Elijah Bryant documents his first days as an NBA rookie, from COVID testing and physicals through workouts, travel, and his first game. He shares behind-the-scenes moments of training, meals, and team logistics while reflecting on confidence and what it takes to make it.
Chapters
Here he goes again, Elijah Bryant, dazzling dribble dancing Alright, so I just made it. I did my COVID testing already. Now I'm in the room. I'll be here for 7 days. So let's make it feel like home. About to eat some Chipotle, call Jen, chill out. It's crazy because it's really full circle. So I did summer league here last year. So, it's wild. Chill. Don't be mad at me.
Oh my gosh.
All right, it took me like 20 minutes to get kind of the whole room organized, so I put all the clothes in here. Little recovery station, electronic station, tea station, some clothes hung up, shoes, bathroom. I'm about to shower and then probably go to the gym. Trying to stay awake to kill this jet lag, but I'm exhausted. All right, so I'm about to head down to the workout gym just to kind of get my body moving a little bit. I mean, I traveled, we traveled all yesterday. I slept pretty bad. I mean, I jet lagged, fell asleep at like 8 o'clock. So I need my body moving a little bit, get some blood flow. Yeah, so let's go do that.
I got junior exercises for you this strength training. What? Okay, so, uh, you're gonna lay on your back. I miss you, Blue.
Bluey, I miss you.
I miss you.
All right, so I just got back from eating breakfast. They didn't really have too much of breakfast just because of COVID They had like boiled eggs and stuff, so I had an extra Chipotle bowl from last night. Yes, Chipotle. That's the first thing I ate when I got back to America. The first thing I would have ate if I came back, I went back to Atlanta, would have definitely been Houston's. But I'm about to shower and then I have to go do a physical. I don't know how much stuff I'm going to be able to film over there, so I'm not bringing the camera. But if I get anything, it'll probably be on my iPhone and then I'll kind of describe what happens throughout the day just because I don't want to bring the camera. No one likes the camera in their face, honestly. So yeah.
All right, I'm about to do the treadmill test again.
Hey, what are you doing in the Converse?
I said, yo, chill.
All right, so I just got back from my physical, my stress test, and got some food, got some clothes. Guys, so I get to the physical, the stress test, and they're like— I didn't think I was doing the treadmill thing again because you do it at Maccabi, as you guys saw when I was getting ready for the season with Maccabi. And they're like, hey, you're gonna be doing the treadmill, bro. I was in my Converse and these, uh, Rowan sweatpants. Like, I wasn't ready to run. And I had just lifted this morning and I was like, uh, I was like, but I ran it anyways. The thing is, the stress test is harder when you're in shape and I'm in shape now. It's easier in the beginning of the season when you're not. But we got that done, got some clothes, and let's see what Jen thinks about the clothes. You ready for a haul of my clothes? Okay, 3, 2, 1. Wow, I got a little Nike hoodie. All this from Nordstrom. Oh no, look, with these joints, green on green. No. Oh no. Okay, okay, okay.
Oh, that's nice. Where did you get that from?
Nordstrom.
I got everything from Nordstrom. Like it. What's that? Yes, wait, that will look so good with your shoes. Try on your shoes with it. You're so stupid. Whoa, is that Elijah Bryant? NBA superstar? You guys are crazy. Wow, 3'6", 205 lbs as of today. Wow, that looks nice. Oh yeah, I like that, that looks really nice. Hey, you like to be a stylist. Oh my gosh.
All right, so I just got back from doing some ball handling drills, and you might be asking yourself— or maybe you're not asking yourself. I always say that. Well, I'm here to confirm that the NBA plays with a different ball than Europe. So had to get a little feel for it. I might be making my NBA debut Thursday against the Pacers. I have to drive there because of all this COVID stuff. I have to pack for my first NBA road trip. I can get used to that for sure. I honestly literally just brought everything I pretty much have. Basketball, One pair of shoes, like walking around shoes. All my clothes I just bought. And yeah, that's the NBA. I'm not bringing any of these shoes, just those. It's my first road trip, so I really don't know what to expect, but God is good. God is good, my peoples. 2 years ago we were in the Delaware. I remember your mom was there. Yeah, I remember all the Elijah Bryant spraying. Yeah, we had some quality time together.
