From BZ/dpa
Dennis Schröder was a controversial figure in basketball Germany for a long time. After bronze at the European Championships and gold at the World Cup, people are celebrating him. Achieving this was fuel for the Braunschweiger.
For captain Dennis Schröder Recognition in Germany was one of the greatest motivations on the way to the World Cup title with the national basketball team. “I knew that if I didn’t win a title in Germany, I wouldn’t be as respected as I am now,” said the 29-year-old from Braunschweig in the “Einfach mal Luppen” podcast by the brothers Toni and Felix Kroos.
“I was always put on the same level as Dirk (Nowitzki). We all know how good he was,” said Schröder. “MVP in the Finals, plus I think the season and winning the championship, we don’t need to talk about how good he was. His legacy is also difficult to achieve. But I knew: There will only be respect for me and my name if I win gold.”
Germany’s greatest basketball player of all time: Dirk Nowitzki Photo: picture alliance/dpa
Schröder played an outstanding tournament at the World Cup, which took place in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, and was voted most valuable player. The German team won the title with eight wins in eight games. The year before the selection was Schröder and Franz Wagner already came third in the European Championships in Germany.
“To get bronze and then gold, even Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t do that. It was important to me that I win gold for Germany, that Germany gives us and especially me the respect. MVP, that’s awesome, but bringing the World Cup title to Germany is what I wanted.”
In the podcast, Schröder emphasized how much the numerous fans at the receptions meant to him for the team in Frankfurt am Main and for him after the entry in the Golden Book of his hometown Braunschweig. “A lot of people showed love there,” he said.