Dennis Schröder is supposed to put the German national basketball team on course for a medal as leader at the European Championships. The German legend Dirk Nowitzki is very fond of the NBA star, but also knows: "There is a great burden on him".
Dennis Schröder does not take it easy. The NBA star in the German basketball team is always one of the first to show up for training and one of the last to leave the hall. This is also the case in Hamburg, where Schröder and Co. will face their first endurance test on the way to the European Championship this weekend with a preliminary round in Cologne and the final round in Berlin (September 1st to 18th). In the traditional Supercup, the German team meets the Czech Republic on Friday (8.30 p.m. / Magentasport). On Saturday it's either against Italy or EM favorite Serbia with former national coach Svetislav Pesic and NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
"These will be two important tests for us," said Schröder, who, after the practice session in the training center of the Veolia Towers Hamburg, strolled towards the exit with two thick ice packs on his knees. The two narrow victories in Belgium and against the Netherlands were good for the feeling, but the two friendlies didn't really say anything.
Only now in Hamburg is it about building a team that can play a good role in the European Championship. "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 EM," said superstar Dirk Nowitzki, who will act as an ambassador at the EM. In Maximilian Kleber, Isaac Bonga and Moritz Wagner, three important players from the NBA are missing. In Daniel Theis, Franz Wagner and Schröder there are still three professionals from the best league in the world in the squad of national coach Gordon Herbert.
Above all, Nowitzki relies on Schröder leading the team. Especially since Herbert made him captain. "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. The preparations so far have also shown that Franz Wagner, who is only 20 years old, can play an important role. On his debut in the national team, the small forward from the Orlando Magic in Belgium was the best thrower right away, and the native of Berlin has also made a good impression in training so far. "I'm really in the mood," said Wagner at "Magentasport". The younger of the two Wagner brothers has a lot of confidence in the team. "The European title would mean an incredible amount for me, but also for the entire team. Also a lot for basketball Germany."
But there is still an extremely long way to go before then. "We still have a lot to do," said Herbert. First of all, the coach has to find his final squad. He still has two players to drop before the start of the European Championship against France on September 1st in Cologne. It is also still completely unclear how Nick Weiler-Babb, who was only recently naturalized, fits into the team. The FC Bayern Munich professional only joined on Thursday in Hamburg. "I'm happy to be part of the team," said Weiler-Babb, who recently returned to the United States for family reasons. It is unclear whether he will be used in the Supercup. Herbert still sticks to his big goals. "A medal," said the Canadian when asked what he was hoping for from the European Championship.