I remember.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you— I'm just confirming— did you get your test on after 5 over there? They came back and got you? Yes, I did. That was the trainer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Obviously we've talked before because I sprained my ankle last— 2 years ago in summer league. So that's one thing I'll say about the Bucks, like, there's a great organization from top to bottom. I'm not just saying that because I'm here, honestly. Like, first-class people. Not even basketball, like, just first-class people. People. And when you do that, I mean, karma, I guess, something like that. Or we got Giannis. I say you—
we got Giannis.
Well, good morning guys. Today I get to finally go to the facility, get a little workout in, then I'm headed to Indiana. So I think we're suiting up, boys, for the Indiana game. I say boys like there aren't girls watching this channel. What, like, what, what, what should we call us, you guys? Like, I don't know, like, what should we call you guys? That's a great question. But yeah, I'm still kind of jet lagged, but I was able to get up this morning, do my little morning routine, get the body moving a little bit. Yeah, I just feel like it's better to be in a routine. You don't think about things really, because you only can control what you can control. Did I say that right? All right, I'm about to finish my cocktail. Say cocktail. Obviously I don't drink. This has Emergency, Extend, Calm. Emergency, obviously, because traveling, just want to stay on top of that. Calm, magnesium. A lot of people in our society are magnesium deficient and it keeps you calm. And the Extend is like the BCAA. I should probably check if I'm allowed to take that in the NBA. Comment down below like what we should name this community we have. And also I'm thinking about doing a Locals. Is that what it's called? It's a place where I can post like content and you guys can subscribe. Kind of want to be more like a personal relationship with you guys. Like Instagram's cool enough and stuff, but like it's like a portfolio of all my good moments and I want to be more like vulnerable. I told you guys this before, I don't— I want to be more vulnerable. I want to show that being a basketball player overseas, NBA, college, like people go through real, real struggles like, you know what I mean? So like, I don't want this to be like, oh, it's all pretty and all that stuff. We talked about this before, but yeah.
Just finished the first workout of my 10-year career headed to Indiana. All right, so I just got to the hotel.
Forgot my freaking, uh, camera in the kitchen, but yeah, it's pretty nice. Yeah, I bought the basketball because like you guys know, I'm still trying to get used to the basketball. Workout went well. Could have shot it way better. But still trying to get used to, uh, the line being farther back because when you get tired, you know, things start to change. But yeah, it's pretty. So I'm not allowed to be doing anything with the team, hence why we drove those 4 hours. It actually went pretty fast. Well, I have the COVID test in a second, and then once I test negative, I think I'm allowed to be with the team tomorrow. So I'm gonna order some Uber Eats. I want to do some ball handling, but I don't want to disturb the people below. I'm just going to chill out really, learn the plays. There's a lot of plays. Learn the plays and yeah, grateful to be here. Got some food, little Mediterranean salad with some sautéed veggies. I just want to tell you guys, I did my first, uh, shootaround kind of workout. I saw my jersey for the first time, it wasn't like I was— I was surprised, but it was like, damn, you've been working for this your whole life. So it's a blessing, man. I just want to tell you guys, like, if you put your heart to something that you want to do, you dream about, then like, don't let anyone tell you anything different. Like, with anything in life, like, don't ever take no for an answer. I know I'm not the only testament of that, but I'm just telling you guys from my story, don't take no for an answer. You're going to have hard days, you're going to have good days, you're going to have all that. Just keep working, have faith in the Lord, and your dreams will come true. But about to go get some food, chill out, relax, you know, good vibes, good vibes only. My pregame meal, try to limit the carbs obviously because I'm not running as much as someone who's playing a lot. So I got like broccoli, steak, chicken, shrimp with kale peppers, zucchini. Fire. So I'm about to head to my first NBA game, so let's pick all this crap up in the room. I got the little pregame outfit. I don't ever dress up, but I gotta look presentable, right? About to head to the game. All right, so I got some food. Salmon, salad, 2 steaks, water. The good goods. All right, so I'm about to pack up and get my stuff ready because we leave to Chicago after this game. So I need to have my stuff when I head to the gym now. So about to do that, get ready pretty much, and yeah, that's it. And hopefully I don't have to bring this big OJ back because that's, that's too much. So let's do it.
All right, so I'm going to sleep.
