Germany lifted the EuroBasket 2025 trophy on Sunday after defeating Turkey 88-83 in the final.
Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner (18 points) and former Los Angeles Laker Isaac Bonga (20 points) were excellent, but another player won the Most Valuable Player award.
Sacramento Kings point guard Dennis Schroder won the accolade for putting up 20.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game at the tournament.
Schroder paid tribute to Germany and Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki immediately after he was presented the MVP title.
Schroder was asked how his contributions to the German national team compare to Nowitzki’s after winning EuroBasket 2025.
Nowitzki never won an international competition in his playing career, but he did receive the MVP award at both EuroBasket and the World Cup.
Schroder was keen not to compare himself to the former Maverick forward, and instead praised the impact he has had on German basketball.
“Dirk is a guy who changed basketball for all the big guys,” Schroder said, via BasketNews. “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.”
He continued: “At the end of the day, my name is Dennis Schroder, and I’m just Dennis Schroder, and that’s my legacy.”
“Whatever I can bring to the table to make sure my teammates are good and we compete at the highest level and win gold medals. That’s what I’m going to do. Everything else doesn’t matter.”
Dennis Schroder knew Germany would win EuroBasket 2025
Schroder’s performance for Germany at EuroBasket was even more impressive than people may realize.
While Serbia were tipped to win the tournament, and many other countries were considered contenders, Schroder always had full faith in Germany to lift the trophy.
“We’re going to win the title,” he said before the tournament. “If I weren’t convinced of that, I wouldn’t play the tournament and would rather spend my time in Braunschweig.”
That was a bold statement, but Schroder now looks like a genius after his prediction came true in Sunday’s final against Turkey.
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