Today’s Playbook

The Road to the Play-Ins continues! We are buzzing from that game in Partizan. Here’s what’s on my mind in this week’s newsletter:

• How Your Problems Help You Grow

• Elijah’s Water → Hydration is key!

• YouTube - Road to Play-Offs Continues (vs. Bayern)

• Weekly Q+A → @SpyrosSkarpos on YouTube asked…

How Your Problems Help You Grow 🏀

The Way You See Your Problems Changes Everything

Life will always bring problems. But instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” try asking: “How can this problem help me?”

A Personal Story

When I left college to turn professional, people told me I wasn’t going to get drafted. I could have been upset, but instead, I saw it as a chance to work harder and focus on finding a team that truly wanted me.

I didn’t go somewhere that paid a lot of money. My wife and I moved far from home, all the way to Israel. We had a small apartment and not much else, but we had each other. We couldn’t run to our parents when things got tough—we had to lean on one another.

At first, it seemed like a tough situation. But when I looked at it differently, I saw it as an opportunity. It helped us grow closer as a couple and grow stronger in our faith. We had to trust God’s plan, even when we didn’t understand it. That season of life built the foundation of our marriage and our faith.

Some people might have seen it as a struggle. But for us, it was a blessing in disguise. And I’ve achieved great things already in my career (NBA champion, Euroleague champion) because of using these ‘problems’ as inspiration.

If I had spent my time resisting the situation—complaining, feeling sorry for myself—I would have missed out on the growth, the lessons, and the foundation God was building for my future.

The Lesson Hidden in Every Problem

Because problems don’t break you. They build you. And as long as you resist the problem, you resist the solution.

Once you stop fighting your struggles, they become a wake-up call—A chance to step into something better.

Faith + Consistency™. That’s the formula.

Elijah’s Water 🏀

We all know hydration is key, and it is not only for Sports. Our body runs off water and salt. Below are a few things I do in addition to normal water to give myself that extra boost and check all the boxes for maximum recovery.

Also, I made a PDF guide on (almost) all the things I do in a recovery day, which includes this hydration concept and more. Link to my Full Recovery Day PDF

Elijah’s Water:

First, I have a machine that makes Reverse osmosis water.

• Reverse osmosis water removes remove impurities, heavy metals, and contaminants, creating the cleanest hydration base. This allows your body to absorb nutrients and supplements more effectively while giving you full control over added electrolytes and minerals—key for optimizing performance and recovery as a pro athlete.

In addition, I add the following:

• Creatine: Replenishes ATP for explosive movements, improving performance and speeding up muscle recovery.

• Hydrogen Tablets Act as powerful antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation and aiding muscle repair.

• Electrolytes: Maintain fluid balance, prevent cramps, and support nerve and muscle function, especially after intense training.

In addition to the Full Recovery Day PDF, here’s the link as always to my full list of guides, available to you as a part of the Playbook Community! (More added each week)

Playbook Guides (Workouts, Pro Tips, Mobility Guides, Recovery info, etc)

YouTube Journey▶

It was a BIG road game in our quest for the Play-in spot. Bayern Munich is a tough tough team high in the standings, and we had our work cut out for us. Check it out below and support us as we continue our Road to the Play-offs! Let’s Go Efes!

Q&A ❓

@SpyrosSkarpos on YouTube asked…

“The first thing you should pat yourself on the back for is being able to identify what you struggle with. Once you know what that is, you can work backward — watching someone who's really comfortable bringing the ball down, like Trae Young or Jalen Brunson — and start implementing what they do into your own process.

That starts with stationary ball handling. Then, once you’re comfortable with that, you can move on to ball handling while moving. And put yourself in these situations in practice to get used to the actual situation and how to deal with that. Understand that if you fail, you are learning!

At the end of the day, the specific moves don't really matter. What matters is doing them consistently and sticking to the moves you feel comfortable with, over and over. You're trying to rewire those neurological pathways, so it feels natural. You’ve got to have faith in that process and trust it. Rep it out — that’s how you’ll build real confidence.”

God Bless! Faith + Consistency™

🚨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