There’s no doubt about who Jeff Teague hates the most. When Teague was asked about the most annoying player he ever faced, he shot back without hesitation: “Definitely Dennis Schroder.” This little feud didn’t even begin on the court; it sparked back when they were teammates on the Atlanta Hawks. Teague, the clear starter, was in a different league from Schroder, who was eyeing that starting spot from the bench. The tension brewed when the assistant GM decided to share a stats comparison between the two, leading Schroder to strut his stuff.

In a recent episode of the Club 520 Podcast, Teague shed light on their backstory. Teague explained that the clash mainly stemmed from cultural differences. “I ain’t never had no problem with nobody. But the only reason me and Dennis didn’t see eye to eye is because he was from a different country,” Teague revealed. But How?

The assistant GM played a key role in escalating things. Teague shared that the GM assured Schroder he would take over his starting role soon, which didn’t sit right with him. He wasn’t a fan of the GM throwing around comparisons and even told him, “you’re not supposed to do that.” But when Schroder flaunted the stats, claiming, “Wes said, ‘I’m going to start one day,’” it became too much for Teague.

Teague didn’t hold back, responding with, “You talking to the starter, ni**a.” His frustration boiled over into a bold “fuck you, ni**a. Some sh*t, keep to yourself, lame ass ni**a,” he reveled on the podcast. Yet, despite the heat, Teague clarified that he doesn’t actually hate Schroder. In fact, he’d be more than happy to have him on the show someday.

Interestingly, when Teague later joined the Indiana Pacers, he admitted that he actually wanted to play alongside Schroder. Isn’t it funny how rivalries can sometimes mask a deeper appreciation for one another’s game?

Jeff Teague hoped for more

Back in 2016, Jeff Teague had a feeling his time with the Atlanta Hawks was running out. During an interview with Adrian Wojnarowski, Teague opened up about how the team was already grooming Dennis Schroder to be his replacement. “I knew that it was coming to an end,” Teague admitted. Despite this, he still believed they could have played more together, adding, “But I accepted it.”

Things started going downhill fast for Teague, though. After the Hawks’ dream 60-win season in 2014-15, where he earned an All-Star spot, his minutes dropped significantly. Meanwhile, Schroder got more opportunities, even though his efficiency didn’t quite match Teague’s. Teague, dealing with a knee injury, felt the shift. “We could’ve been a dynamic duo,” he reflected. But instead, it became a battle for playing time, and the tension grew.

However, the signs were there long before. Just a year ago, Schroder made it clear he wanted to start, or he’d look elsewhere and months later rumors of trades started circulating, with teams like the Utah Jazz and Pacers showing interest in Schroder. It became obvious that Atlanta was preparing to move on from Teague. Luckily, Teague landed on his hometown team.