Schroder on Germany’s World Cup conquest: “It’s unbelievable”

Dennis Schroder could not wrap his head around the fact that Germany is finally a champion in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he's also adjudged as the tournament MVP.

“It's unbelievable,” said Schroeder following Germany's first-ever World Cup conquest through an 83-77 final win over Serbia on Sunday, September 10.

“[We had] an unbelievable group. We started in July, end of July being together. Coach [Gordie Herbert] did a great job of bringing us together and knowing their roles.”

In a solid performance, Schroder shot 9-of-17 for 28 points including the last five down the stretch capped by two clutch free throws that sealed the win for the Germans before 12,022 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Germany’s Dennis Schroder dunks the ball during the FIBA Basketball World Cup final game between Germany and Serbia in Manila on September 10, 2023. AFP PHOTO

The Toronto Raptors guard, who also logged two rebounds and two assists, stressed that it was a total team effort from the German team which swept its way to the gold medal, winning all eight matches including hard-earned wins against Latvia and USA in the quarters and semifinals, respectively.

“Everybody just brought their best to be successful. I think being 8-0 in the group where we had big time teams go to the next stage, playing Slovenia and Georgia, and then going to the KO stage,” said the 6-foot-1 Schroder.

“It's just unbelievable going 8-0 and winning the gold medal. That's a blessing to share that with all the people in the locker room, my family who came all the way from Germany, my kids, my wife. It's unbelievable, man.”

With the Germans' historic basketball conquest, the 29-year-old Schroder hopes that their efforts should get more respect and recognition and by that he means, more TV airtime of their games in their country.

“When we first started the tournament, I couldn't be on TV because only the final was on German TV. Basketball is such a great sport. I wish we would get our respect in… or European Championship, or next year in the Olympics in Paris, I wish that every single game is on TV,” said Schroder.

“We see the steps. Ten years ago, when I first started, basketball wasn't…of course we had Dirk Nowitzki, but other than that, people didn't know who people were on the teams. But now, we go to the Philippines or Okinawa and everybody knows our team. In Germany as well, people are starting to recognize what we've worked for our country and representing it. We just want our respect as well.”