Two years. This is the short time it took to Gordon Herbert to make Germany the best team in the world. It all started in September 2021 with a one-on-one between the newly appointed coach and his best player, Dennis Schroder.
“It was in 2021 that I got the job. I drove to Braunschweig and met Dennis in 2021, in September », remembers Herbert. “We talked for three or four hours and that’s when it all started. I felt his passion, his commitment and his involvement for his country, his national team and his teammates. For me, that’s where it all started. September 2021.”
Herbert-Schroder, the winning duo
That day, during this discussion, Herbert knew he had found his leader and his trusted man. “I think Dennis and I have bonded since September 2021, we’ve developed that trust within the team and between us” Herbert continued. “The most important thing I did was make Dennis captain. He is very proud to be the captain of the German national team. And this is the second year of our three-year plan… I think the most important thing about this team is that we enjoyed being here, we enjoyed the competition and words fail to qualify for Dennis Schroder and that which he represents for German basketball. Dennis will first tell you that it’s the team that comes first. We wouldn’t be here without him and we wouldn’t be here without the team.”
If Herbert mentions a three-year plan, it is because the selection was targeting the 2024 Olympic Games, and the ticket is in the pocket. But to get there, we had to go through qualifying phases with NBA and Euroleague players not necessarily present, and Herbert would like to thank everyone who participated in this exceptional journey.
❤️ These images between Dennis Schröder and Gordon Herbert…
The key to German success. pic.twitter.com/tk3li8tbtd
— DNA of Sports (@basketusa) September 10, 2023
A thought for the players who participated in the international windows
“I would like to pay tribute to all the German players who helped us qualify for this tournament” insists the Canadian technician. “A lot of people don’t remember that we lost the first qualifying match against Estonia. Then we had 10 wins and 2 losses. Dennis, Isaac Bonga and Johannes Voigtmann played in the June windows. The players who didn’t have a contract came and committed, setting an example for everyone else. This is the result. As I told the players, this is an extraordinary group. We were a team first, then we had individual talent. »
This “individual talent” is Dennis Schroder, elected MVP of the competition, and who will be there to attempt the three-peat in Paris at the Olympic Games. Since he has been captain, Germany have won bronze at the Euros and Gold at the World Cup.
