In professional basketball, it is common for players who share the court as teammates to develop a sense of respect for one another. Even if circumstances place them on opposing sides, that foundation of respect often remains intact.
However, that mutual admiration of Jeff Teague and Dennis Schroder, who shared the backcourt for three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, never materialized. Instead, tensions lingered between them so that Teague once labeled Schroder as the “most annoying player,” as the latter simply lacked the awareness of the subtleties required to navigate NBA relationships.
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Teague on why he found Schroder annoying
While many players in the league turn to trash talk to gain an edge, Schroder has never been known for such verbal sparring. Instead, he always relies on his hard-nosed perimeter defense to respond to his naysayers. Still, Teague found him particularly irritating. For him, the annoyance has little to do with Schroder’s on-court abilities but his personality.
Speaking on his podcast, Jeff once shared how Dennis, especially in his early days in the NBA, tended to overshare and cross boundaries without recognizing that others might feel uncomfortable. Put simply. For Teague, this blatant lack of social awareness was one of the most frustrating aspects of their relationship during their entire playing time together in Atlanta.
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“Most annoying was probably Dennis Schroder,” Teague said about the opponent whose trash-talk annoyed him in his “Club 520” podcast. “He was annoying, man. I remember the days, being chopping on the block… the only reason me and Dennis didn’t see eye-to-eye is because he was from a different country.”
“He ain’t understand how s–t went. So he was showing me s–t like what GM was saying, the assistant GM was sending his stats like, ‘You’re gonna be a starter one day.’ Your stats compared to his stats. But he was showing me,” he added.
Schroder and Teague never worked well
When Schroder entered the NBA in 2013, Teague was already established as the Hawks’ starting point guard, fresh off earning his first and only All-Star selection. Conversely, the German came off the bench, tasked with bringing energy and facilitating play when Teague rested.
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Over their three seasons together, the Hawks experienced relative success, including a notable run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015. Despite that accomplishment, however, they never managed to break through to the NBA Finals, a reality that may have only added to the underlying tension in their relationship.
Teague’s admissions clearly indicate how their dynamic was far from harmonious. While there might not be any issues with each other’s playing style, they have bumped heads as players on opposing teams because they clearly never adjusted or understood each other’s demeanor.
Still, Schroder has carved out a resilient career defined by persistence and international glory. And for all the friction in Atlanta, their story highlights how cultural clashes in the NBA can shape legacies just as much as on-court battles.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 20, 2025, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.