After NBA star Dennis Schröder’s clear criticism of his national team colleague Maximilian Kleber, the German Basketball Association will deal with the issue. A spokesman confirmed this.
In the “Got Nexxt” podcast, DBB captain Schröder criticized Kleber’s nomination for preparation for the upcoming World Cup (August 25 to September 10) in Asia because he had canceled for the EM last year.
“Maxi wasn’t there last year,” Schröder complained: “If you didn’t commit yourself – that was actually the message for all of us – then you won’t be there next year either.” The national team had won bronze at the European Championships.
Criticism of EM cancellation reason
Schröder, who plays for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, is dissatisfied with the reasoning behind the cancellation of Kleber from the Dallas Mavericks DBB head coach Gordon Herbert, who was suffering from knee problems at the time.
“If he says I’ll sign my contract this summer and I want to be with the team so I can get more money out of it, then I understand that,” Schröder said. “But if you say to Gordon Herbert: ‘Hey, listen: I’m Maxi and I want to train ball handling and work on my game in the summer – Maxi, sorry, but you don’t have a game'”.
At the age of 31, Kleber, who was born in Würzburg, no longer has to work on his game, it’s just a matter of recognizing and playing to his strengths in the best possible way.
“For me it’s like this: So Maxi, work on your game, you can’t play Natio for that? That bothered me a bit, I have to be honest. I just didn’t feel that. I’m always a straight, straight guy.” , said Schröder about Kleber, who is still under contract in Dallas until 2026.
At the World Cup, the German team meets hosts Japan, Australia and Finland in the preliminary round in Okinawa. For a direct ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the DBB selection would have to be one of the two best European teams.