We play Chicago tomorrow. Oh, I think they might rest the guys, so hopefully everybody gonna make that debut. So we can go on the road, I guess, and give you, uh, like recovery stuff. So this is LumaTec, each player has one. And this is foam roller, HyperBolt, all that good stuff. That's pro. Definitely use that. So I guess I didn't need to bring this guy if they bring it. That's pretty cool. All right, so for breakfast they had a bunch of like croissants and stuff, but I don't eat that, so I'm going to use some fruit even though it's going to spike my insulin, but that's the best option I have. Alright, so my NormaTec wasn't working, so they brought me another one. Let's see if this guy works. Alright, so for lunch I got a salad, a wrap, an omelet, and I have these dressings. Obviously I know these type of dressings have canola oil that I shouldn't be eating, but yeah, I, I'm hungry. All right, so I just woke up from my like little pregame nap. I'm about to pack up the room, put all the Kirby stuff back outside so they can take it, go downstairs, get pregame meal. I'm on the first bus. We have shooting around 6:15 if we're able to because the other team had an afternoon shootaround. So, oh, you might be asking yourself, why am I carrying this big bag around? Because the only two bags I brought, the big OGO bag— shout out to OGO. The team ordered me some Tumi stuff, so that should be in soon. Until then, I'll be packing for Africa pretty much.
But are you going downstairs already? Yeah, that looks good.
No, not yet. Say hi to the vlog.
Hello. Hi.
Say hi, Blue. I miss you. He wants to win.
Please bless his teammates that they'll also be healthy and strong. And please bless if it's like Elijah won't be able to play tonight, please bless, um, and that he'll be able to showcase his talent.
Quick rotation gets you on a poster.
That 3 from the floor this year, not easy to do as a rookie, is the foot basket. Elijah Bryant in his NBA debut. Oddity in his debut. Elijah Elijah Bryant, boom! College career at Elon back in 2014. John Marchewski, there is Elijah Bryant who was there for the exciting Jose Abreu dive to the plate for the finish.
Yeah, oh, there's a foul. Strong case coming back.
He is, uh, this has been a nice late season audition for Japan's other teams too that check in, uh, if they've tuned into our broadcast. To each their own, uh, business meetings. And, uh, has had the, uh, head coach for the Nigerian national team at one point. Player for the Bulls.
Yep. Bryant.
Beep beep.
Good morning, guys, and Today is the day after my first NBA game, and I don't know, it's just like everyone keeps asking, oh, how does it feel? How does it feel? I don't know, I feel like I, I've been here before because for the past 2 years I've kind of just visioned like, you know, being on the floor playing, talking to Drew, talking to Giannis, talking to all these guys. So now that it's happening, it's kind of almost like I've already done it before, so it's not like I was like, whoa, you know. And the biggest thing I want to tell you guys that are, you know, following me on this journey is that whatever you're doing in life, if you're doing it, have confidence in it. If you put the time in, go out there and do what you do. You're gonna fail sometimes. That's life. But you can't be scared to fail. I mean, I think I had 4 turnovers. Like, what am I gonna do, cry about it? Like, what am I gonna do? Just play. Like, I mean, I went 1 for 5 3, like, just play. Like, and I feel like that too many people worry about making mistakes, and that was one of my biggest problems coming out of college. I was so worried that when I go to the workout, if I missed, I'm not gonna make it, if I— you know what I mean? And then you start going down these rabbit holes of, I'm not gonna make it because I missed a shot, and now you're thinking, and now everything is just spiraling out of control, you know? I get on that court, everyone puts their shorts on just like I put my shorts on. I respect everyone, but they gotta respect me too, no matter if I play one NBA game or 50 NBA games. They gotta respect because I put a lot of time and faith and confidence in my abilities, in my game. Here we are, here we are, guys. It's, it's like I said before, one cent club is— we're just getting started. Now is where we really have to start working and continue to work on our craft. So let's see what my family has to say. Elijah, so cute.
Yeah, how is it? It's good. Thank you. How are you feeling?
Good. Doing my thing. What's up?
What? You did that damn thing last night, didn't you? You should have seen my dance after that first 3. Both dogs went running upstairs. Reggie's looking at me like I lost my fucking mind. I know the paper's hard.
It was, it was nerve-wracking because like I knew there was a possibility I was gonna play because I was active, right? And then right at the beginning he started these guys and he said these guys be ready, and I was part of those guys, right? And I was like, oh great. And then I was trying to like act like calm. And another funny thing I didn't tell, um, the camera is that— so like when you— I didn't want to be that person that like rips off my pants and can't rip them off, so I practice in the locker room. Yeah, I said I'm not gonna lie to you guys, I'm about to be a meme out there. I'm about to practice how to rip these pants off, and they started laughing.
