After Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James, Dennis Schröder is the latest men’s basketball player to be named as a flag bearer at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Dennis Schroder led Germany to the FIBA Basketball World Cup title in 2023.
A year later, the Brooklyn Nets guard will lead his homeland in another way: as an Olympic flag bearer.
The German men's national basketball squad team captain, alongside judoka Anna-Maria Wagner, were named as Deutschland’s flag bearers for Paris 2024.
The 30-year-old expressed his excitement for the responsibility on social media, noting the feeling was “unbelievable.”
“DEUTSCHLAND DEUTSCHLAND DEUTSCHLAND We made it through. To all the people who voted for me, thank you very much 🙏🏿 you’re the best ever. Being able to share this feeling with you is unbelievable. The first dark-skinned carrier for Germany 🇩🇪🥺 INSANE🔥🔥 We did this together & we're making a major statement with it!
Will carry the FLAG proudly.. Thanks to all my family without you this would never have been possible! ?????? F.O.E??????,” he said.
Schröder led Germany to an undefeated 8-0 run in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where he scored 28 points in the title game over Serbia. He averaged 19.1 points and 6.1 assists to claim the MVP honors.
The cat-quick guard will now be the third NBA player to head up his country’s athletes in Paris 2024, with Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and U.S.A’s LeBron James leading their country contingent.
[ALSO READ: A King's responsibility: LeBron James named men's flag bearer for Team USA in Paris 2024]
[ALSO READ: Paris 2024: Giannis Antetokounmpo makes history as flag bearer for Greece]
Die Mannschaft will be parading most of their core players in the biggest sporting event in the world, with just two players removed from their FIBA World Cup championship roster.
[ALSO READ: Save for two, Germany keeps FIBA World Cup championship roster for Paris 2024]
Ahead of Paris 2024, Germany figured in some exhibition matches, beating France, Netherlands and Japan with their losses coming against the Frenchmen and the Americans.
[ALSO READ: Paris 2024: Franz Wagner shines as world champion Germany steamrolls past Japan in Olympic friendly]
Schroder and Co. will open their Olympic campaign against Japan in Group B on Saturday (PH time) at 7:30 p.m.
Story Summary:
- Dennis Schroder, who led Germany to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup title, will serve as an Olympic flag bearer for Germany at Paris 2024, alongside judoka Anna-Maria Wagner.
- Schroder expressed his excitement on social media, highlighting the honor of being the first dark-skinned flag bearer for Germany.
- Germany's basketball team, retaining most of their FIBA World Cup championship roster, will kick off their Olympic campaign against Japan in Group B.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]