specific exercises in this weekâs YouTube Video (linked below)
Q&A â
@alexdrymon1 on YouTube askedâŚ

My opinion on the Luka DonÄiÄ trade is that you can see both sides, but something feels off. Youâre trading away a 25-year-old, five-time First Team All-NBA playerâsomething very few players in history have accomplished. Even guys like Steph Curry havenât done that, and Nikola JokiÄ is only just reaching that level this year.
It just doesnât make sense unless the NBA is trying to move him to a bigger market. They traded him for Anthony Davis, who is always injured. Since when do teams care about a playerâs conditioning if theyâre still producing? Yes, Luka has had multiple calf strains, but that hasnât affected his actual performance.
It feels like the league wanted him in LA, but the trade itself makes no sense. Now, AD is already hurt again. On top of that, why wouldnât they open up the market and see what other teams would offer for Luka? It doesnât even have to be another All-NBA player. Look at what Minnesota gave up for Rudy Gobertâhow is Luka not worth at least that, if not more?
Luka was one of the last players youâd ever expect to be traded. You can tell just by looking at his face on the benchâhe seems shocked, like he canât believe whatâs happening.
đ¨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!đ¨
YouTube Journeyâś
This week on the vlog we took on a strong Barcelona team in Spain. In addition to our pregame routines and behind-the-scenes of pro basketballer life, I also took a little tour of the Euroleague HQ for a podcast, and tried some proper empanadas. Jen is vegetarian so we never have the meat ones. Was time to see how they stack up to the veggie ones she and my mother-in-law make!
Hope you enjoy!
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Letâs Build Confidence + Consistency⢠, on and off the court!
Elijah
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