NEW YORK (USA) - When Germany coach Gordon Herbert made the super talented Dennis Schroder captain of the national team before FIBA EuroBasket 2022, the ground shook all over Deutschland.
Was putting a guard deemed by some to be a polarizing figure in the national team setup really a good idea? Was it going to work?
Many weren't convinced. The rub was, for some, that Schroder cared more about himself than the team. Others saw Schroder as the leader Germany needed if they were going to achieve greatness.
Herbert's move was a master stroke.
Schroder not only excelled with his own production, his scoring, assists and defense. Germany excelled. There was no division in the team, no dissension. Everyone went in the same direction, led by Schroder.
The reward was not just a third place finish in Berlin at FIBA EuroBasket 2022, but a FIBA Basketball World Cup triumph in 2023 and a fourth-place finish at the Olympics in France.
In all likelihood, Germany's rise to international elite would not have happened had Herbert not made Schroder captain.
Now, in the NBA, Schroder is playing like he's Germany captain.
In his first full season with the team after being traded to Brooklyn last season, Schroder is averaging 22.5 points and 8.3 assists per game.
Brooklyn are very excited to have the German in their team.
The Nets are 2-3, yet one loss was on opening day to Atlanta was by just four points, and another, against Western conference juggernauts Denver, was suffered in overtime.
On Wednesday night, Schroder took over, scoring 33 points to lead the Nets past the Memphis Grizzlies, 119-106.
"At one point, he said, 'Just give me the ball. I’ll take care of this.' ... He's a leader." - Nets coach Jordi Fernandez
Nets coach Jordi Fernandez, who coached Canada to third place at the World Cup and to the Quarter-Finals at the Olympics, said of Schroder: "At one point, he said, 'Just give me the ball. I’ll take care of this.' And that's what he does. He's a leader.
"He puts everybody in place. If he has to score, he scores. And he finished the game. So it's really, really, really good to have him on the court."
Herbert's decision to make Schroder captain paid off for Germany. It may end up paying off for the Nets, too.
FIBA