The DBB squad has left for Japan, where the World Cup starts for the German basketball players on Friday with the duel against the co-hosts.
For national player Maodo Lo, the discord over Maximilian Kleber and his World Cup waiver has long since been settled. “It was a topic when it boiled up on social media as well. I think a lot has been said and written about it. As soon as the preparation started, it was no longer an issue for us as a team anyway,” said the 30-year-old Berlin native in an interview (Monday edition). Kleber (Dallas Mavericks) had cancelled his participation for this summer after captain Dennis Schröder criticised him in strong words.
The German team is one of the favourites at the World Cup in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines (25 August to 10 September), as US coach Steve Kerr emphasised after his team’s narrow victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Lo, who will play for Olimpia Milano next season, is also banking on the good team cohesion. “The team chemistry is similar as we have almost the same squad. Moritz Wagner has joined, who spent a lot of time with us last year but was injured. The same goes for Isaac Bonga. And on top of that, David Krämer. The chemistry is excellent again,” said the point guard – and explicitly singled out new Raptor Schröder: “Dennis is our captain and also leads extremely in practice, he sets the intensity. “
Germany’s first World Cup match will be against co-host Japan on Friday in Okinawa. Then it’s on to Australia (Sunday, 10.30 a.m.) and Finland (29 August, 9.30 a.m.).
