DDennis Schröder does not want to say goodbye to Los Angeles with a playoff clap and also play for the Lakers in the coming NBA season. Less than an hour after the defending champion’s 100: 113 defeat against the Phoenix Suns and the 2: 4 out in the first round, the 27-year-old Braunschweig tried all speculations on Thursday evening (local time) about saying goodbye after just one year To wipe the table. Before he announced his participation in the national team’s Olympic qualification tournament at the end of June, he sent even clearer signals to the Lakers fans.
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“I’m going to work my ass to come back here and give it my all. We owe the fans more. I’ll work my ass off this summer, come back and be myself. I want to be here and win a championship, ”said Schröder.
When the hall spokesman asked for a final round of applause for the failed record champions, Schröder had snuck out of the field with his head hanging. After the shower, however, the national player radiated confidence again – for his personal future and that of the failed Lakers around the superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
What’s next with the Lakers?
“We’ll be back next year. Everyone will be healthy, this will be great, ”he predicted. After the mini-break following last season’s title and the additional stresses caused by the corona pandemic, the professionals from Los Angeles can take an unusually long breath and regenerate before the start of the coming season.
In particular, James and Davis, who have been injured for a long time this season, can use it well – Davis failed in his attempt to help avert the end despite an injury and had to abandon it in the first quarter. “Number one is we need to get AD healthy. We have to get my ankle ready. And then we start from there, ”said James.
Schröder could not have a decisive influence either, despite the 20 points after the catastrophic first half. Together with speculation before the game as a result of an alleged change to his Instagram profile, it seemed immediately after the game that he might have played in the Lakers jersey for the last time.
Finally, in the spring, he had reportedly turned down a four-year contract with a total volume of 84 million US dollars. However, Schröder already said what he was repeating: “This is my eighth season in the NBA. And once I wanted to make my own decision. Once.”
The Lakers are a great organization and he feels good. “At the end of the day, I want to be here and win a title. It wasn’t about the money. Sure, it’s supposed to be fair. But at the end of the day it’s not about the money. ”His reputation in the city has been damaged by hesitation, and there is little understanding of the Lakers. But if you are successful in the coming season, that is quickly forgotten.
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