The former basketball star Dirk Nowitzki is confident before the home European Championship with games in Cologne and Berlin.
“We have a lot of talent and a good squad. We hope a bit that the fans will push us forward. I hope we can play a great European Championship,” said the 44-year-old at a media round in Frankfurt am Main. The basketball players had recently won tests against Belgium and the Netherlands, and now the Supercup is on the program in Hamburg.
Regarding the European Championship, which begins on September 1st with the game against France, Nowitzki said: “It will be top advertising for our sport. It’s difficult to say what will come out of it in the end. I hope that we can get out of the difficult group.” In addition to France, Lithuania and European champions Slovenia with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic are also waiting for the team of national coach Gordon Herbert in Cologne.
Nowitzki rates the fact that Dennis Schröder is captain after Robin Benzing has been sorted out as positive. “I’m happy for him that he’s taking on the role. He’s our best player. The big burden is on him, he has to drive the team and score,” said Nowitzki. Point guard Schröder has “a lot on his plate,” added the 2011 NBA champion. “But he has the swag and the confidence to do it.”