national basketball team
“One of the best squads”: Nowitzki enthusiastic about the DBB team
Dirk Nowitzki sees the best conditions for a World Cup medal for the German basketball team. photo
© Marius Becker/dpa
Dirk Nowitzki ended his career in the national jersey in 2015 – since then more and more Germans have found their way into the NBA. The ex-captain has high expectations for the World Cup.
“I think we’re looking forward to a great World Cup. We have one of the best squads you could wish for. For the World Cup we should have one of the best squads on paper,” said Nowitzki. In captain Dennis Schröder, the Wagner brothers Moritz and Franz and Daniel Theis, the key players in the team of national coach Gordon Herbert all play in the North American professional league NBA. “We have shown that we can compete with the best countries in the world.”
“Hide from no one”
Despite the tricky group with co-hosts Japan, co-favourites Australia and Finland, the 45-year-old from Würzburg gave a clear goal. “Quarter-finals at a World Cup is always great, then you have to look. Then you have to be a bit lucky. With the squad we don’t have to hide from anyone. I hope the lads play a great World Cup,” said Nowitzki.
Germany will play the preliminary round and a possible intermediate round in Okinawa, Japan. Only for the final round from the quarterfinals would it go to Manila in the Philippines. Strong rivals await last year’s third-place finisher in the pre-season: in Berlin it’s up against co-favourite Canada, in Abu Dhabi against Greece and top favorite USA.