For the first time, Germany is in the final of a Basketball World Cup and will fight for the title against Serbia on Sunday (September 10th, 2023). This is thanks to an outstanding team performance.
It is completely normal for a group to get along particularly well when they experience something positive. But what really makes a team work is that it runs so well because they get along so well and everyone benefits from each other. And that’s exactly what the German national basketball team is currently exemplifying at the World Cup.
Historical achievement in the collective
“My team is extremely great. I think this is the best team I’ve ever played on, whether it’s the NBA or the national team“, Dennis Schröder went into raptures after the 113:111 semi-final win against the USA. Thanks to an outstanding team performance, the DBB team not only defeated the USA for the first time ever, but also celebrated their premiere in the World Cup final on Sunday against Serbia .
It is the greatest success in the history of the German national basketball team, after third place at the 2002 World Cup was the best result. At that time, however, the team was led by an outstanding individual player, Dirk Nowitzki. Current national coach Gordon Herbert also has strong individuals in his squad – but the success is the result of great quality across the board and a strong spirit.
Clean slate even after seven games
“I enjoy playing with them and being on the pitch. Everyone is happy for each other. Of course there is no better feeling than winning against the USA, a strong team. I have a lot of respect for them, but as a team we just gave it our all for 40 minutes“, said Schröder. The point guard had a bad day in the quarterfinals against Latvia, but his colleagues picked up on it. Now the professional from the Atlanta Hawks was back at the top level – but not just him.
“We don’t just have to have Dennis and Franz (Wagner, editor) have“Emphasized center Daniel Theis. “It doesn’t matter who scores the most points, in the end we want to have a few more points than the others.” And this has been achieved in every game so far. Germany won all games in the preliminary round, the intermediate round and the knockout phase – final opponent Serbia has already lost one game against Italy. The DBB team has already had to overcome several difficult phases, winning against Australia (85:82), Latvia (81:79) and now against the USA by very narrow margins.
Fruit celebrated, but everyone delivers
Above all, the Americans had big problems with how unpredictable the German team is. Six DBB players scored double digits and they probably didn’t take into account that Andreas Obst would be the most celebrated hero afterwards. The FC Bayern Munich guard scored 24 points and lived up to his reputation. “We always say Andi is the best thrower on the planet. He is unbelievable” said co-captain Johannes Voigtmann. US coach Steve Kerr was of the opinion, “that fruit was the key to victory for the Germans“.
But Obst and his colleagues would rightly defend themselves against this. Because it’s not the individual, but the collective that shines. Isaac Bonga compensated for Franz Wagner’s temporary absence and continued to shine, especially in defense, even after his return. As an all-rounder and mood-maker, Mo Wagner is an invigorating element on and off the pitch. Theis has the “zone”, i.e. the space under the basket, well under control on offense and defense. And the list could continue. Thanks to the strong structure, each individual has developed. Everyone knows what they have to do and gets their job done.
“This vibe since day one”
But this hasn’t just been the case since the World Cup tournament in the Far East. “This vibe since the first day we met in Bonn – it was there last year – that’s special“Franz Wagner recalled the start of this year’s preparations and the home European Championships last year. The German team was already enthusiastic and ended up third in the end. Now they have taken the next step and now want to win the final. Have it as a team but they have already made history.