Schroder: I'll Never Be As Popular As Dirk Nowitzki for This Reason

In a recent interview with Stern, Dennis Schroder said that he'd never be as beloved as Dirk Nowitzki is because he is Black. 

Born in Braunschweig, Germany, in 1993, Dennis Schroder has been a key player on the German National Team since 2014. He helped to lead the team to a bronze medal during EuroBasket 2022 and served as one of the country's flag bearers during the 2024 Summer Olympics. 

Schroder is currently the captain of the German National Team, but he said that he will never get the kind of recognition Nowitzki does, saying: 

"I was already sitting in front of the TV at 14, when Dirk Nowitzki carried the flag at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. Back then I thought: how cool, there’s no greater recognition. Today, however, I know: it’s a great honor, but it will never be the same for me as it was for Dirk. I will never receive the same love in this country, because I am dark-skinned."

In addition to his career in international basketball, Shroder has also had a fine career in the NBA. He was selected 17th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2013, and he developed into a high-scorer during his five years there. 

Schroder has bounced around the league quite a bit, but that is due to him being a valuable player to whatever team he is on. The point guard was traded to the Pistons last year, serving as one of the best players for Detroit in their series against New York. He was traded by Detroit to the Sacramento Kings this offseason.