Schröder Salutes Nowitzki as Germany Wins EuroBasket Gold; Full List of Awards Announced
schroder-salutes-nowitzki-germany-wins-eurobasket-gold
Germany’s return to the top of European basketball came with a nod to its past on September 15, as point guard Dennis Schröder thanked Dirk Nowitzki for laying the groundwork after leading the national team to the EuroBasket championship and earning tournament MVP honors.
“Dirk’s work with the national team and in the NBA inspired us to represent our country,” Schröder said after Germany secured the gold medal. The 31-year-old guard added the EuroBasket title to Germany’s 2023 FIBA World Cup crown and its 2022 EuroBasket bronze. “My name is Dennis Schröder, and that’s my legacy. My goal is to help my teammates and win gold medals—nothing else matters,” he added.
Wagner Pays Tribute to Injured Brother
Forward Franz Wagner celebrated the victory by holding up the jersey of his brother, Moritz Wagner, who missed the tournament while recovering from an ACL tear suffered with the Orlando Magic last season. “He had a tough injury and is trying to get back as fast as possible,” Franz said. “Everyone on the team knows he’s part of this group.”
Greece Ends 16-Year Medal Drought
Greece claimed the bronze medal, the country’s first international podium finish since 2009. Head coach Vassilis Spanoulis dedicated the achievement to fans at home, saying, “This medal belongs to all Greeks. We wanted to bring basketball back to the top.”
Tournament Honors
FIBA announced additional awards following the final:
All-Tournament Second Team: Jordan Loyd (Poland), Cedi Osman (Turkey), Deni Avdija (Israel), Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Nikola Jokić (Serbia)
Best Defensive Player: Isaac Bonga (Germany)
Rising Star: Miikka Muurinen (Finland)
Best Coach: Ergin Ataman (Turkey)
FIBA also released final standings for all 24 participating nations.
Source: Hoops Rumors
