The New Year is here and with it - already a lot of CHANGE.

We’re midway through a long EuroLeague season, adapting to strain on the body, and trying to recover and keep playing at our prime.

Topics for Today:

• How to adapt to a new coach, especially mid-season?

• How to deal with losses and the pressure of winning?

• What I’m doing to recover (mentally and physically)

So let’s get into it!

New Coach, Same Team 🏀

Adapting to a Coaching Change Mid-Season

A mid-season coaching change is always challenging. It's a shake-up, a reset, and sometimes a wake-up call. When you're part of a team like Anadolu Efes, where expectations are sky-high, these transitions can be even more intense, especially when the team feels it hasn't reached its full potential yet.

It's easy to come up with reasons why things haven't clicked—injuries, tough schedules, adjusting to new systems. But at the end of the day, for a team with Efes' history, we know we've underachieved so far this season.

Sometimes, a new coach brings a fresh energy, different tactics, or simply a new spark that reignites the team's drive.

You see it in the NBA, Euroleague, everywhere. Take Fenerbahce for instance, when Sarunas Jasikevicius took over for Itoudis and they surged all the way to the Final Four.

For me personally, I try to block out the noise and focus on what I can control: being the best player and teammate I can be. Whether it's staying healthy or encouraging my teammates, my goal remains the same—contribute positively to the team's success.

Prioritizing Recovery and Listening to My Body

As the season wears on, everyone starts to feel those little aches and pains. This is the grind, the part of the season where managing your body becomes as critical as any game strategy. For me, recovery is a constant focus. I'm really into using red light therapy, foam rolling, and stretching—anything that helps keep my body in prime condition.

I've also taken up journaling. It helps me stay mentally sharp, allowing me to reflect on my day, my performance, and what I need to adjust to keep pushing forward.

One of the biggest lessons I've learned this year is the importance of listening to my body. Sometimes, the routine needs tweaking. It could mean lifting more or less, adjusting how much shooting practice I do, or even deciding to rest when necessary. It’s a balance between pushing hard and knowing when to pull back.

I know I already linked the below Plantar Fasciitis PDF, but in case you missed it, here it is below. Listening to your body, and also finding the right exercises and techniques, are crucial to recovery and a long career as an athlete. Also, here is a link to the supplements I’m using at the moment, in case you are looking for some ideas.

LINK TO PDF FOR VITAMIN LIST AND PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Also, tools like WHOOP have been a game-changer for me. I love checking the data—seeing how my body is responding, monitoring recovery, and optimizing my performance based on the feedback. It’s made a noticeable difference in how I approach both practice and games.

Q&A ❓

Gary F. asked…

Dealing with Losses: A Mindset Shift

Losses are tough, but I’ve learned not to dwell on them. Instead of fixating on the scoreboard, I focus on my performance and what I can learn. I’m never content because there’s always something you can learn.

Wins and losses are part of the game, but what truly matters is the journey of improvement and self-discovery. I approach each day with an honest curiosity, asking myself, "How good can I be?"

This mindset helps me see the evolution of my game. When I first started playing, the Eurostep was a significant part of my arsenal. It was one of my go-to moves. Over time, as my skills expanded, my game became more diverse. Now, I use the Eurostep less, and my focus has shifted to other areas—like mastering two-foot stops and heavily refining my shot.

It’s about getting better every single day, focusing on the process, the system I’ve built around my training, and being consistent with it. This daily dedication to improvement is where true growth happens.

The Biggest Lesson from Basketball

One of the most profound lessons basketball has taught me is that you can develop a new skill at any age if you build a system around it and remain consistent. It’s not about natural talent alone; it’s about putting in the work, day after day, and trusting the process. Whether it’s refining an existing skill or adding something entirely new to your game, the key is a structured, consistent approach.

This philosophy applies not just to basketball but to life in general. Whatever the challenge, if you commit to a system and stick with it, progress will follow.

🚨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!🚨

YouTube Journey▶

This last week we dropped a new content format that I am hoping you guys find interesting! I break down in detail my game against Fener, and will be doing more granular film reviews for EuroLeague games moving forward.

I hope you learn something, but let me know below if this is the type of content you’d like to see from me!

In addition to the game breakdowns, I will still be documenting my journey week after week. In this episode, we take on both Serbian teams at home in Istanbul. The fans for these clubs are legendary, so I know it will be a more difficult task when we go to their house later this year!

🚨 QUESTION! 🚨

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!

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

Elijah