Today’s Playbook

Losing Sucks BUT after a whirlwind of a playoff run, I wanted to connect with you all, share some thoughts on the recent EuroLeague Playoff series, and also touch on something that’s a huge part of my game, and life, The mental side of things.

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

• 🏀 Reflecting on the Playoffs

• 🌱 The Power of Reframing

• ❓ Q+A → @pauliusrapolis5919 on YouTube asked…

🏀Reflecting on the Playoffs

We gave everything we had in this EuroLeague Playoff series against Panathinaikos. Every game felt like a championship game, the intensity was through the roof, and the atmosphere was electric.

After those initial games, I had to take a hard look at myself, at my mindset. It wasn’t about dwelling on what went wrong, but about resetting. I had to consciously decide to let go of that frustration, to stop overthinking, and to get back to basics:

• Play hard

• Trust my instincts

• Focus on each possession as it comes

It was about reminding myself of the work I’ve put in and believing that I could turn it around. It’s a mental battle, but I knew I had to shift my perspective if I was going to help us fight back in the series. I decided I was going to leave absolutely everything I had on the court, no matter what. We left it all out on the floor, every single one of us on the Efes squad.

No lie, not making the Final Four hurts! But I walk away proud. Proud of how we grew as a team, how we fought back, and how I personally worked through one of the most challenging mental stretches I’ve faced. That journey taught me a lot about resilience and what it really means to be present in the moment.

To all the fans, your support during this Euroleague Season in our new home arena has meant everything. Through the highs and lows, you showed up for us, and that’s something I’ll never take for granted.

Faith + Consistency™. That’s the formula.

🌱The Power of Reframing

As athletes, we spend hours working on our bodies, shooting, lifting, stretching, and recovering. But one of the most powerful tools I’ve learned over the years doesn’t happen in the gym. It happens in the mind.

It’s called reframing.

Reframing is the ability to shift the way you see a situation—not by pretending it’s something it’s not, but by choosing to put it in a context that serves your growth.

In psychology, reframing is a form of cognitive restructuring, and it's used to:

• Turn failure into feedback

• View pressure as opportunity

• Build resilience through self-talk

Let me give you a real example. After our loss to Panathinaikos, I could’ve told myself:

But instead, I told myself:

That change in self-talk didn’t erase the loss. But it gave it meaning. It kept me from spiraling into negativity. It kept me hungry!

Reframing is a muscle, and like anything else, it gets stronger the more you use it. I apply it in tons of areas:

• In games: Before a big free throw, instead of thinking about the pressure, I’ll tell myself, "You’ve done this a thousand times. Smooth and through."

• In life: When plans don’t go the way I hoped, I ask, “How is this preparing me for what’s next?”

Sports psychologists use reframing to help athletes reduce anxiety, stay motivated, and perform under pressure. It’s one of the key differences between players who break down and players who break through.

For me, reframing isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff, and it’s about acknowledging it, then choosing to move through it with purpose and perspective.

So, next time you’re in a situation where things don’t go as planned, whether it’s a Game, a Goal, or something personal, ask yourself:

You’d be surprised how much power you have, just by choosing a new frame.

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)

Q&A❓

@pauliusrapolis5919 on YouTube asked…

“Appreciate the question! There are actually a bunch of basketball players out there doing a great job with YouTube, and I’ve been really enjoying watching some of them lately. It’s nice to see how different guys are sharing their journeys.

From the EuroLeague side, Chima Moneke’s channel is super entertaining; he keeps it real and always brings good energy.

From Nigel Hayes-Davis’ channel, I am enjoying watching his travel vlogs. If I ever go vegan, I’m 100% hitting him up for the best vegan spots around the world. 😂

Outside of EuroLeague, I really enjoy watching Trey Dreschel’s channel from Benfica. His videos are super inspiring — he’s honest about the ups and downs of playing overseas, and you can tell he puts a lot of thought into sharing his journey.

Also, Riccardo Visconti is a young Italian player who started with Virtus Bologna and is now in the ACB with Granada. Super talented and humble guy — his content is solid.

Check them out and let me know which ones you vibe with the most! Always down to talk hoops and content 🙏🏽🏀”

🚨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 answer them in 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