The German basketball players probably have the most talented generation since the era of Dirk Nowitzki. The European Championship (September 1st to September 18th) in their own country is possibly the last chance for Dennis Schröder’s team to finally turn this into success.
On Thursday evening (September 1st, 2022, 8:45 p.m.), the German basketball players will start the European Championship in their own country, with the opening game against France in Cologne. Before that, however, the past of German basketball gets a big performance: Dirk Nowitzki is honored by the German Basketball Association (DBB) for his services in the national team. Nowitzki’s jersey number 14 is pulled under the ceiling of the Cologne Arena.
A ceremony like that mainly from the NBA is known when a club no longer assigns a player’s shirt number as a sign of special appreciation. Nowitzki, also ambassador of the tournament, will be in the hall with the whole family, and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also announced his presence.
Nowitzki at the start of the European Championship – Focus on Generation Schröder
There are some of the current German internationals who were still on the floor with Nowitzki, including Dennis Schröder. The generation around NBA-Playmaker Schröder is considered the most talented since Nowitzki’s resignation. But so far also as a big, unfulfilled promise: At least since the 2019 World Cup, when the DBB selection flew to China with great ambitions, for some even as a medal candidate. And there with the preliminary round fabricated an unexpected crash landing.
Maodo Lo ahead of home EM: “Maybe the last big chance”
The disaster had a long-lasting effect, including preparation for the forthcoming European Championships at home. “We had a good team in China and we smashed it,” said Maodo Lo before the start, but also said that he had noticed a different mood among the teammates. The team learned from 2019: “We’ve been playing together for the national team for a number of years now, since the 2015 home European Championships in Berlin. We all know that this is a huge opportunity to play another European Championship at home. Maybe the last big chance to finally reward ourselves with a good result.“
The DBB selection managed to surprisingly qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year. But with a different cast, without most of the NBA professionals. The so-called “Golden Generation”, as it is also called in the EM commercial of the broadcasting streaming service, still has to prove that it can convert its immense talent into success.
Numerous failures in the DBB team, bumpy preparation
In the media rounds before the start of the tournament, Dennis Schröder and Co. were therefore confronted with a few questioning questions. The skepticism was reinforced by the bumpy preparation with numerous cancellations. With Moritz Wagner, one of the top performers had to sit out injured right after the start of training. Daniel Theis, an important anchor in the German defence, missed the last four pre-season games due to a knee injury. He only gave up one day before the opening game NBA center green light for the tournament. “I’ve done a lot and I’m glad my knee is holding up”, said Theis.
When asked about the tough group of opponents like France, Slovenia or Lithuania, whose squads are said to be of better quality, it was the national coach Gordon Herbert Finally, a concern to point out the good players and the high quality in their own team.
Victory against Slovenia with Luka Doncic in preparation
With the clear victory in the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia, led by megastar Luka Doncic, four days before the start of the European Championship, the DBB team has also proved for itself that it can keep higher-ranked opponents in check. “The Slovenia game showed us the way to play, especially in defence“, said the national coach with a view to the difficult games in the preliminary round.
Schröder confident before the start of the European Championship: “We have many weapons”
As with the botched World Cup in China, the start will be against France, but playmaker Schröder sees the German team better prepared this time: with a different coach, a different identity and, above all, better team chemistry, says Schröder. The captain spread self-confidence before the start of the European Championship: “We have great respect for opponents like France or Slovenia. But in the end they have to think about Germany, we have a lot of quality and a lot of weapons.“
Medal as a target from the DBB
The association has set itself the ambitious goal of winning a medal in front of its own audience. It would be the first for the DBB in a major tournament after the EM silver in 2005, back then with Nowitzki as the leader. Since then, the German team has never made it past the quarter-finals at a European Championship.
The honor for Nowitzki at the opening of the European Championships is a reminder of how long the dry spell has been for German basketball. “We are happy that Dirk is here. That will motivate us even more in the end“, said Dennis Schröder. And he probably meant that soon not so many will be talking about Nowitzki and his successes. But about the great deeds of his successors.