Dennis Schroder explained why he performs better in FIBA than the NBA, attributing it to differences in team dynamics and coaching.
The 30-year-old point guard has shined with the German national team, leading Germany to gold at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and excelling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Schroder’s stats in FIBA are notably higher compared to his NBA averages, with 18 points and 8.8 assists per game in the Olympics, compared to 14 points and 6.1 assists last NBA season.
In a recent interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Schroder discussed the contrast between his performances in the two leagues.
“It’s just the NBA, first off. It’s the best league in the world,” Schroder said. “But I have a lot of confidence. When you have such trust from your coach and teammates, it’s a different feel.”
He highlighted that in the NBA, individual egos often overshadow team success, whereas in FIBA, the focus is on collective achievement.
“For us, the German national team, it doesn’t matter if I score two points or Franz Wagner scores four points and we win,” Schroder added. “We are happy about the win.”
He also noted the difference in coaching dynamics, explaining that FIBA players are more receptive to direct feedback compared to the sensitivity found in the NBA.
“Here, they are really coachable,” Schroder said. “In the NBA, you have to be wise with your words, but in FIBA, players understand that emotional feedback comes from a good place.”
