Split – When Dennis Schröder saw his teammates dance across the floor of the Spaladium Arena after the Olympic dream had come true, it was clear to the NBA star: he wanted to be there in Tokyo. “If there is a possibility, then that would of course be great,” said Schröder after the 75:64 in the final of the qualifying tournament on Sunday evening in Split against Brazil, which cleared the way to Japan.
“I am always available, but my situation is not that easy. But I hope we can sort that out by then. My agent has to do his job now. The German national team has done its job, let’s see, ”said Schröder, who supported the German team at all four games as a spectator in the hall, full of emotions.
Unresolved insurance question
But a comeback of the 27-year-old point guard does not seem realistic. Schröder was not there in Split because the insurance question for the NBA professional could not be clarified beforehand. The native of Braunschweig is currently without a contract, but hopes for a high-value contract in the three-digit million range from the beginning of August when the Free Agency begins in the USA. A sum that no insurance company wanted to insure, especially in times of pandemic.
The association could have secured a sum of around ten million euros, but that was not enough for Schröder before the tournament in Split. For Tokyo he should now be ready to be there for this sum insured. And under the impression of the emotional images of Split, the NBA star obviously brooded.
And then national coach Henrik Rödl would also have to decide to delete a player from the successful Olympic split team for Schröder. “That Dennis was here is a great sign,” said Rödl immediately after the game. And without knowing what Schröder said, he added. “It is clear that these twelve who were here in Split deserve it and are there in Tokyo.”
DOSB nominated the players who were in action in Split
With his well-intentioned words that arose out of emotion, Schröder put the association and Rödl in a mess. Instead of the almost sensational Olympic qualification, the first in 13 years, almost everyone talked only about Schröder on Monday.
His name was missing on Monday on the list published by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). The DOSB nominated exactly the twelve players who were successful in Split. In the event that a player injured himself, Schröder could still move up in the course of a so-called late athlete replacement once the insurance question had been resolved.
According to association president Ingo Weiss, the German Basketball Federation only has to name the actual squad shortly before the start of the Olympic basketball tournament. “Of course we will talk to Dennis and then see what is possible and what is not,” said Weiss.
The players, who clapped Schroeder after the final victory and briefly posed in the dressing room for the winner’s photo, didn’t care about that on Monday night. They threw themselves into a party night that, due to the corona rules still in force, only took place in the hotel, but was no less lively.
Captain Robin Benzing and Co. danced exuberantly through the lobby, and a joint jump into the pool was a must. When the first part of the tour group made their way home to Munich early Monday morning, not everyone had seen their hotel bed.
At the moment of the greatest German basketball success since 2008, Center Johannes Voigtmann was not thinking of the pictures of superstar Dirk Nowitzki, crying with happiness at the time, but of September 10, 2016. At that time, Germany had the European Championship qualification against basketball dwarf Denmark lost. “And all of basketball Germany laughed at us,” said Voigtmann looking back. “And now the Olympics, that makes up for everything.”
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