Grateful in the Grind

As the second week has gone on, I’m starting to feel more like myself. I’m getting comfortable with what we’re doing on the court, and even more so with the guys. It’s a blessing to be surrounded by a group that works hard, plays hard, and shares the same goal: chasing a championship. We all believe it’s possible—and that belief is driving everything we do.

This week has been tough. Two-a-days, conditioning, lifting, and long practices where we play hard to get into game shape and build chemistry. Our first games are just a few weeks away, so every rep matters. We even had to do the beep test—if you’ve ever done it, you know it’s brutal. You run back and forth with the pace of a beep, and if you miss one, you’re out. It was powerful to see the team push their limits and dig deep.

Coach talked about it after practice today: this is probably the hardest week of our preseason, and it’s exactly what we need to prepare for the championship. I’ve seen it before—teams that go through tough things together are the ones that truly earn their success. That’s what we’re building now: trust, grit, and unity.

Personally, I’ve been playing in a slightly different position, which means learning new defensive rotations and ball screen reads. It’s a challenge, but a good one. I’m expanding my game, adapting to how European players move and think, and finding ways to stay aggressive while doing whatever it takes to help my team win.

We’ve played two practice games so far—and won both. The first was a little shaky, but we figured things out and improved as the game went on. The second game started strong, but fatigue crept in toward the end. That’s something we’re working on: playing together through fatigue, trusting each other, and communicating for the full 40 minutes.

One of the highlights this week was stepping away from the grind for a bit. We had a barbecue and got to meet the board members and volunteers who help run the club. It was really cool to see the people behind the scenes—the ones who make everything possible. They’re not paid. They just choose to give their time and energy so we can do what we love. That speaks volumes about the culture here. It’s humbling and inspiring.

I’m grateful. Grateful for the challenge, the growth, and the people who make this journey meaningful. Every day is a chance to get better—and every step is part of the long game.