Dennis Schröder wants to surprise with his new team in the NBA. But before the season, there are some question marks for the Sacramento Kings. Could Schröder be the answer?
Are there answers to the many question marks? Even before the new NBA season really gains momentum, many questions remain open for Dennis Schröder and especially his new team, the Sacramento Kings.
For Schröder himself, the most important question will likely be whether he finally finds a sporting home in the USA. Because unlike with the national team, the point guard has rarely been truly undisputed in the NBA recently – and above all, rarely with one team for long.
In the past season alone, he was passed on from the Brooklyn Nets via the Golden State Warriors to the Utah Jazz and then to Detroit.
With the German national team, however, Schröder is the success hero after the World Cup and European Championship titles with the respective individual award as tournament MVP.
Schröder? “He should lead by good example”
His new employer Sacramento will be the tenth NBA team he will play for, plus the short stay with the Utah Jazz, for whom he never actually played.
Sacramento should now finally become a long-term sporting home again. A sign of this is the contract the Kings equipped him with in the summer. Schröder receives approximately $44 million for three years. Specifically, the duration guarantees at least theoretically some planning security.
Another important point: The Kings plan with Schröder as starter in the point guard position. Kings coach Doug Christie made it clear during preparation that Schröder is his leader: “He should damn well lead by good example. That’s what I want to see. I want him to immediately inspire his teammates on the court.”
Especially since Christie saw Schröder’s qualities for himself in the summer when he, together with GM Scott Perry and owner Vivek Ranadive, visited the European Basketball Championship – and even sat right next to Schröder’s family.
Sacramento wants the German national team Dennis
Christie laughed enthusiastically about the shared celebration between Schröder and his son Dennis Malick Junior after every made three-pointer. How Schröder led the German national team to the title impressed the Kings bosses instantly.
They told him, Schröder revealed in the Got Nexxt podcast, that he should run the show “like with the national team too.” The Kings want the legendary FIBA Dennis in the NBA as well.
“Dennis is a sticky defender”
With the national team, Schröder particularly carried the burden in offense. Back in the NBA, a different special task awaits him.
“I want to defend all over the court, apply pressure, and transfer this junkyard dog mentality to my teammates. That’s what I was brought here for,” Schröder said himself about his role.
His new teammate DeMar DeRozan already raved about Schröder’s qualities to NBC Sports : “Dennis is a sticky defender. Whenever I’ve played against him, he’s been talking trash the whole time and playing very physically.”
Chaos threatens with the Kings
And the Kings will need Schröder’s defensive qualities everywhere if they want to be even remotely successful. Because neither DeRozan nor the other Kings stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are known as good defenders.
Generally, the Kings roster appears very confusingly assembled – especially since the offseason was now completed with the signing of aging former MVP Russell Westbrook.
Who takes which role? Who is the go-to guy in offense? How is defense supposed to work well?
For Schröder, a lot of chaos threats in Sacramento.
Nowitzki believes Kings can make playoffs
The Kings haven’t exactly been known for success in recent years anyway. Since 2007, they’ve reached the playoffs exactly once, ending in the first round two years ago.
On paper, there don’t seem to be rosy prospects for Schröder. But NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki gave hope to SID nonetheless: “Sacramento can be dangerous, they have good players. I hope that Dennis has a good year and that they might even make the playoffs.”
For this surprise to succeed, they definitely need a Schröder in European Championship form. “We all know he has the class and the athleticism. I hope he settles in well. Then I think quite a bit is possible,” said Nowitzki.
Schröder sees it similarly, who naturally faces the great challenge and hopes “that the season goes well and we can play successful basketball.” The goal is clearly the playoffs.
Should these ambitions prove unrealistic early on, there could immediately be another upheaval with the Kings.
One thing is clear: It will be an exciting season for Dennis Schröder. From the new sporting home to renewed chaos, everything seems possible.