Dennis Schröder has decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time. This time, the 29-year-old is trying his luck outside the United States and joining the Toronto Raptors.
An adventure that the German national player is looking forward to with great anticipation, as he emphasized at a press conference in Las Vegas as part of the Summer League.
According to Schröder, Toronto’s head coach Darko Rajakovic played a major role in his move to the Canadian province of Ontario. “On the day of free agency, he called me and said that he is now the head coach,” he described the contact with the Serb and added: “I know how he works. I already know him from OKC, he’s a great guy.” Rajakovic was an assistant coach at Oklahoma City Thunder when Schröder played there from 2018-2020.
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So the German knows that Rajakovic fits perfectly with his own take on the game. “He makes sure nobody lets it slip. No matter how hard it is, he tells you when you did something right or wrong. He’s very direct there and I like that because that’s how I operate as a player.”
In addition, the situation in Toronto was fine. The squad has a mix of “young players and some veterans,” which is why Schröder said the team was competitive.
Schröder dodges explosive question
In order to get the 2019 champion back on the road to success, who has missed the playoffs twice in recent years, Schröder wants to act as a team leader – and sees himself as a regular. “Of course I want to start. That’s one of my goals,” said the EM hero, who won bronze with Germany in 2022. He and the coach would have discussed that, emphasized the Braunschweiger. In the end, however, he will accept any role that the coach plans for him, he backtracked a bit.
The Raptors like to see that attitude on their team. “Dennis is fearless, creative and very ambitious,” said Raptors President Masai Ujiri, describing the new signing from the Lakers.
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Schröder meets “wrestling opponent” OG Anunoby
A short video with OG Anunobys shows that Schröder already feels comfortable with the Raptors. Schröder also met his new teammate in Las Vegas and immediately started joking. Surprising, considering the backstory the two have.
In April 2021, the German in the Lakers jersey triggered a pack formation after an action against Anunoby. After a foul on the layup, Schröder held Anunoby to avoid a fall. “I fouled him hard. There are no simple baskets for me. ”Nevertheless, he wanted to help him afterwards. However, he reacted with a wrestling move and threw Schröder on his back.
This led to a pack formation, in which Lakers professional Montrezl Harrell also got involved. The center was disqualified just like Anunoby in the end.
However, the scene does not seem to have any impact on the relationship between the two new teammates. A video on Schröder’s YouTube channel shows the two talking. When asked about the scene, Anunoby said with a grin that Schröder acted. Schröder also reacts with a laugh.
Schröder as a VanVleet replacement
The currently best German basketball player seems to have arrived in Toronto – and the Raptors managers have high expectations of the Germans. Except for his rookie season in 2013/14, Schröder has averaged over ten points per game in every season. He also contributed at least four assists.
With this, the Raptors hope to have found a suitable replacement for the departed Fred VanVleet. The Canadians will not be playing for the title after VanVleet’s departure and with a new head coach. But the team could take the next development step. And Schröder should play a role in this.
Schröder certainly does not lack self-confidence for this task.
2023-07-13 19:06:47
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