Wednesday 20 October 2021
Schroder, Kleber, Wagner twice
These are the seven NBA professionals from Germany
By the side of superstar Luka Doncic, Maximilian Kleber is looking forward to a successful season with the Dallas Mavericks. Dennis Schröder needs him too after a disappointing summer. The first German pair of brothers in the NBA, two young national players and one veteran.
Dennis Schroder (28/Boston Celtics): The star player of the German national team was one of the big subjects of the game-free times. Schröder had to read a lot of headlines that he gambled on. Instead of $84 million for four more seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, he will collect “only” 5.9 million from the Boston Celtics in the coming season. “I’m 28 and I’ll be playing in the NBA for a long time. Money isn’t everything,” said Schroder, who is looking to improve again after a mixed season in California — and to recommend himself for one. For a new contract at the end of the season.
Maximilian Kleber (29/Dallas Mavericks): Favored by top stars Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, the Big Man has perhaps the best chances of German players for a successful season in the playoffs. “We all know how good we can be,” said Kleber, who, like his teammates, has been adjusting to a new coach after Rick Carlisle said goodbye. Even under Jason Kidd, Kleber sees his main functions on the defensive, and he wants to continue to be seen as a successful distance shooter.
Daniel Theis (29/Houston Rockets): Kendra moved from the Chicago Bulls to Texas, where she received $36 million for four years. Thesis is intended to be the leading player in a team that is in the process of rebuilding. “I can be a defensive anchor,” said the international, who is going into his sixth season overseas and has long made a name for himself as a credible team player: “I just have to be there and do my best. You have to help your friends.” The team’s success seems almost impossible at the moment.
Moritz and Franz Wagner (24 and 20 / Orlando Magic): There has never been a pair of German brothers in the NBA, so the Berliners are grateful for the joint opportunity. “You have to be very lucky for that to happen,” said Moritz Wagner, but emphasized in the same breath how seriously they both take the sporting challenge. For Moritz at the bottom of the basket as well as the versatile Franz Wagner, it is a matter of establishing himself in the elite league in the long run. For Orlando, both should come regularly in the season.
Isaiah Hartenstein (23 / Los Angeles Clippers): The 2.13-meter giant was supposed to earn his place in the training camp in California first – and the 23-year-old managed to do so with great vigor. Hartenstein brings a strong package: He can show off his physique under the basket, but also has the ability to put his teammates in the spotlight. At his fourth NBA station, he wants to finally achieve success. This has likely already been confirmed in their previous clubs, now it depends on the implementation.
Isaac Bonga (21/Toronto Raptors): This also applied to the versatile Bonga, who moved from Washington to Canada and earned a contract for the season in preparation. The 21-year-old can still improve in many areas of his game, but is already capable of rendering important services in defence. Bonga wants to take the tailwind of the Olympic Games with it. “It gave us all a boost,” he said of the quarter-finals in Tokyo.
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