Those words stuck. Maximilian Kleber drew far-reaching consequences after the strong criticism from national team captain Dennis Schröder and canceled his participation in the basketball world championship. The spat between the two NBA professionals came at the wrong time for the German Basketball Association (DBB) around two weeks before the start of preparation.
“However, the recent unfortunate and inappropriate public statements about me have made it 100 percent clear that I am not unreservedly welcome in the national team,” Kleber was quoted as saying in a statement by the specialist magazine BIG and the newspaper “Main-Post”.
Schröder: “No offense meant”
Schröder had criticized the weekend in the “Got Nexxt” podcast that Kleber was missing from the home European Championship last year because he allegedly wanted to work on his “game”. The forward did not get involved as requested by the DBB and should not take anyone’s place. Schröder later accused the media of “twisting things up” and that his statements were “not meant to be malicious”.
Kleber obviously saw things differently. It is not his goal to “destroy the good chemistry in the team from last summer. I also don’t want to become a source of distraction,” said the 31-year-old from the Dallas Mavericks – and drew conclusions: “That’s why I decided that it’s best for everyone involved if I don’t play.” As a reason for his cancellation last year indicated Kleber’s knee problems. “Last summer’s (very tough) decision not to play was due to an injury I had played with for the last four months of the NBA 21-22 season. I needed a full recovery and rest,” Kleber said. If he had been healthy, he would have been happy and proud to have played for the national team.
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National coach Gordon Herbert had nominated Kleber in his squad of 18 for the World Cup preparations beginning on July 31. This will be reduced to twelve players before the tournament in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines (25 August to 10 September). Schröder will lead the DBB team onto the floor as captain, in the preliminary round the team will face hosts Japan, Australia and Finland in Okinawa. For a direct ticket for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the German selection would have to be one of the two best European teams. At the 2022 European Championship, the national team sensationally won bronze under Schröder’s leadership.
Kleber will “cheer on and support the team as a fan,” added the Würzburg native, who is still under contract in Dallas until 2026.
2023-07-19 06:19:00
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