For a national coach, whose replacement is already being discussed before the first game and who at the same time has to do without his three supposedly best players, Henrik Rödl does not make a bad-tempered impression.
"The boys are fresh and motivated," says Rödl before the start of the Olympic basketball qualification tournament against Mexico this Tuesday in Split (4.30pm at MagentaSport).
Rödl should be relieved. Because the tournament is attracting even less attention than usual because of the European Football Championship, pressing questions will not burden him too much, such as: Why does the German selection not compete with the best? Daniel Theis was the first professional to cancel. The winger, who last played for the Chicago Bulls, is currently without a contract. Theis is hoping to get a new engagement in the summer that will relieve him of all financial worries. Market experts estimate that Theis is worth 25 to 40 million dollars (21 to 34 million euros). With these prospects, who wants to risk a serious injury in international matches? The second "Big Man" canceled a little later. Maxi Kleber of the Dallas Mavericks suffered injuries from the play-off games and has to sit out now.
It was particularly annoying in the case of Dennis Schröder. The development player had repeatedly stated that he absolutely wanted to play for the Olympics and for the national team if he was fit. That's him - and still doesn't play. The Braunschweiger had turned down a new contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for $ 84 million for four years in the spring. But then Schröder was eliminated with the Lakers in the first play-off round, not scoring a point in the fifth game against Phoenix.
The Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson complained that Schröder was "not a Laker".
The Braunschweig's great self-confidence doesn’t seem to have been scratched, but he doesn’t have a new contract in his pocket yet.
His agent, Alex Saratsis, believes he can make up to $ 100 million.
Therein lies the problem of the German Basketball Federation (DBB).
He would have to insure the risk of failure in the event that Schröder is injured.
It's always about an annual salary that is secured.
Policy priced at $ 170,000
DBB General Secretary Wolfgang Brenscheidt tried to find the policy. But even the largest providers, even at the insurance exchange Lloyds of London, waved them off. Because Schröder's announced annual salary of $ 25 million can hardly be insured at the moment. “Corona has heated up the market so much that conditions have worsened. There are very few institutes that offer such insurance at all - and then at worse terms than before, ”says Brenscheidt, who has had experience in this business since Dirk Nowitzki had to be insured by the association for the international matches. According to information from the FAZ, the DBB could have concluded a policy for Schröder of just under ten million dollars at a price of 170,000 dollars. But that was not enough for the German. He left again.
Some fans complain and demand in social media that Schröder could have paid the policy himself. Only: there was no provider. Nowitzki also never reached into his own pocket to finance his policy. Now, after a lot of fanfare about Schröder, the DBB is there without its lightning-fast build-up player. The back and forth causes unrest that nobody can use before the tournament. What are the Germans doing with this situation? Only the winner of the Olympic qualification tournament is allowed to fly to Tokyo. At the test matches in the Supercup in Hamburg, Rödl's team impressed with a biting defense and a surprising amount of flow - without Schröder.
Nevertheless, she travels to Croatia as an outsider. This could be your chance. With Johannes Voigtmann, Danilo Barthel, Niels Giffey and Maodo Lo, the team consists of professionals who are all under contract with clubs in the EuroLeague. It is the best league that plays under the rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).
Although the game in Europe is less athletic than the NBA, it is extremely tactical. Professionals who are used to NBA basketball often find it difficult under these conditions. The German team with its captain Johannes Voigtmann, one of the best centers on the continent, could use this small advantage: “I would have liked to have played with Dennis,” says Voigtmann: “But now it's different and we have to make the best of it. We are competitive even without him and want to try to buy the ticket. "