- Paris may come: German basketball players make statement
After the impressive gala against host France, the German basketball team travels to Paris as a hot medal contender. In this form, Dennis Schröder and co. need not hide from NBA stars like LeBron James. "That was quite a statement," said co-captain Johannes Voigtmann after the 85:71 win against the French, including phenom Victor Wembanyama, to wrap up the preliminary round in Lille.
For 30 minutes, the world champions didn't give the highly-touted French a chance. Only in the final quarter did the team of successful coach Gordon Herbert have a brief weakness, but they were never seriously threatened. "That was a great team performance with exceptional individual quality," said Herbert, looking at his united team. Schröder and Franz Wagner, both NBA pros, stood out with 26 points each.
Lottery and birthday party for Schröder
Now, it's medal time in Paris, starting Tuesday. The world champions' quarterfinal opponent will be determined in the late-night draw on Saturday. Greece, Serbia, and South Sudan are possible opponents.
First up on Saturday is the move from Lille to Paris. The German basketball team will travel the approximately 200 kilometers by bus. In the French capital, Schröder and co. can let their strong performance sink in before an impressive crowd.
Schröder also has a small celebration coming up - his daughter's fourth birthday is on Saturday. "We'll spend some time with my family and explore some of Paris," the Brooklyn Nets point guard announced.
The German national team, having secured their spot as a medal contender, will face either Greece, Serbia, or South Sudan in the quarterfinals. After their impressive performance, Dennis Schröder and the team can expect a warm welcome from the Parisian crowd as they represent the national team.
