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[NBA Central/Grange] Dennis Schroder reportedly wanted to lead his own team and was apparently unhappy about coming off the bench in Toronto prior to the Immanuel Quickley trade.



[NBA Central/Grange] Dennis Schroder reportedly wanted to lead his own team and was apparently unhappy about coming off the bench in Toronto prior to the Immanuel Quickley trade.

by UnbiasedNBAFan_

35 Comments

  1. he can be a starting point guard on a tanking team if he wants

  2. I hope he is happy now. Seems to be pretty professional about it.

  3. QuantumBeth1981

    Bro took the FIBA gold medal way too seriously lol

  4. Who said this was gonna be his team to lead? Leading the bench works better for him and his career

  5. Cheechers23

    Here’s the part from the article:

    > But perhaps the most immediate benefit of the trade has been the Raptors ‘acquiring’ some elite point guard depth by sliding Schroder back to the second unit.

    > “Dennis brings a lot of energy to everything that we do,” said Rajakovic. “He’s trying to play the right way on the offensive end, he’s very disruptive [defensively] … his mentality and his force is something that really rubs off on our guys very well.”

    > Schroeder wasn’t exactly happy with the decision to bring him off the bench prior to the trade, according to sources. One of the reasons he signed with the Raptors in free agency this past summer was the prospect of having his own team to run after coming off the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers last season and the Boston Celtics the season before that.

    > Schroder started for two seasons with Atlanta Hawks in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and again in his first stint with the Lakers in 2020-21, and heading into his 11th season he wanted the opportunity to start again. Rajakovic, who has history with Schroder from their seasons together in Oklahoma City, empowered him as a starter and believed Schroder could lift a team in that role much as he has with the German national team — who he led to the World Cup gold medal this past summer — so it was a reversal, there is no escaping that.

    > But with the decision now made Schroder is willing to make it work as he gets prepared to face his old team, the Lakers, whom he helped reach the Western Conference Finals in — that’s right — a bench role.

    > “[Darko] said he was thinking about doing a change [and] he knows how effective I am in any role I play,” Schroder said Sunday after another impressive performance off the bench in the Raptors’ blowout win over the Golden State Warriors. “… I always found my way … whatever it takes for this organization to win, I’ll do it. He knows that, that I want to win every single night, that’s the best feeling ever. Just keep going, every single chance I get on the court to do the right things.”

    [Source](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/raptors-bench-units-benefiting-from-schroders-experience-energy/)

    I mean, I sorta get being upset when you sign here expecting to be a starter, and then get brought to the bench. However, his play has not wavered and he seems to be saying the right things so should be all good.

    Some guys need to realize they’re best in a 6th man role. Dennis was the runner up to 6MOTY a few years back, you would think he’d know how effective he is in that role.

  6. I’m sure he got over it. He’s been playing great.

  7. jjkiller26

    At least he hasn’t let it affect his play at all. But yea I can see why getting benched for a struggling GTJ at the time would rub you the wrong way, even if it made sense basketball-wise.

    Depending on the raps record I can see him going to a contender at the deadline. I think he signed here to be a starter and since he’s back to six man he might want that role on a better team instead

  8. Plantedballer

    Our “Leaders” have been pretty selfish lately. He should’ve come off the bench to start the season.

    Bring Kyle back

  9. Educational_Secret_1

    How about Schroeder just playing his tail off for the rest of the season to get that starting line up call.. he’s done well but he’s just better off the bench. No shame in that man

  10. Ugh.

    People are going to shit on Dennis and take this completely out of context because they won’t read the full article.

    This was a direct quote from Dennis:

    “[Darko] said he was thinking about doing a change [and] he knows how effective I am in any role I play,” Schroder said Sunday after another impressive performance off the bench in the Raptors’ blowout win over the Golden State Warriors. “… I always found my way … whatever it takes for this organization to win, I’ll do it. He knows that, that I want to win every single night, that’s the best feeling ever. Just keep going, every single chance I get on the court to do the right things.”

  11. inevitablylate128

    fr go read the article man, aggregators will do anything for the clicks.

    “[Darko] said he was thinking about doing a change [and] he knows how effective I am in any role I play,” Schroder said Sunday after another impressive performance off the bench in the Raptors’ blowout win over the Golden State Warriors. “… I always found my way … whatever it takes for this organization to win, I’ll do it. He knows that, that I want to win every single night, that’s the best feeling ever. Just keep going, every single chance I get on the court to do the right things.”

