Dennis Schroder emphasized that the high-IQ style of European basketball provides a significant advantage, allowing European players to become challenging competitors against Team USA in FIBA tournaments and increasingly establish their dominance in the NBA.
Following Team USA's narrow escape against Serbia in the Olympic semifinals, Germany's Dennis Schroder issued a warning about the rising challenge posed by European teams.
When asked about the rise of European basketball challenging even Team USA's top players, Schroder offered insights into the differences between the two styles of play.
"European basketball is more... I need to be careful with it,” he said, pausing to frame his response.
"European basketball is no entertainment, it's straight IQ basketball. Straight coaching. It's filled with really really high-IQ players who know how to play the game. Teams like Serbia, Greece, Spain, France, and Germany—there are so many teams that know how to play and are athletic," Schroder explained.
He also acknowledged the increasing influence of European players in the NBA, noting, “A lot of Europeans in the NBA are making some noise. Slovenia's Luka Doncic is one of the best players in the world. Of course, the NBA is the best league in the world, but Europeans are coming for sure.”
Team USA narrowly defeated Serbia 95-91 in the semifinals. Last year, the USA fell short of the World Cup podium, losing to Germany in the semifinals and then to Canada in the third-place game.
This year, Team USA remained undefeated until facing France in the gold medal game, scheduled for Saturday.
Germany
Greece
France
Serbia