Dennis Schröder is playing big in the NBA. After a strong start to the season, the Braunschweiger is putting up the numbers of a superstar. Even outside of his form peak, the constellation surrounding the point guard in Brooklyn is extremely exciting – and could catapult him into unimagined realms.
25 points and eight assists on average, plus a hit rate of over 40 percent behind the three-point line. Who in the National Basketball Association If you put up numbers like that, you’ve usually made it.
Normally, astronomical millions of salaries and All-Star nominations await, but even when it comes to millions of dollars in NBA-sized salaries, Schröder has so far been denied both.
Different worlds
As captain, Schröder is the absolute leader and top performer for the German national team. But in the NBA the circumstances are simply different compared to European leagues or national teams.
Schröder is captain of the German national team.
In the North American League, the 450 best basketball players in the world play for the 30 franchises in the East and West. Anyone who wins titles, captain’s armbands and MVP awards in Europe can still find themselves on the bench in the NBA with a good 15 minutes of rotation.
Schröder has never played an insignificant supporting role in the NBA, but he hasn’t had enough for a major leading role in his career so far. However, for various reasons this could now change, at least temporarily.
Optimal conditions
After various one-year stops, he plays Guard now for them Brooklyn Nets. They have given up all of their previous leading players and are now focusing on rebuilding their sport thanks to a good position in the draft. Within reason, it is now a matter of losing if possible.
Last season, Schröder was traded from Toronto to Brooklyn.
Simply put, in the NBA, the worse a team performs, the sooner it can select the greatest basketball talents in the next draft. This is exactly where Schröder’s chance lies. The German is actually not the ideal player for a first or second option in the NBA, but in Brooklyn, which is preparing to end the season within a reasonable framework, he is given all the freedom.
Schröder as a leader
In the NBA, for the first time, you have the chance to show your qualities first. As with the national team, Schröder is his team’s go-to guy, i.e. the player with the most goals. This is currently reflected in a good 25 points and a good eight assists per game – an outstanding value.
His three-pointers, which have been relatively shaky so far in his career at 34.5%, are also above average. Nevertheless, it is possible or even likely that this will level off downwards over the course of the season. But the Braunschweiger doesn’t need to worry about that.
Dennis Schröder with the basketball in his hand in the jersey of his NBA team Brooklyn Nets.
A ticket for the train to the basket
Even at 31, Schröder has one of the quickest first steps in the league. In New York, the speed specialist is given enough freedom to move to the basket more often and exploit this advantage.
For several reasons, the situation is optimal for Schröder despite the losing-is-key motto. The veteran is entering his twelfth NBA season and is in the final year of his contract.
Schröder has to recommend himself for his last big contract in the league. There can hardly be a better situation than doing this in Brooklyn under the spotlight of a number one option.
Schröder is already playing in his twelfth NBA season.
In addition, paradoxically, despite or perhaps because of Schröder’s fabulous performances, the Nets are unlikely to be interested in keeping him longer. If he continues to play at a similar level, his market value will rise to dizzying heights. With his skills, a player like the German captain is particularly interesting for teams with serious title ambitions.
The really big hit?
Million-dollar salaries, All-Star nominations, all of this is getting a little closer for Dennis Schröder, but everything is likely to be different for the world champion. If he continues to perform at this level and is traded, it is entirely possible that Schröder will have more than one eye on the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
