Having led his team to the EuroBasket Finals, Dennis Schroder made clear what was at stake: “We are excited, just like our coach said. This is a big chance for us to put Germany on the map, to write basketball history, and we are looking forward to the final.” And write history they did. For the first time in 32 years, Germany captured EuroBasket gold, cementing themselves back atop the continental stage.

Congratulations poured in from all corners, including from Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, who celebrated on X with a simple yet powerful “Europameister!!!!” Though he didn’t attend this year’s tournament in person, Nowitzki’s words carried weight, echoing the pride of an entire generation of German basketball.

The post came right as viral footage of Dennis Schroder highlighting his emotions began going viral. Just like Giannis Antetokounmpo, the happiness of accomplishing a feat in the international tournament was making the player emotional. A viral picture from ‘Legion Hoops’ showed the 31-year-old hugging a teammate, his eyes pinched close and his face showing emotions of almost breaking down in tears. Tears of happiness.

Team Germany’s victory was a team effort. Dennis Schroder made the game’s final six points, while Isaac Bonga scored a team-best 20 points, allowing the national team to top Türkiye, 88-83. The squad was largely made up of the same core that won the World Cup title back in 2023. Schroder personally had confidence in this squad since, as he revealed, “We never shy away from the big moments. … Everybody is so confident. Just big-time plays from big-time character people.”

As of now, Schroder has yet to respond to Dirk Nowitzki’s tweet. We don’t know whether he might choose to do so. After all, to him, Dirk Nowitzki is a representation of something he can never be.

Dennis Schroder Believes He Can’t Be Like Dirk Nowitzki

A few weeks ago, Dennis Schroder sat down for an interview with ‘Stern’. During the same time, he touched base on Dirk Nowitzki’s time with Team Germany by stating that “When I was 14, I sat in front of the TV watching Dirk Nowitzki carry the flag at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Back then I thought: how cool, there’s no greater honor.” Having grown up now, however, Schroder believes that the truth is far from what he imagined during his childhood days.

Now 31 years old, Schroder says the reality is quite different from what he imagined it to be.

“It’s a great honor, but for me it will never be the same as for Dirk,” said the Sacramento Kings star. “I will never receive the same love in this country, because I am dark-skinned.” Though Schroder blames the environment around him, he holds no grudges against the Dallas Mavericks legend. In fact, as recently reported by ‘BasketNews’, “Dirk is a guy who changed basketball for all the big guys, So, at the end of the day, I’m Dennis Schroder, and everybody got their own legacy. Dirk, what he’s been doing for the German national team and what he’s done in the NBA and in the national team made us come to the national team and represent our country”.

Dennis Schroder has now managed to achieve a feat Dirk Nowitzki couldn’t.