  12. ButterscotchObvious4

    Not surprising. Dude has an ego. If his contract wasn’t so cheap, and playing well as second fiddle, he’d be on the immediate trade block.

  13. Iliketothrowaway2456

    Holy shit did the fanbase turn on this guy.

    Man is still giving it 100% despite the changes, so there’s really no issue with him.

    Maybe at the deadline, a contender might want him if their guy is out for an extended time and we deal him out again. We will see

  14. Eclectic_Canadian

    If we had a good record and the lineup change happened I’m sure he would have been more upset. He seems to genuinely prefer winning to having a more prominent role and that’s nice to see

  15. I appreciate that Dennis has remained a true professional, but aside from tbe Spurs and maybe the Wizards, what team is starting him at PG? Like what team that’s legit trying to win is permanently starting Dennis

  16. SaddestHappyMeal

    I love you Dennis but this ain’t the Deutschland national team

  17. Objective-Scale-3703

    Called it. I figured he partially signed here to be a starter, and that he wouldn’t be happy being a bench PG behind point forward Scottie.

  18. CarlSwagan_

    Doesn’t he remember what happened the last time he bet on himself

  19. TJStrawberry

    I’m actually surprised Darko sees past the politics about starters and started IQ over Dennis. Dennis has actually been closing the majority of the games post trade too so I don’t think he minds his role now

  20. iambiggzy

    Dennis had his chance. He was playing well until his 3pt jump shot disappeared.

    Now he’s in the right spot for what our team needs

  21. bearcat--

    I like Dennis a lot, I used to hate him but he plays hard on both ends. Glad he’s playing well in whatever role that comes to him.

  22. Just because he may be effective in one role or another doesn’t mean they have to like it or like their situation. It’s not about liking anything. He can absolutely hate it all he wants. As long as he “acts” professional then that’s fine and he can ask to be traded if he doesn’t want to be here anymore. That’s perfectly OK just as the Raptors have the right to refuse or wait until an acceptable deal comes into play where it would make sense for him to leave.

    I think fans have this mentality that these players should always be happy about whatever the team dictates to them.

  23. CanadianGroose

    Insane how many people just take the headline at face value and don’t read the damn article. This is a quote directly from him.

    “… I always found my way … whatever it takes for this organization to win, I’ll do it.”

    Too me, that shows leadership. Willing to accept a bench role even when you’re no happy about it. Also it’s not like his mins are nothing. He still plays like 30 mins a game and is great when he comes in.

    Honestly, I would love to keep a guy like Dennis around next year. Wouldn’t mind finding a replacement for Jak though…

  24. This is truly a clickbait title, and if some of y’all notice my posts already, I’ve said:

    It’s okay for a NBA player to think they’re a starter whether it’s true or not. It’s how they handle it when they’re not.

    Obviously Dennis is disappointed, he’s human. Is he pouting, being a locker room cancer, not playing hard or being a crappy teammate? As I can see so far, and what his teammates have said in the article, he hasn’t done any of those things. Instead of being quick to judge and say he has a massive ego, etc. (everyone has an ego (of varying sizes), but once again, it’s how you handle things).

    I think you should judge him for what’s he doing on the court and what his teammates say about him.

  25. ubiquitous_archer

    “I’d really like my team to finish last”

  26. Dennis is still playing 30mpg and he’s being staggered with the starting players….it really shouldn’t be a big problem and I think he has realized that by now.

  27. Professional-Doubt14

    Classic example of why Schroeder isn’t a starting pg happened in the second half last night. Schroeder had the ball and Barrett, red hot with 30 pts, was wide open calling for it. Dennis looked him off and drove into a midrange fadeaway. He hit the shot, but unless you are Ja or Shai you can’t be forcing your own offense like that when your main positional role is to distribute the ball.

  28. earlyearlgray

    No one is happy going from starter to bench, especially if your goal is to be a starter. I’m sure it was a bit of a bummer for Dennis. He’s allowed to feel that way. It’s admirable that despite that blow, he’s coming off the bench and playing his ass off. More winning will help him accept his role.

  29. sizzlezzzzz

    I get it but he really thrives as a 6th man and will get 30mpg. Will be featured in closing small ball lineups anyway

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