by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Dennis Schroder's tears of joy had dried after a night of celebration, but the 32-year-old still soaked up the applause in Frankfurt's city center on Monday.
Thousands of fans turned out to welcome the captain of Germany's basketball team and his teammates after their 88-83 win over Türkiye in Sunday's EuroBasket final in Riga, Latvia.
The Sacramento Kings point guard, who celebrated his 32nd birthday, was visibly moved as fans serenaded him with birthday chants. "People called us the golden generation and, yes, we did it twice," said Schroder, born in Braunschweig to a German father and Gambian mother.
Overcome by emotion, Schroder wept in the arms of teammate Daniel Theis after securing the continental crown, which came after Germany's 2023 World Cup triumph. "It's unbelievable. We started together in the under-18 team at Braunschweig years ago, and now, we are here," said Theis, who wore the cut-off net from the final around his neck.
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner donned the Germany shirt of his brother and club teammate Moritz, sidelined by a knee injury but working as a TV pundit from the United States. "Most people still can't believe we are a basketball powerhouse," the 24-year-old said. "But it's true. World champions first, now European champions. This feels unreal."
With most of Germany's roster between 21 and 25, the federation is daring to dream of a golden era despite Schroder's "advanced age." "We can ride a wave," said federation president Ingo Weiss, as German media looked ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar, the 2028 Olympics and the 2029 EuroBasket.
"Football nation turns into basketball nation," declared one television commentator.
"What makes this special is the unwavering spirit of this team. It's the best I've ever played with," said Schroder, hugging his son Dennis Malick Junior, who wore his father's gold medal. Schroder was also named tournament MVP.
Germany's basketball upswing is reflected in the record eight players under NBA contracts in the 2024/25 season. Isaiah Hartenstein, who won the NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder this year, followed in the footsteps of German icon Dirk Nowitzki, though injury kept him out of the EuroBasket.
The team also overcame adversity off the court, as head coach Alex Mumbru was hospitalized with an infection just before the tournament began. Assistant coach Alan Ibrahimagic stepped in, keeping close contact with Mumbru throughout Germany's victorious campaign. ■
