BERLIN (Germany) - Basketball teams tend to take on the personality of their captain, following the example of their leader. Since the Tokyo Olympics, Germany have undergone a change with Dennis Schroder now filling that role at FIBA EuroBasket 2022. This is not the Schroder many may think, however, as he himself has gone though changes.

After years of Robin Benzing bearing the "C"  next to his name, new head coach Gordie Herbert has given the reins to his playmaker. And the German team has responded very positively to Schroder's captaincy.

 
"Dennis is our main leader. He is the main cog in our game - both offensively and defensively. Dennis has become more experienced over the years, and you can tell that in this tournament how he has played. How he remains under control - to attack in the right moment, to take over in the right moment, to make plays on defense in the right moment. He does that so well," said Maodo Lo, who has flourished playing as Germany's second primary ball-handler and also lining up alongside him in many moments.

"Dennis is one of the best point guards in Europe, around the world. You can see that in this tournament. He leads us to wins. It's fun to play with him. Basketball Germany can really be happy to have Dennis Schroder."

Franz Wagner came to EuroBasket as a rookie in major tournaments, having only played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers for the senior national team. He had, however, observed Schroder from afar, playing the 2021-22 season in the NBA as well.

"I think what's cool about him is that he is very, very honest; very straightforward in his communication. And he wants everybody else to do the same. He doesn't ask for anything that he doesn't do himself," Wagner said. "I think his commitment, his loyalty to the national team speaks for itself, and it gives other guys extra motivation to come and do the same."

Schroder has lived up to his "Dennis the Menace" nickname in terms of playing tough defense. He also has remained a regular scoring threat, pouring in 19.0 points per game - though he has struggled from the outside at just 22.2 percent on three-pointers. Schroder has also however controlled Germany's attack with more maturity, finding teammates for 7.0 assists compared to 2.8 assists, a very respectable 2.5 assists-to-turnover ratio.

"DENNIS IS ONE OF THE BEST POINT GUARDS IN EUROPE, AROUND THE WORLD."

"As a leader, you have to impact the game on many levels. Impacting it on both sides of the floor, helping the guys, giving advice. And it's even more when you are a point guard," said Schroder, who debuted with the senior national team in 2014 in the Qualifers for EuroBasket 2015. "I have experience and I have been playing with the national team for some years now, and I know my role, what I have to do and what guys expect from me."

Schroder would not be Schroder though if there wasn't the eccentric side.

His assist-to-turnover ratio could be even better if he didn't try the flashy passes that still creep into his game from time to time - trying to play to the crowds. Schroder also still enjoys showing off his fashion tastes and the 28-year-old sports an orange lightning bolt dyed into his hair.

Schroder off the court has matured as well. The married father of two owns his former club Basketball Lowen Braunschweig, has the Golden Patch Management group for entertainment, sports and marketing business and had his own line of hip-hop and athletic men's clothing and accessories under the Flex Gang label.

Schroder values greatly being able to play at EuroBasket 2022, especially after he missed the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2020 in Croatia due to insurance issues.

"Last summer is the past, I am now focused on the present and the future, that is the most important," said Schroder, who was in Split for the OQT, where Germany surprisingly booked a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics. "I am always 110 percent motivated and happy to be playing with the national team, and always eager to put the national team jersey and battle to win with the guys."

Battling is a good word to describe Schroder, according to teammate Daniel Theis.

"He always wants to win. He always want to compete. He goes 110 percent at every practice. For him there are no shortcuts. For all of us, it's just take the same intensity in practice and games and then just follow his lead," said Theis, who grew up with Schroder as a native of Salzgitter near Braunschweig.

 
"Everybody has to help him on the court. We can't just stay in the corner, stay on the wing or lean back and say yeah Dennis got it. We all have to play as a team and support him and make it easy for him. And he will make it easy for us on the court."

Just follow Dennis the hard-working, honest and maturing leader and good things will happen - as Germany are finding out at EuroBasket 2022.

FIBA