The medal mission at the Eurobasket 2025 begins on Wednesday with the game against Montenegro (from 3:30 p.m. in the live ticker) for the German national basketball team.
As the third in the past European Championship and world champion in 2023, the team of the new national coach Alex Mumbrú is also one of the favorites in the upcoming title fights.
The 65-time international per Günther even trusts the DBB team the very big hit. The Germans also had to win the stuff against his top favorite Serbia, “to take home,” said the 37-year-old, who is in use at the European Championship as an expert in Magenta Sport , to Sport1 .
In the interview, the long-time Point Guard from Ratiopharm Ulm also talks about Franz Wagner, the basketball hype in Germany and a explosive statement by Dennis Schröder.
Sport1: Mr. Günther, we get in with the question that moves the German basketball fans. What is the DBB team at the European Championship?
Per Günther: You can definitely trust you. For me, they don’t necessarily go into the race as a top favorite. As everyone knows, this is Serbia. But there is no doubt that the Germans have everything to beat the Serbs in a possible semi -finals or finals and take them home with them.
Sport1: The team was also very confident and spoke openly of the desire to win gold. Would anything but a medal be a disappointment?
Günther: Of course, the context would also decide. If you have a hard lot in the semi -finals and you play against the French who have a great day. There are scenarios where you go home and played a good tournament. One or two things were missing and you don’t have a medal. But basically the following applies: If you simulate this tournament ten times, Germany gets a medal eight or nine times.
Günther: “We currently have absolute wealth”
Sport1: Who is the toughest competitors for you except Serbia, and which player are you most happy about?
Günther: Of course there are four or five nations against which you can also lose a do-or-the game. First of all, there is France, but also Turkey or Spain. Even if you have one or the other question mark, it is teams who have absolute world stars with you. We are now in the great situation that the best players in the world come from Europe. Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Greeks is one of the five best players in the world. Nikola Jokic from the Serbs is undisputed the best player in the world. Luka Doncic is still a player who is incredibly fun, even if Slovenia doesn’t seem to work at the moment. We currently have absolute wealth in the Eurobasket format.
Sport1: How important is it that Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner always stands at least one leader on the field? You had asked for this after the defeat against Serbia.
Günther: This is a question of philosophy. I am a big fan that there are not many time windows at such a Fiba tournament that are designed without one of the two stars. The trainer now seems to be convinced of this. He adjusted it. The minutes without one of the two have become fewer and fewer. It started at 13, 14 minutes. That surprised me very much. In the last test game it was only 1:30 minutes. It seems that the national coach and I are no longer so far apart.
Sport1: Franz Wagner is indispensable for the DBB team, but also carried his weakness in the threesome through the preparation. Could that be a problem for the team in the tournament?
Günther: Not for me. If you discuss the threesome of Franz Wagner, one speaks of Achilles and not that it is invulnerable to 99 percent of its body area. The Nice to have for the Germans. When Franz has his threesome with it, it is really invulnerable. But he can still spread the game and attracts attention without end. He comes to his free throws, he comes to his basket. We are happy when he hits a threesome. But I don’t think it will be crucial for the course of the tournament.
Sport1: From a German perspective, who could become a X factor that not everyone currently has on the piece – as it was at the World Cup Andi fruit?
Günther: Only a new face could really break out. That would be Tristan da Silva for me. He has so many qualities and the stuff to get into such an existing construct – through his calm, through his throw, through his coolness in the field.
Sport1: You were a national player yourself. How much is the current basketball hype in Germany?
Günther: It’s great to keep it in mind. The bronze medal at the Eurobasket 2022 was almost a sensation and now I say that 90 percent goes home with a medal. There are only three years in between. What happens there is an absolute explosion. There is also an incredible amount. Ideally, we ride this basketball wave in Germany over the next ten or 15 years. These are fantastic views.
Günther: “Schröder has become a German sports hero”
Sport1: Dennis Schröder has contributed significantly to this hype. The captain obviously does not feel valued enough in Germany. A week ago he had spoken in the star with the statement that he was not loved in Germany due to his skin color as Dirk Nowitzki. How do you assess this statement?
Günther: If you only look at this statement briefly, you think that a bit of apples are compared with pears. Nowitzki played for 21 years in the NBA and has always been the German flagship talent. He had no scandals, is an incredibly great man. We loved him. So is perception. As far as the NBA careers are concerned, the difference cannot be more extreme. Nowitzki has been with the same club for 21 years-and Dennis is now at the tenth NBA association. But if you take a closer look, you can see what Dennis has done for the basketball town of Braunschweig and for the German national team. He is always committed, always plays. We have to warn to realize what incredible things he created for German basketball. Second, in my opinion, he only wanted to compare the Nowitzki flag bearer with the Schlagenröder Schröder. My first reaction was also, that is not due to the skin color, but because of the basketball class. But that’s too easy. The truth is also that there are comment columns where you have to read something cruel. That is also part of it. The last thing I will do is to tell someone with dark skin how something feels. Just through what he did at the 2023 World Cup, he became a German sports hero. I hope he feels that too.
The Medal Mission for the German National Basketball Team at Eurobasket 2025 Begins on Wednesday with the game Against Montenegro (from 3:30 PM in the live ticker).
As Third in the Last European Championship and World Champion in 2023, The Team of the New National Coach Alex Mumbrú is one of the favorites in the upcoming title fights.
