Can Schroder join elite club of EuroBasket and World Cup MVPs?

MUNICH (Germany) - Being named the Most Valuable Player of any competition is a major honor - even more so from such prestigious events as a FIBA Basketball World Cup or a FIBA EuroBasket. But winning MVPs of both signature competitions is quite rare, as only six players have accomplished this.

Dennis Schroder has a chance to add his name to the list of doing the MVP double this summer after being named in Germany's preliminary squad; having claimed the top individual accolade at the World Cup in 2023.

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Schroder etched his name in his country's history books in guiding Germany to the World Cup crown in 2023 - the nation's first ever global crown; averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 assists including 28 points in Germany's 83-77 win over Serbia in the Final to take home the TISSOT MVP honor.

The guard has also already been named to the All-Star Five of a EuroBasket, accomplishing that after tallying 22.1 points and 7.1 assists as Germany finished third in 2022.

But can the Germany captain once again lead Germany to the top of the podium and become just the seventh player to win the MVP award at both the World Cup and EuroBasket? We will find out this summer.

Here is a look at the six players who have taken home MVP at both events.

Pau Gasol

🎖️ MVP - FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 2009

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 2015

Pau Gasol holds a distinction of his own as the only player to win the World Cup MVP award as well as two EuroBasket MVPs. Gasol led Spain to the World Cup 2006 title with 21.3 points and 9.4 rebounds - the country's first global crown. Gasol helped the nation make history three summers later by collecting 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as Spain beat Serbia in the FIBA EuroBasket 2009 Final for their first continental championship. Gasol doubled up his EuroBasket MVP feat in 2015 with 25.6 points and 8.8 rebounds as Spain defeated Lithuania in the title game, in which the big man had 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Dirk Nowitzki

🎖️ MVP - FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 2005

Nowitzki is the only player on the list to win both MVP trophies without winning either of the competitions - showing just how outstanding his performances were. Germany managed their first-ever World Cup medal in 2002 as Nowitzki produced 24.0 points and 8.2 rebounds for the third-placed finishers. Three summers later, Nowitzki had 25.1 points and 11.0 rebounds in carrying Germany to second place at FIBA EuroBasket 2005 - the country's second EuroBasket podium finish following the 1993 title.

Toni Kukoc

🎖️ MVP - FIBA Basketball World Cup 1990

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 1991

Toni Kukoc helped carry Yugoslavia back to the top of the world in 1990 as the country beat Soviet Union 92-75 in the Final for their first title since 1978. Kukoc scored 14 points in the Final and averaged 16.5 points to win the MVP trophy. Just one year later, Kukoc was masterful in tallying 19.0 points a contest as Yugoslavia repeated their title from 1989, giving the versatile forward back-to-back MVP honors.

Drazen Petrovic

🎖️ MVP - FIBA Basketball World Cup 1986

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 1989

Drazen Petrovic became the third player to win both MVP trophies - and was the second who did so without his team winning both competitions. Petrovic wowed fans at the World Cup in 1986 with 25.2 points per game but his 29 points were not enough in the Semi-Finals in a 91-90 overtime loss to the Soviet Union. Yugoslavia ended up taking third place. Petrovic completed the MVP double at FIBA EuroBasket 1989, pouring in 29.8 points as Yugoslavia took down Greece in the Final for their first continental trophy since 1977.

Drazen Dalipagic

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 1977

🎖️ MVP - FIBA Basketball World Cup 1978

Drazen Dalipagic meanwhile claimed the MVP awards after winning both of the competitions. He tallied 19.4 points as Yugoslavia defeated Soviet Union in the FIBA EuroBasket 1977 Final for back-to-back continental titles. A summer later, Dalipagic poured in 21 points in the Final - an 82-81 overtime victory against Soviet Union - to finish a fantastic tourney. He led the way with 22.4 points per game to take home the MVP trophy from Manila.

Sergei Belov

🎖️ MVP - FIBA EuroBasket 1969

🎖️ MVP - FIBA Basketball World Cup 1970

Sergei Belov took home the first MVP trophy at the 1969 EuroBasket - the Soviet Union's seventh of eight straight continental crowns. At age 25, Belov scored 13.4 points per game for the winning country and then received the top individual honor. A summer later Belov averaged 11.1 points at the FIBA World Cup 1970 which was enough for him to win the MVP in Yugoslavia. The Soviet Union however could only grab third place.

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