What if? A Lesson from Denmark's First NBA Player

how to transform your mind into believing great things are possible

I flew to Copenhagen a few days ago for the first time in a few years.

A full circle moment for me, because three seasons ago, Denmark was where my pro basketball career ended. I left with a torn achilles and a new opportunity to lean into my life as a full-time sports creator. The feeling inside my gut back then was telling me that everything happens for a reason, and that my injury meant it was time to transition into a different chapter.

This weekend, the Danish Basketball Federation invited me to create content at the FIBA 3x3 Europe Championship hosted in the heart of Copenhagen.

I had a great time (clearly).

I didn’t realize quite how full circle this was until I found myself in an empty gym doing shooting drills with Iffe Lundberg — the first player from Denmark to ever make it to the NBA.

It was pretty cool that the beginning of my journey back into pro hoops has quietly aligned itself right back where we left off. I think God often has a funny way of reminding us we’re on the right path.

Even though I’ve set a goal to play professionally again this year, if I’m being honest, some days it feels scary to say out loud.

Iffe had something to say about that.

After our workout, hearing him talk about his mantra, ‘What if’, I walked away with something I know I’ll be carrying with me, and maybe you will too. Here’s a few lessons to help transform your mind into believing great things are possible for your life:

It starts with you

Nobody believed Iffe when he said he’d make it this far. Years later, he made the national team, starred in EuroLeague, and signed a contract in the NBA. He scored 10 points in a game with the Phoenix Suns in the final game of the 2021-22 season.

When I asked him how he broke through, he told me about the two words that he’s been telling himself for years.

“What if?”

Not the version that makes you doubt yourself. Not “what if I fail?” But the version that forces you to believe.“What if this goes better than I can imagine?”

Iffe told me that in Denmark, people are shy about speaking their goals out loud. No matter what country you’re reading this from, I think we can all relate to the feeling of not wanting the set big goals in public. It’s safer to keep them inside; safer not to risk looking foolish.

But Iffe has always done the opposite. He told people he’d be the first Dane in the NBA, and then he backed it up. He didn’t do it overnight, either.

And it reminded me: I used to do the same thing. I told anyone who would listen that I wanted to play in the NBA one day.

I still remember writing the script to my very first TikTok video about my basketball journey. I was scared to hit publish. I was thinking, “What if this video blows up and a lot of people see?” (it did).

Saying it out loud pushed me into rooms I never thought I’d be in — and eventually, into an NBA jersey of my own. I was invited to training camp with the Charlotte Hornets in 2020, and NBA Summer League with the Houston Rockets in 2021.

To me, it didn’t matter that it wasn’t in a regular season game. It was a testament to my ability to set a goal and hit a goal.

All the great things you dream about doing one day? It starts with you and your mindset.

Believe first.

Everybody who’s ever accomplished something great has something in common, they believed that they were capable of doing it.

I’m not saying that there won’t be days where a bit of doubt creeps in, that’s a normal part of the process when it comes to setting big goals. And when you’re not so sure about how to reach those goals, sometimes, your head and heart can conflict with each other. The heart knows you can do it, while the head is sitting there trying to analyze all the things that can go wrong.

“What if?” begins in the heart.

Your heart will lead you back to that belief when your mind wants to convince you that you’re crazy, or that things will be too difficult.

And that’s why training your mind matters. It’s not about silencing doubt completely, but about teaching yourself which voice to follow. The more you practice leaning into belief, the more natural it becomes to act on it. Over time, your actions start lining up with your heart’s conviction instead of your head’s hesitation. That’s when momentum kicks in, and the things that once felt impossible begin to feel inevitable.

Write it down and say it out loud.

Our words are powerful. They can plant roots that keep us steady in difficult seasons, or they can become the very saw that cuts our vision down before it has a chance to grow. What you speak to yourself becomes the story you live inside of.

Putting things out there also allow other people to not only root for you, but actually help you get to where you’re trying to go. People start to see what you’re reaching for, and they either step in to support you or connect you to someone who can. Speaking your goals out loud invites accountability, but it also invites opportunity.

I know this because if I never spoke about my goals as an athlete and creator, I wouldn’t have found myself back in Copenhagen on the same court as Iffe, sharing a workout and conversation. Saying it out loud is what turned a private dream into a path that others could walk with me.

Flip the question.

Stop asking “what if it fails?” and start asking “what if it works?” You’ll be surprised at how impactful this is on our daily actions, our motivation to keep pushing, and the entire world around you.

After all, what’s the best that could happen?

– Trey

p.s. I made a Youtube video about my weekend in Copenhagen where you can find my workout and quick interview with Iffe:

If you’ve reached the end, I want to say thank you for reading. This is an installment of a series titled, How to Love the Game, aimed to provide a community for people who want to grow and find joy in the game of life. Subscribe and stay tuned for the next one.