At Split airport, it scattered the heroes to the wind. It went in the direction of Berlin, Frankfurt or Munich – after grueling weeks and a night of partying, the German basketball players got a few days off. Soon they’ll be back in the waiting room, and then it’s off to the Olympics in Tokyo. Behind an oversized plane ticket to Japan, the team was photographed in the cabin of the Spaladium Arena after winning the final at the qualifying tournament. Right in the middle: Dennis Schröder, who was unable to accrue due to excessively high insurance costs and will also be absent in Tokyo. “You have put all your heart and soul into it, I’m proud of you,” said the NBA professional who is currently without a contract.
For the first time since Beijing 2008 there is again a DBB selection at summer games. At that time the leader was called Dirk Nowitzki, this time there is none. The team was successful as a collective after many rejections and failures. In addition to Schröder, Maximilian Kleber, Daniel Theis, Isaiah Hartenstein and Paul Zipser could not be there. “In the end, it was the team spirit that made the difference,” said Henrik Rödl. After the success in the final for the Olympic ticket over Brazil (75:64), the national coach was extremely proud and cried unrestrainedly. “It’s a great development, the summer was a lot of fun and it’s going on.”
Unimagined quality
Rödl was a player in Barcelona in 1992 and is now returning. “It was my absolute dream to be able to drive to the Olympics again as a coach,” said the 52-year-old. Germany is at the start for the sixth time. After the disappointing 2019 World Cup in China, where the team in 18th place still missed the direct ticket to Tokyo, Rödl was able to tease out the potential of the players this time. Without Schröder, the team showed qualities that were also missing. Again and again someone else stood out, “Next-Man-Up-Mentality” was the name of Moritz Wagner, who was top scorer with 28 points on Sunday evening and was also recognized as the most valuable player in the tournament. In the second and final group game against Russia, captain Robin Benzing kept the team on course with very important blocks, Johannes Voigtmann made twelve points in the final quarter. Schröder substitute Maodo Lo turned up in the semifinals against Croatia with 29 points.
Would the team with Schröder, undisputedly the best German basketball player at the moment, perhaps never have come this far? The question cannot be answered, but it does arise. Without it, the game is more variable and less predictable. Everyone can be the center of attention, a one-man show is excluded. Rödl takes the twelve players who won the grand prize in Split with him to Tokyo. Schröder is not there, not even as a noble fan, no foreign visitors are allowed. Australia, Italy and Nigeria are waiting in the preliminary round – the collective can also stir up dust at the Olympics
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