The German basketball players are now preparing for the Olympic semi-finals. Image: imago images / camera4+
Olympia 2024
After the success of the 3×3 players on Monday, basketball legend Dirk Nowitzki was able to celebrate with the DBB men the following day. For the very first time in the history of German basketball, the team reached the semifinals of the Olympic Games.
After a tough first quarter, Gordon Herbert’s team was able to defeat the Greeks with a solid 76:63. “Even when things aren’t going well, you have to come together,” said national player Moritz Wagner in his usual flippant manner after the game.
During the game, however, the 27-year-old chose a much more violent form of communication – and it was directed directly against one of the opposing players.
Olympia 2024: Moritz Wagner attacks opponents
Wagner has long been considered an absolute top star of the German basketball scene and has been playing in the NBA since 2021. His height of 2.11 meters ensures him strong moments again and again and he also helped lead the German national team to the world championship title.
As is often the case in basketball, height was also an issue in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Specifically, it was about the “greatness” of the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was violently attacked by Wagner on Tuesday. Image: imago images / Mickael Chavet
The two players are also opponents in the NBA in the USA: Antetokounmpo plays for the Milwaukee Bucks, Wagner for the Orlando Magic. In the quarter-final match at the Olympics, the two also engaged in some aggressive duels.
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In the third quarter, the German defender was once again able to actively block his opponent and was no longer able to hide his emotions. With his arm outstretched, he made the so-called “too small” gesture, which always causes a sensation in basketball.
In the NBA, the gesture has always been seen as an affront to a defender who a player considers “too small” to stop on the way. Even the players themselves cannot trace back where the swipe was first used. However, it can be seen regularly at NBA games.
DBB star jokes about teammate’s size – wrongly
It is not uncommon for the “too small” gesture to be less about the actual size of the opponent and more about the size of one’s own ego. Because even in the case described, the size comparison is not correct at all: the Greek, at 2.13 meters, is actually two centimeters taller than the German.
Accordingly, the gesture on Tuesday is more likely to represent the new-found self-confidence of the German basketball players. For the very first time in Olympic history, the team was able to qualify for the semi-finals.
However, the gesture caused a stir on social media. Already during the game, tweets about the scene were gathering on X, some fearing possible arrogance from the German basketball player and a defeat in the last quarter. To the delight of DBB fans, this did not happen, but the tweets did not stop at first.
It is not yet clear who the German basketball players will face in the semifinals on Thursday – the winner will be determined by the game between Canada and France. What is clear is that Moritz Wagner will face “colleagues” from the NBA among all potential opponents, who may challenge his ego again.
Malaika Mihambo is considered one of the most outstanding athletes of her generation. The German long jumper has secured a firm place among the world elite through her impressive performances and mental strength.
2024-08-06 15:12:12
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