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National coach Gordon Herbert is the architect of Germany’s World Cup title. The historic success is based on excellent youth work in many clubs.
It is this historical success that inspires. Naturally. But it is also the way of this outstanding German national basketball team: how they won this gold medal, how they present themselves in public. How she acts as an ambassador for a sport that is certainly played in Germany, but is marginalized in public perception.
Twelve players – down-to-earth, approachable, reflective, sometimes touched and emotional. A completely normal team. And that, although there are also those N.B.A-Professionals who have already earned millions in their lives and are treated like superstars in the USA.
Herbert relies on Schröder
The players would not presume to classify basketball in a ranking of sports, nor would they rate the poor performance of other German teams, such as in football. One message is important to the German world champion team: Basketball is fun and basketball is more than a sport, basketball is an attitude to life.
For many years, small clubs and large clubs like Alba Berlin have been doing excellent youth work – the cornerstone of the success of this generation of players. Probably the greatest stroke of luck was the commitment of national coach Gordon Herbert in 2021. He made the controversial Dennis Schröder captain and gave him the responsibility that the glamor boy needed to grow up, to inspire and lead this team.
Three-year plan works
Gordon Herbert created the three year plan and a team. Thanks to his knack for selecting the right players and his clear communication, the 64-year-old has since led his players to European Championship bronze and now World Cup gold. “After the birth of my children, this is number two in my life”said Herbert.
The three-year plan culminates in the Olympic Games in Paris. Anyone who has experienced the German team at the World Cup knows that they will inspire on the largest possible sports stage next year. With success. But also with their values, with their attitude. Just the way it is.