The German national basketball team is losing the architect of its World Cup triumph: Gordon Herbert will leave the German Basketball Federation (DBB) after the Olympic Games. The DBB confirmed this on Wednesday. Herbert, who sensationally led the team around captain Dennis Schröder to the World Cup title in 2023, is leaving early. Herbert actually still had a contract until after the 2025 European Championships. According to the DBB, this will be terminated on August 31st.
Herbert took over the national team in the summer of 2021 and led them to bronze at the home European Championships in 2022 before the first World Cup title in the association’s history. His announced three-year plan ends with the Olympics in France. “The trip was the ultimate life moment for me,” said Herbert, thanking the players and the association for “an incredible experience and an honor.”
“We have great understanding that Gordie wants to devote himself to another task after the Olympic Games and we are not putting any obstacles in his way,” association president Ingo Weiss was quoted as saying. “Anyone who knows Gordie knows that he will throw himself into the preparation for the Olympic Games with full commitment and passion. It would be great if our time together could end with another exclamation point.”
According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, a commitment to the Rostock Seawolves in the Bundesliga could now follow. The club is said to be showing great interest and has just parted ways with previous coach Christian Held this week.
After the World Cup coup last year, there were many job offers for Herbert. The French Euroleague club Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne was already interested in him last fall. The world champion maker was interested, but no agreement was reached. “The DBB did not support the idea. I accept that. “I would never do this without the approval and support of the association,” Herbert said at the time. According to another report, the Japanese association also wanted to sign Herbert on a long-term basis, and signing him as an assistant coach in the NBA was already an issue.
