Translated from German
Dennis Schröder has an ambivalent relationship with his hometown. Nevertheless, it's clear where he'll live after his time in the NBA.
Dirk Nowitzki and Dennis Schröder have one thing in common: They both carried the German flag at the Olympic Games. Yet Schröder sees a big difference:
"I was already sitting in front of the TV at the age of 14 when Dirk Nowitzki carried the flag at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Back then, I thought: How cool, there can't be a greater appreciation," said the current captain of the national basketball team in an interview with "Stern." "Today, however, I know: It's a great honor, but it will never be the same for me as it was for Dirk. I won't receive the same love in this country because I'm dark-skinned."
German expectations
Germans have certain ideas about how stars should behave. He never fit into that image, especially when he was younger, as he occasionally indulged in expensive watches and luxury cars. "I've made mistakes, I'm not perfect. Nevertheless, it's wrong to judge someone you don't know well," Schröder said.
"This is a societal problem, and social media only exacerbates this superficiality and hatred," said the 31-year-old. "The fact that I was allowed to be a flag-bearer doesn't make this story any better."
Return to Braunschweig
Despite these negative experiences, Schröder intends to return to his hometown of Braunschweig after his time in the NBA . "Braunschweig is my home; I'm needed here. That's why I bought the basketball club there, and that's why we're planning academies, camps, and schools for young people there," said Schröder. "Many professionals stay in the US after their playing careers and enjoy their fame. But I belong in Germany."
First up for Schröder, however, is the European Championship in Finland and Latvia, which begins on August 27th, and then the next NBA season with his new club, the Sacramento Kings. The point guard has clear expectations for the European Championship. "We will win the title. If I wasn't convinced of that, I wouldn't play in the tournament and would rather spend my time in Braunschweig."
35 comments
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Well you’re also Dennis Shroder and not Dirk. I’m sure race plays a role. But come on man this is Dirk we’re talking about.
I mean. This should shock no one. Giannis and his brothers faced hella racism in Greece.
This is not news.
Oh the dear Lord…. He indulged in expensive cars and luxuries…. The horror… The article really did include that as a slight?
I knew the comments were gonna go like this
Warriors legend
I mean he’s not lying.
I know he’s not Dirk level talent (I don’t think that’s what he’s saying) but he consistently balls out for Germany but doesn’t really get the love. Even fucking Giannis gets hate for his skin color from his fellow countrymen. Him being a dark-skinned man unfortunately plays a large part in it. He would never get to Dirk level just cause of the skill gap, but I do feel like he would be praised a lot more as a German sports icon if he was white.
You’re nowhere near as good as Dirk either
But yeah racism sucks ass
> he occasionally indulged in expensive watches and luxury cars. “I’ve made mistakes, I’m not perfect. Nevertheless, it’s wrong to judge someone you don’t know well,” Schröder said
Interesting they don’t mention the arrest for assault when Shroder and three buds kicked the shit out of a dude (who may or may not have instigated).
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22932422/felony-aggravated-battery-charge-recommended-dennis-schroder-atlanta-hawks
this will most definitely be a polite and respectful comment section. can’t wait to read them!
People are going to point out that Dirk is the much better NBA player, which is obviously true. But, Schröder led Germany to a Basketball World Cup win, and while Dirk took Germany pretty deep in some international tournaments, he was never able to get Germany gold.
Schroeder isn’t wrong about race playing a factor, it’s like that all over Europe but especially bad in certain parts
But come on, man. Dirk is an all time great at his position and practically was the vanguard for a new era of stretch bigs being primary options. Schroeder is…a pretty good point guard. Dirk won a chip against some of the best teams the league had seen in a while. Schroeder plays pretty well in the playoffs as a role player. Not comparable in terms of impact, legacy or career.
That’s the guy who compared NBA trades to modern slavery. No Dennis, you’re an NBA journeyman, Dirk is a hof and one of the greatest European basketball players. He’s like that ever since he or his agent fumbled a 20 million a year contract.
He’s spitting facts. Dude is hands down the best german player and carried the national team for a while but still doesn’t get the respect.
