THE newly crowned German basketball team is craving for more respect back home.
“The team is unbelievable. We compete to the highest. I wish we will get our respect for what we have been doing through the years,” said Dennis Schroeder after Germany plucked its first World Cup trophy at the expense of Serbia on Sunday night.
Schroeder, who emerged as World Cup MVP, lamented that German TV back home have committed only to cover the World Cup final.
That meant people back home didn’t have the benefit of watching their team live in action during its stints in the group stages in Okinawa up to the semifinals at the Mall of Asia.
“Only the final was on German TV. Basketball is such a great sport. I wish every single game is on TV especially next year when we compete in the European Championship and the Olympics.
Schroder was just amazed at how fans in Okinawa, Japan, and the Philippines have appreciated their efforts.
“Everybody knows our team. But now, there are steps. Germany starts recognizing our team.”
Germany coach Gordie Herbert revealed how no less than the highest official of Germany had expressed support for the team in its finest moment.
“I woke up and got a message from Chancellor (Olaf) Scholz. It was in German, but it was pretty neat. It just showed how Germany noticed. I couldn’t believe it,” said the Finnish-Canadian mentor, whose coaching contract was extended by the German Basketball Federation up to the year 2025.
“From now on, they recognize what kind of team we have, what kind of team that represents Germany,” he said.
Germany has some of the best players in the world and a testament to that was their flawless, 8-0 winning run in its 32-team odyssey, capped by the resounding finals’ victory over Serbia to become only the seventh country to win the FIBA World Cup.
Schroder capped his historical run at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 by taking home the TISSOT Most Valuable Player award after guiding Germany to their first-ever title.
He tallied 28 points in Germany’s 83-77 win over Serbia to cap his two-weeklong excellence and bag the tournament’s MVP award.
The German team captain scored at least 14 points for the seventh time in eight games.
For the tournament, he averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, highlighted by a 30-point, 8-assist performance against Australia, and 24 points and 10 assists versus Slovenia.
Germany’s other side of superstardom, Franz Wagner, was included in the All-second team. He emerged as the Player of the Game in the finals with 19 points. He averaged 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game after recovering from an ankle injury in the middle of the tourney.