Without a job, with a lot of pressure on his shoulders and with the knowledge that he is not the favorite of the fans – that’s how Dennis Schröder came to the European Basketball Championship. There, however, everyone experienced an amazing transformation. The sports show annual review.
Before the start of the European Basketball Championship, Dennis Schröder was not doing particularly well. Because the captain of the German national team traveled to the home tournament without an employment contract with a club and therefore with an uncertain future.
His career in the North American professional league NBA had stalled. He’s been playing since 2013 Point Guard in the states. First he went to the Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder a name, in autumn 2020 he then switched to the star ensemble Los Angeles Lakers. Born in Braunschweig, he seemed to have reached the top.
Schröder gambled away in contract poker
But then he gambled away. An offer to resign his contract with the Lakers for $84 milliondollar he turned down an extension of four years. When he then as a so-called Free agent wanted to renegotiate, there was no more room at the Lakers.
Schröder had to sign a significantly less well-paid one-year contract with the Boston Celtics accept, but ended up in after half a year Houston. Both rockets Schröder made sometimes disastrous performances with weak values, the team was the worst in the league at the end of the season.
Often the scapegoat
Before the European Championships, you didn’t really know what to expect from Schröder, who was 28 at the time. In previous years, he had always announced big things in the national jersey, but then never delivered. After the early end at the home European Championship in 2015 and the preliminary round debacle at the 2019 World Cup in China, Schröder was the scapegoat for many.
In any case, Schröder had not always made friends due to his sometimes selfish style of play and his sometimes arrogant demeanor. No job and a lot of pressure to succeed – that’s how Schröder traveled to the European Championship.
First medal in 17 years
But then everything turned for the better for the playmaker. Schröder led the German team to the bronze medal, their first precious metal in 17 years. After gold in 1993 and silver in 2005, Germany completed the EM medal set.
For the team of national coach Gordon Herbert, the European Championship was an unforgettable basketball festival. The team showed a strong preliminary round in Cologne, in which they only lost to Slovenia, and went to Berlin as group runners-up. There were victories against Montenegro in the round of 16 and co-favorite Greece with NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the quarter-finals before the dream of gold was shattered against the Spaniards. In the “small final” the team then defeated Poland.
Leader, Boss, Top Star
Always right in the middle: Dennis Schröder. The leader and undisputed boss on the floor, he was one of the tournament’s most eye-catching players. Schröder was always present and took the main responsibility.
He carried the ball forward, initiated attacks, had an immense pull to the basket, sunk important three-pointers, had strong nerves with free throws and was not above defensive work either.
Loyal support – another Dennis Schröder
Basketball Germany also got to know another Dennis Schröder off the field. After defeats, he placed himself in front of the team and the coach and self-critically looked for the mistakes in himself.
When he wasn’t on the field, he would constantly cheer on the team from the bench. “He’s one of the best point guards in the world. He leads us and leads us to wins. I enjoy playing with him.”said teammate Maodo Lo about Schröder.
Schröder’s surprise return to the Lakers
None of this went unnoticed by those responsible in the NBA. The day before the “small final” Schröder announced his surprise return to the Los Angeles Lakers.
He was therefore able to play completely free against Poland and led the team to bronze as the best thrower with 26 points. So Schröder was back in the NBA and finally fully settled in the national team and in the hearts of the German fans.
“Till I Can’t Walk Anymore”
He also wants to play for his country in the coming years. “I play for the national team every summer when I’m fit”said Schroeder: “I’ve really gotten to know the people over the past six or seven weeks. I’ll stay here until I can’t walk anymore.