Dirk is the better player, of course, but schröder is still right. Both those can be true. If accomplishments were reversed, Dirk would still be more celebrated.
ITT: a bunch of white dudes discrediting the lived experience of another dude.
Yep, he is no where as good as Dirk, but also true on the racial aspect. He can be as good as Dirk, but will never be treated like Dirk. Plus its Schroeder, its easy to hate on the guy. He will rub a lot of people the wrong way with this comment.
He’s not lying. I remember Gobert saying whenever the national team plays poorly all the papers make sure to call the players “children of immigrants” but when they win they’re Frenchmen.
A lot of people act like USA is the only racist place but boy do they do some wild shit in Europe. I remember the video of Balotelli crying because the crowd was being racist towards him… this is a guy who damn near disowned his African roots because his parents abandoned him and he got adopted by an Italian family. Sad honestly.
Meanwhile, Filipino fans in the Philippines treats Brownlee as our Savior
Big part of it is that basketball doesn’t get a lot of recognition in Germany, Dirks transcends (with talent but also timing, early 2000s there was more of an overlap of content consumed by a countries population.) that barrier, and a lot of germans know him as a celebrity and not an athlete.
Schroder is mostly known by basketball fans. Which once again isn’t very popular in Germany.
Skin color may be working against him in German culture, I’ve spent very very little time there. But citing that you’re less appreciated than DIRK NOWITZKI as the evidence for this claim is beyond bananas lol.
All I’ll say is American racism has nothing on European racism. Most Europeans refuse to acknowledge racism even exists in there countries
I know this is Reddit so the popular opinion is America bad, Europe good, but America is leagues ahead Europe on race and racism, which you’ll see if you ever travel or live abroad.
Personally I think Schröder is an obnoxious, tone-deaf asshole with middling talent. And I think Dirk is a beloved icon and one of the greatest players of all time.
But I still agree with what Schröder is saying. Race has a lot to do with their respective treatment. This dynamic is evident in lots of other examples where player talent and likeability is more equal.
There are tons of black European soccer players and still they get entire stadium sections chanting racist things at them
Schroder’s coming from a matter of fact European POV, it’s a totally different level from America
Europeans want to lecture Americans as if they aren’t the most racist place on earth LMAO
I am not sure that’s the only reason
As others have already posted, there are way too many of y’all on here dismissing Schroeder lived experience. Many of you can’t even spell racism but want to tell someone else that they are not experiencing it or that they are exaggerating what has happened to them. Even if you don’t believe him you can’t possibly know whether or not it’s true so be quiet!
You can just look at soccer and how non-white players are treated in the EU.
It can be horrific.
Racists being obtuse in the comments and missing the point entirely. I’m shocked. It’s rather ironic to have this dismissive attitude about what Schroeder is saying, claiming he’s exaggerating or making it up. Saying, “well that’s obvious, he’s not on the same level as Dirk,” to invalidate his message. That dismissiveness is practically proving the point he is making. I bet most of you don’t know that Schroeder accomplished more with the German national team than Dirk ever did. He won the World Cup with Germany. If you honestly can’t believe that in our world today, a black man feels he is underappreciated, and doesn’t get the respect he deserves, then idk what to tell you. Because you probably won’t be listening anyways.
There may be another reason lol
As a German he’s 100% right on this. He is getting a lot of love and appreciation for what he did/does for the national team but there is also the other side:
He’ll never be as loved as he should be and you’ll see it once Franz takes over as nr.1 for the national team and it will have nothing to do with level of play or character.
And more importantly even with the love he receives so much hate based in racism just for being a visible black man. He’s almost in luck basketball isn’t big enough here to warrant the same level of hate as our football national team is getting from the right-wing parts of society when our best players aren’t blonde and blue eyed.
I am pretty sure Dennis more beloved in Germany than Detlef Schrempf ever was but he is also more hated.
That’s my MF’ing point guard. No lies detected. We have a long way to go.
glad to see people actually sympathize with him, he was on a run for a while there where every time he opened his mouth people crucified him lol
100% agree with him and hes definitely not alone
… idk why people are so shocked Europe is racist. Have we opened up a history book within the last couple hundred years😭