As of: September 11, 2023 11:19 a.m
Despite a world championship title and millions in salaries in the North American professional league NBA: Basketball star and national team captain Dennis Schröder has not forgotten his Lower Saxony roots.
The hall in Braunschweig shook. The Lions’ planned test game was postponed without further ado and public viewing was announced: In faraway Manila, the Braunschweig connection Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis wrote German basketball history with the World Cup title and 3,000 fans turned the arena into a madhouse. Right in the middle: Fatou Schröder – the mother of the captain of the German national team, who was named the tournament’s most valuable player at the World Cup.
Schröder dedicates World Cup success to his “Mummy”
Fatou Schröder, Dennis Schröder’s mother.
“I can’t take it anymore… That was really nice. Today is my birthday, there couldn’t be a better gift,” said the Gambian-born woman, who was wearing a national jersey with her son’s number “17” on the back.
He finally decided the game with a single action a few seconds before the end and dedicated the success to his mother. He sent greetings to his German homeland via Instagram: “I remember when I first came to the league, Mummy didn’t know anything about basketball. Now she’s a pro/expert. I love you,” wrote the 29-year-old from Braunschweig.
National coach Herbert: “I have huge respect for him”
Schröder even beat superstar Dirk Nowitzki with the World Cup title. “Of course: Dirk is one of the best foursome of all time, he has changed the game of basketball. I have huge respect for him. But to surpass that is a great achievement. For every single player,” said Schröder, who last year basketball player to bronze at the home European Championships. Nowitzki’s teams won World Cup bronze in 2002 and European Championship silver in 2005.
“Dirk was then, Dennis is now. Dennis has taken over.”
National coach Gordon Herbert
National coach Gordon Herbert also highlighted his captain’s achievements. “Dennis has created his own identity. He has won a World Cup. It’s time we give him 100 percent respect,” said the Canadian. “Dirk was then, Dennis is now. Dennis has taken over.”
Reckoning with the critics
Schröder, who once threw his first baskets with his friend Theis at SG Braunschweig, is the head of the German national team. But he takes it back: “The team is incredible, we enjoy every moment, every day, every training session, every game. We compete at the highest level. But we wouldn’t have achieved this if we weren’t a team.”
Schröder: “I build up a lot of motivation with haters”
At the press conference after the 83:77 final victory over Serbia, the German playmaker also settled accounts with his critics: “In the end, I want my respect, the coach wants his and my teammates want their respect,” said the NBA professional from the Toronto Raptors. “For everyone who has supported me over the years: I kiss their hearts, of course. But: everyone else, they can still stay away.”
At the start of the BBL league in Braunschweig
Although Schröder has become a million-dollar star, he presents himself as down-to-earth and a family man. He is completely normal “like everyone else,” explained the 29-year-old, who has been married to his childhood sweetheart Ellen Ziolo since 2019 and has three children: “I’m just happy that I decided to pursue family life. That “It’s very good for me as a person. My children have awakened a lot in me that I didn’t have before. My wife as well.”
“That was a great achievement that will also be good for basketball in Germany and in our city.”
Braunschweig’s mayor Thorsten Kornblum
Schröder has not forgotten his Braunschweig roots either. On Friday he will be visiting his hometown and will sign his name in the city’s Golden Book. He won’t miss the Bundesliga start of “his” Lions against Baskets Oldenburg on September 29th and will be in the hall. Of course with family and mom Fatou.
Further information
World champion and MVP: The Braunschweig native is celebrating the greatest success of his career. more
After the sensational victory against the USA, Germany’s basketball players and the North German natives Dennis Schröder and Daniel Theis are playing for gold. more
This topic in the program:
Hello Lower Saxony | Sep 10, 2023 | 19:30 o’clock
2023-09-11 09:20:03
#Braunschweigs #basketball #star #Schröder #world #champion #family #man #NDR.de #Sports