Is it hard to rip them off?
No, but what I was doing was so funny. I knew I was about to go in. I started unbuttoning, I like unbuttoned a few of them so it's easier to rip off. Once I got in, I said, when I touch the ball, I'm shooting, I don't care. Once I shoot it, then I'm not gonna be pressing to shoot it, you know what I mean? So I had that open, I just had to open that. I said, oh hell yeah, I'm letting this fly. I was like, oh, it's on now.
Yeah, dude, that was so crazy. Happy?
I was moving my I was telling someone else like, well, how does it feel? I'm like, bro, like honestly, it feels like cool, but it doesn't really feel like all crazy because like I feel like for the past 2 years I've been like, before I go to sleep, I've been visioning like this. So it feels like I've already done it, you know, in a sense. Like I've like literally gone to sleep like visioning walking in the locker room saying, hey, what's up Giannis? You know, hey, what's up Drew? Like, what's up Jeff? Okay, go walking on the court. So like when I got on the court and I hit the shot, I was like, bro, like I've been here before, but it doesn't feel like, you know.
Yeah, but that's good.
All right, so today's technically like a lockout day where you're not supposed to go to the gym. You're supposed to kind of like relax. So I'm probably gonna use this day to kind of clean up, wash clothes, and I'll probably go to the gym, just do the ice tub, keep my body, you know, moving, healthy, strong, stuff like that.
Hi, what are you doing?
Nothing. How long does that take?
Over 3 hours probably.
Holy—
did you drive home last night?
Yeah. This is the locker room. This is my locker, and then over here is the barbershop, bathrooms, showers, and then this area is the cold tub. So I'm just gonna do like some cold tub action, get a little smoothie. I'm not supposed to be in here. I was gonna shoot some shots, but I guess a lockout day is a lockout day. Not supposed to be in the gym. So let me get out of here. Let's see the beautiful girl. Whoa, is that Blue's mom?
Oh, hi Bluey, bro.
What's up, my boy? What's good? You're so nice, it's unbelievable. It's actually stupid how nice you are. That boy was locked— that boy was locked in last night. I was, bro, I was always lock the F in as soon as like, bro, mama is sexy.
You like it? Yeah, like the day I married you.
Yeah. So the Chipotle quesadillas are different now, and you might be asking yourself why you're eating Chipotle if you don't eat carbs. Today is my carb reload day. All right, so I'm about to clean the room. It's been crazy. We've been on the road literally for the past 2 days, and I've been kind of living out of a suitcase. So my wife has got me like this now. I need everything in a place. I wasn't like this before, but let's get to cleaning. So should I do grays, blacks, and then whites?
How many, how many whites and grays and darks do you have?
Blacks, whites.
Yeah, that's good. And you don't sprinkle it right on the clothes. You sprinkle it in the water.
In the water?
Yeah, in the water.
Dang, freaking— it's not working now.
Why?
Because I opened the door. It's what? Guys, yes, I know it's embarrassing. Put the money in, then I realized that I didn't put any detergent in, so I went downstairs and the lady gave me this. Came back up to close it back up, she's giving me this error sign. I tried to put another quarter in and it's still not working. Come on, give me some good luck. Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Pray a little harder. Alright, so I called downstairs and they're gonna see what they can do. Hope I can get my money back, but the clothes are soaking wet now. Come on, Speed Queen. Okay, so guys, we got it working. The lady downstairs, I've been bothering her literally all day. She's a saint. She came up here, we figured it out, got her going. That is good. All right, so today's just been a wild day. Everyone's been hitting me up about the game, and I didn't do my routine this morning, so I'm gonna knock that out real quick. Just my normal day stuff, you guys know, like my clamshells, my foam rolling, RDLs, all that good stuff just to keep the body healthy, strong, and moving.
So let's get to it. Yo, what's good? That boy got the Bucks shirt.
Hey, that boy, that ain't the Summer League shirt either. That's the real deal shirt. Facts, bro. What's good? Well guys, after all that chaos, I finally got the laundry done. But tomorrow, um, we have practice and yeah, we practice. So let's get to tomorrow. What do you think about me making the NBA?
Ready for my new shoe?
Yeah, yeah. What I do, yeah, yeah.