The 65-Time National Player Per Günther Even Believes that the DBB Team is Capable of a Major Coup. Even Against His Top Favorite Serbia, The Germans would have what it takes to win “And Take Gold Home with Them,” Said the 37-Year-Old, Who is Working for Magenta Sport as An Expert at the European Championship, to Sport1 .
In the interview, The Long-Time Point Guard from Ratiopharm Ulm, Talks About Franz Wagner, The Basketball Hype in Germany and Explosive Statement from Dennis Schröder.
Sport1: Mr. Günther, Let’s Start with the Question that is on the minds of German basketball fans. What is the DBB Team Capable of at the European Championship?
Per Günther: They are definite Capable of Gold. For me, they are not necessarily going into the race as top favorites. That is, as everyone knows, Serbia. But there is no doubt that the Germans have everything to beat the serbs in a possible semi-final or final and take gold home with topic.
Sport1: The Team So Showed A Lot of Self-Confidence and Spoke Openly About The Desire to Win Gold. Could anyding other than a medal be a disappointment?
Günther: of Course, the Context would be decisive. If you have a tough draw in the semi-finals and you play against the French, who are having a great day. There are scenarios where you go home and have played a good tournament. There were one or Two Things Missing and you don’t have a medal. But Basically, if you simulate this tournament ten Times, Germany will win a medal eight or nine times.
Günther: “We Currently Have Absolute Riches”
Sport1: Who Are The Toughest Competitors for You Besides Top Favorite Serbia and which player are you must looking forward to?
Günther: of Course, there are four or five nations against whom you can so loose a do-or-die game. First of All, France Should be mentioned, but so Turkey or Spain. Even if they have one or Two Question Marks, they are team that have absolute world stars with topic. We are now in the great situation that the best players in the world come from Europe. Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Greeks is one of the Five Best Players in the World. Nikola Jokic From the Serbs is undisputed the best player in the world. Luka Doncic is therefore still a player who is incredibly fun, even if slovenia does not seem to be working at all right now. We Currently have absolute Riches in the Eurobasket format.
SPORT1: How important is that there is there is always at least one leader on the field with Dennis Schröder and Franz Wagner? You yourself Demanded that After the Defeat Against Serbia.
Günther: That’s a Question of Philosophy. I’m a big fan of the fact that there aren’t many time windows in search a fiba tournament that are designed with one of the two stars. The Coach So Seems to Be Convinced of that Now. He Adjusted it. The Minutes Without One of Them Have Become Less and Less. It started with 13, 14 minutes. That surprised me a lot. In the last test match it was only 1:30 Minutes. IT SEEMS that the National Coach and I are not so far apart.
Sport1: Franz Wagner is indispensable for the dbb team, but karried his weakness in the Three-Pointers through the Preparation. Could this Become a problem for the team in the tournament?
Günther: Not for me. When you talk about Franz Wagner’s Three-Pointer, you talk about Achilles and not that he is invulnerable on 99 percent of his body surface. For the German Mans that’s nice to have. If Franz Has his three pointer with Him, he is real invulnerable. But He Can Still Spread the Game Wide and Attract Endless Attention. He Commes to his Free Throws, He Commes to his Layups. We Are Happy When He Makes A Three Pointer Every Now and Then. But I don’t think it will be decisive for the course of the tournament.
Sport1: From a German Point of View, Who Could Be the X -Factor that not everone has on their radar yet – as Andi fruit was at the world cup?
Günther: Only a New Face Could Really Break Out. That would be Tristan da Silva for me. Hey so many qualities and what it takes to fit into search for existing Structure – Through his calm, his throw, his coolness on the field.
Sport1: You Were a National Player Yourself. How Happy Are You About The Current Basketball Hype in Germany?
Günther: It’s Great to Keep Reminding Yourself of That. The Bronze Medal at Eurobasket 2022 was an almost a sensation and now i say that germany will go home with a medal 90 percent of the time. There Are ONLY Three Years in between. What is happening there is absolute explosion. There’s an Incredible Amount Coming after that. Idally, we will ride this basketball wave in Germany for the next ten, 15 years. Those are fantastic prospects.
Günther: “Schröder Has Become a German Sports Hero”
Sport1: Dennis Schröder Has Made A Significant Contribution to this Hype. However, The Captain Obviously Doesn’t Feel Valued Enough in Germany. A Week Ago He Spoke Up In The Stern With The Statement That He Is Not Loved in Germany As Much As Dirk Nowitzki Because of his Skin Color. How do you judge this statement?
Günther: If you only look at this statement letter ly, you think that Apple’s are be compared with pears to some extent. Nowitzki Played in the NBA for 21 Years and Has Always Been the German Model Star. Hey Had No Scandals, he is an Incredibly Great Man. We love him. That’s the perception. As far as nba careers are concerned, The Difference Couldn’t Be more extreme. Nowitzki was with the same club for 21 years – and Dennis is now with the tenth nba club. But if you take a closer look, you can see what dennis has done for the basketball city of braunschweig and for the German National Team. He is always committed, Always Plays. We must remind ourselves to realize what incredible things he has created for German basketball. Secondly, In My Opinion, He Only Wanted to Compare the Flag Bearer Nowitzki with the Flag Bearer Schröder. My first reaction what that is it wasn’t to Skin Color, but to basketball class. But that’s Too Easy. The truth is that there are comment columns where you have to read something cruel. So is part of it. The Last Thing I Will Do is Tell Someone with Dark Dark Skin How Something Feel. Alone through what he Hey at the 2023 World Cup, He has become a German Sports Hero. I Hope He Feels that way too.