Germany Announces EuroBasket Roster Amidst Key Injuries
Tampere, Finland – Germany’s national basketball team has revealed its roster for the upcoming EuroBasket tournament, set to begin Wednesday in Tampere, Finland. the team, fresh off a gold medal victory at the 2023 World Cup and a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Olympics, faces challenges heading into the competition with several key players sidelined due to injury.
Leading the German squad will be veteran point guard Dennis schröder, a mainstay with the national team as 2014 and an All-Star Five Team selection at last year’s Olympics. Alongside Schröder, Germany will rely on Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, a rising star who earned second-team all-tournament honors at both the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.
The roster also includes Wagner’s Orlando teammate, Tristan da silva, and a trio of former NBA players: Daniel Theis, Isaac Bonga, and Moritz Wagner’s brother, Oscar da Silva. Rounding out the team are justus Hollatz,Leon kratzer,Maodo Lo,Johannes Thiemann,and Johannes Voigtmann.
Though,Germany will be without several meaningful contributors. Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein will miss the tournament due to an Achilles tendon injury. Moritz Wagner continues his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury sustained in December. Adding to the team’s woes, Real madrid has blocked guard David kramer from participating after he suffered a muscle injury. Kramer, who averaged 15.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game during EuroBasket Qualifiers, was expected to play a key role.
“This is a bitter blow for us,” said German coach Alex Mumbru. “David was planned to be an vital part of our team. We now have to compensate for his absence as best we can. Of course, I’m also very sorry for him personally; David would have deserved to be there.”
Germany’s recent success on the international stage marks a significant shift for the program. Their 2023 World Cup win was a historic achievement, demonstrating the growing strength of basketball within the country. Prior to that, they secured a third-place finish at the EuroBasket tournament they hosted in 2019.
Germany has been drawn into Group B for EuroBasket, where they will compete against Lithuania, Great Britain, Sweden, Montenegro, and Finland.The tournament represents a crucial opportunity for Germany to build on its recent momentum and establish itself as a consistent contender in international basketball. The team’s ability to overcome these injury setbacks will be a key factor in their pursuit of another medal.
