Fresh from securing world championship status and spearheading his nation halfway across the globe with Germany, new Toronto Raptors guard Dennis Schroder will look to continue in the same vein once the 2023-24 NBA season begins on October 24. Reunited again alongside old faces and with different expectations, the FIBA World Cup MVP’s trajectory is one to keep an eye on.
Schroder set for a big splash in Toronto?
Finishing in style with a 28-point display in their final victory over Serbia, Dennis Schroder averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game as the Germany captain led by example – as advertised – to FIBA World Cup glory.
He’s since spoken about departing Los Angeles this offseason and the pressure cooker which accompanies wearing the Lakers jersey, as impending first-year head coach Darko Rajakovic played a significant role in luring him to Toronto.
The 44-year-old, who spent five years as the Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach (2014-19), quickly built up a strong rapport with Schroder as his player development skills haven’t gone unnoticed. Nick Nurse’s successor can now mould his own core.
Offered a bigger role with the Raptors as they look to fill the void left by Fred VanVleet’s three-year, $130m deal to join Houston this offseason, Schroder is far more mature now than he was when still finding his feet in the league with Atlanta.
Over the course of five seasons, the point guard put the wheels in motion as a potential key piece on a title-contending team. Joining the Russell Westbrook-Paul George tandem in Oklahoma taught him patience, among better players.
After all, he averaged 19.4 points, 6.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds on 43.6 FG% and a lowly 29% on three-point makes during his final year in Atlanta, but was their number one scoring option and hasn’t been in any of his four stops since.
While offensive consistency has often been an issue, experiences across multiple environments will have sharpened his focus and presented room for growth.
Who said what?
Serbian shooting guard Aleksa Avramovic, who helped his country to a FIBA World Cup silver medal finish this past month, was complimentary of the champions:
“We watched them [Germany] and knew they are the best team in the championship – they’ve been together for a long time, work great, have a leader in Schroder, are full of NBA talent playing in the national team together every year and this is the crowning glory of their career.
Schroder on the impact of their collective success, and especially for him individually, helping provide increased attention to the sport in Germany:
“I hope that basketball becomes more attractive, that more attention will be given to German basketball.
I’ve been playing ten years, and there’s already a huge difference from then to now. I’m glad to have been a part of it, put Germany on the basketball map – we’ll try to help young players to grow, just as others did for me when I started.”
On the topic of German basketball…
14-year veteran and 2019 NBA champion Serge Ibaka has agreed terms on a one-year contract with German Cup winners Bayern Munich as their domestic season gets underway on Sept. 29. The big man, who celebrates his 34th birthday today, said:
“It’s a privilege for me to be able to join this historic, world-famous sports club so the basketball team can also reach the top European level.
I’ve had a long NBA career, but approaching this new chapter with a lot of enthusiasm – still have a lot of fire in me and love for the game.”
What’s next? Looking to the future
Having signed a two-year, $26m deal in Toronto, Schroder will be one of their leaders straight from the off. Who expected that would be the case just a few months back?
Their two-time All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam is still attracting Atlanta’s attention, while small forward OG Anunoby and sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr never seem far from trade talks after steady seasons respectively last term.
Scottie Barnes (22) hasn’t taken the leap of him expected just yet after winning Rookie of the Year honours in 2021-22, while their Jakob Poeltl midseason acquisition set up a shrewd reunion but an unspectacular move for a franchise uncomfortably stuck between two timelines: seriously contend, or opting for a fresh rebuild.
Highly-rated forward/guard Gradey Dick, drafted #13 out of Kansas could go some way to deciding how quickly they want to progress under new management, as the 19-year-old’s Summer League performances set tongues wagging in July.
We’ll have to wait and see, but Schroder’s presence on both sides of the ball – especially if he hits a shooting slump – and translating that national team leadership to the NBA on a wider scale could determine how successful they manage to be.
Picture source: Getty Images
Mo and Sports 