Kleber’s statement (in german): [https://twitter.com/BIG\_Deutschland/status/1681371852273332225](https://twitter.com/BIG_Deutschland/status/1681371852273332225)
Back story: so basically what happened was that Dennis Schröder gave an podcast interview in Germany a couple of days ago and somewhat out of nowhere called out Maxi Kleber, questioning Klebers decision to play for Team Germany this summer at the WC after he declined to play for Germany last year at the Eurobasket. Kleber didn’t wanna play last year to take some time off to fully rest after some injuries had lingered him to finish out last year’s NBA season (understandable).
Schröder however stated he heard that Kleber took the summer off wanting to work on his game (ballhandling ect.), saying Kleber “had no game” to work on since he was merely a 3-and-D type of role player. He stated that internally the decision was made that if you weren’t commited in 2022, you shouldn’t be playing in 2023 for Germany either since that would be unfair towards the other players.
Schröder in the meantime has already released a statement on his YT channel, but now Kleber responded with his statement, saying he won’t play for Germany this summer as a consequence.
by crenzler
32 Comments
How do native Germans view this?
Schroder seems like an all-around great guy.
Schroeder can’t go a few months without fumbling something apparently
Schroder had zero reasons to call out Maxi like that lol
So Schroder said that since Kleber didn’t want to play at Eurobasket, his commitment to the World Cup was questionable and Kleber’s response is making what Schroder said 100% true?
>if you weren’t commited in 2022, you shouldn’t be playing in 2023
This seems to be true for at least a few national teams.
Canada is similar, in 2021-22 there was a request for a 3-year commitment to the national program (until the 2024 olympics), these players largely (if not entirely) make up the current National Team roster. Some of the players who didn’t commit, Wiggins and Boucher, were not invited to play in the WC unless enough of the committed guys had to drop out due to injury or ineligibility.
Obviously some of the notable omissions from the current team Canada squad are good enough to be on the team, but the national team prioritized continuity.
Why would you call out a NT teammate like that, especially on a fucking podcast…
He’s made of balsa wood anyway. He shouldn’t be playing in games he’s not getting paid for. Rest up and watch alongside the rest of us
common schroder L
Don’t need him with both Wagner brothers healthy.
Nobody listened to the podcast.
Classic German media.
Maxi baby rest, we need you in the playoffs next year lol
So when my highschool coach told me not to worry about working on my game over the summer, he didn’t mean that I was already at the highest possible level?!
Hansi Flick in (more) shambles
Sad to see things like this aired publicly this way. I really hate the trend of Millennials/Gen Z/Alpha turning to social media to air out grievances that can be addressed privately. It’s tacky.
With that being said, I completely understand where Dennis is coming from…it’s a commitment after a long season to play for the national club and it’s a commitment he doesn’t feel Kleber is honoring. He feels like he’s dealt with his own bumps and bruises and still showed up for the country and Kleber hasn’t. Kleber is right to feel disrespected and understandable he has decided not to step into the lion’s den, so to speak. Just wish this was all handled in a more mature way by Schroder.
Schroeder has regular clown behavior
People from USA won’t understand this. Playing for your national team is a big deal in Europe. If you’re skiping a tournament because you have an injury, that’s fine, if you’re skipping because “I’m tired” “I need to work on handles” is insulting to some people.
Also, Germany won a third place in Eurobasket.(better than Jokic, Doncic, Giannis, Sabonis national teams). If Kleber is playing in WC, one player gonna get cut because a player who was “too tired” to play for his nation now wants to play and another player(maybe even players) gonna have a reduced role. That could mess up your team chemistry after very successful Eurobasket. That’s why he’s saying “it’s unfair towards the other players”. He’s a captain and he’s standing up for his players.
Schroders a jackass
>”had no game” to work on since he was merely a 3-and-D type of role player.
Lmfao huh?
It was funny watching Dennis’ video on this
“The media’s twisting my words! I meant exactly what the media said I meant, but the media is attacking me!”
This will happen in any sports . You wasn’t shooting with us in the gym , now you want to be with us
Everyone in Germany supports Schröders take. Maxi Kleber didn’t want to play for Germany the last time and now the team doesn’t want him. Understandable.
That’s Tuff
It’s just straight disrespectful. Like kind of mean spirited. He just shat on every role player. I can’t imagine anyone in the league likes this take too much.
Schröder always seemed so full of himself. I’ve been out on him since he made a stink about being a starter in Atlanta
This is the making of a good thread:
What international players don’t like their fellow countrymen?
Obviously I don’t like all Americans but it seems like when only a few of you are playing in a league everyone is pretty good friends with each other from the same country. I wonder who else has a little beef out there?
I would like my BEEF medium rare
All these damn podcasts these days stir up so much random and unnecessary drama.
Y’all making this a big deal but it’s the same shit that happened with wiggins too. You need to commit
So just bc Maxi is a 3&d player he can’t train on his handles or his game to be better ? When Mavs fans were calling for a trade
Maxi is the weirdest dude to start beef with and it is not the first time I’ve seen it.
There was that play, maybe even involving Schroeder were some Lakers front up to him for no good reason..
>if you weren’t commited in 2022, you shouldn’t be playing in 2023 for Germany either
What if he played in 2022 and 2023 but not in 2024, could he not play in 2025? Does Denis think if you miss a year you shouldn’t be allowed back? This is stupid