Germany's Kleber: ''I want to be part of this team for plenty more years''

HAGEN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Maxi Kleber sees a very bright future for Germany's national team, one he recently helped beat Austria and Serbia to complete a perfect First Round in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers. 

Unable to feature for his country since the qualifying campaign for FIBA EuroBasket 2015, Kleber ended his absence in style during the third window. After a 4-point, 6-rebound effort in an 85-63 triumph over the Austrians in Braunschweig on June 29, Kleber had 16 points, 7 rebounds and a block in an 88-81 win over Serbia in Novi Sad on July 2.

"The last two games weren’t easy, but we fought hard and we had two great games to be in the best dynamic for the next round," Kleber said to FIBA.basketball.

"The team is happy that we have these six wins. We still have to work on a couple of aspects of our game to reach our full potential and we will have some guys back in September, like Daniel Theis for example, but we are in a confident dynamic, so things are great."

Theis was in the midst of a strong rookie campaign with the Boston Celtics but got hurt late in the season and was not fully fit for the two games.

"I WANT TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM FOR PLENTY MORE YEARS, AND HELP THE TEAM REACH A VERY COMPETITIVE LEVEL. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT GOAL FOR ME."- Kleber

Kleber highlighted the positives of both performances.

"The game against Austria was very good for us on a defensive level," he said. "We have to and we can win every next home game. The game in Serbia was a great test because there aren’t a lot of teams that are capable of winning there. We did show what we are capable of, and we were very happy at the end of the game by getting this one in Serbia."

As for his involvement, Kleber smiled and said: "It felt very good, very good. I always like to wear the national team jersey and to represent my country, and I'm happy to be back with the guys. It’s a thing of pride to represent your country and we have a great group of guys, from the team to the staff, and I am happy to be part of it and to help Germany.

"I want to be part of this team for plenty more years, and help the team reach a very competitive level. That is a very important goal for me. My goal during those two games was to help the guys and defend hard, and I am happy with what I have done when I was on the court. I am looking forward for the next games to come."

Kleber went up against giant Serbian center Boban Marjanovic in Novi Sad

In the Second Round, Germany will play in Group L against Greece, Israel and Estonia. Serbia and Georgia also advanced to the same pool.

Since wins and losses carry over from the First Round, the Germans and Greeks are at the top of Group L with 6-0 records with Serbia third at 4-2. Israel are fourth at 3-3 while Georgia and Estonia are both 2-4. 

"It’s a very competitive group," Kleber said. "The games are going to be very intense and interesting. We have to take one game at a time, and try to reach a spot for the next World Cup as soon as possible. Serbia and Greece are very competitive teams and have a lot of players that are in the top teams in Europe and in the NBA, but we also have to play at our best level against Estonia, Israel and Georgia. Everybody can make it to the World Cup, and it is going to be great battles between every team during this second round."

“GERMAN BASKETBALL HAS A LOT OF POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE THINGS TO BUILD ON FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. I AM EXCITED FOR THE YEARS TO COME AND I WANT TO BE PART OF THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL TEAM.”- Kleber

The top three sides in each of the four Second Round European Qualifiers groups will advance to next year's 32-team World Cup in China.

Kleber says the performances in the First Round have underlined how well basketball is doing in Germany.

"The work done by the federation and also by the teams in our domestic leagues has been great in the last couple of years," he said. "We have very competitive national teams at every level now, both at youth and senior level. We have a bright future, and plenty of guys that are knocking on the national team door.

"We have a great roster, plenty of great players and seeing guys like Louis Olinde, Moe Wagner coming up is very good for the national team and also for German basketball. The youth in Germany have more and more players that can inspire them and they can try to follow their paths.

"German basketball has a lot of positive and constructive things to build on for the next couple of years. I am excited for the years to come and I want to be part of the present and the future of the national team."

That includes being in China next year.

"The journey to qualify is still long," Kleber said, "but we've been doing a great job so far to deserve our spot."

FIBA