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Germany’s Dennis Schroder is the 2023 Fiba World Cup MVP. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Dennis Schroder dared Germany to dream big in the Fiba World Cup 2023. And the rest is history.

Schroder revealed that their amazing run started with a team meeting during the group phase in Okinawa, Japan, where coach Gordie Herbert asked his players about their ultimate goal.

“Coach came. I think it was in Okinawa [when] we had a meeting. We were in four groups of four people and he asked everybody what do you guys want to accomplish? Everybody said a medal,” the German star said.

When it was the NBA guard’s turn to answer, he said gold.

“The reason why I said it is because I knew our defense and how we play as a basketball team is special. Everybody’s touching it and everybody’s moving it,” Schroder said.

Schroder’s goal will impact German basketball as he and his team completed a perfect 8-0 campaign in the World Cup capped by an 83-77 win over Serbia to capture their first-ever title in the competition on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Germany wins the Fiba World Cup after beating Serbia in the final. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

“It’s unbelievable. An unbelievable group. We started in July, ended July being together. Coach did a great job of bringing us together and knowing their roles. Everybody just brought their best to be successful. I think being 8-0 in the group where we had big-time teams go to the next stage, playing Slovenia and Georgia, and then going to the knockout stage [was great],” Schroder said.

“This is unbelievable. We enjoyed every single moment, every single day, every single practice, every single game. We embraced it and competed on the highest level. That’s the reason why we did what we did in this tournament,” he added.

Schroder emerged as the Fiba World Cup 2023 World Cup MVP and a member of the All-Star Five after pouring in 28 points to lead the Germans to a historic night.

With their historic night, the Toronto Raptors guard hopes their success will change the landscape of German basketball forever and earn the respect of the World.

“When we first started the tournament, I couldn’t be on TV because only the final was on German TV. Basketball is such a great sport. I wish we would get our respect,” Schroder said. “In the European Championship, or next year in the Olympics in Paris, I wish that every single game is on TV.

We see the steps. Ten years ago, when I first started, basketball wasn’t … of course we had Dirk Nowitzki, but other than that, people didn’t know who people were on the teams.”

“But now, we go to the Philippines or Okinawa and everybody knows our team. In Germany as well, people are starting to recognize what we’ve worked for our country and representing it. We just want our respect as well,” he added.

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