Dennis Schröder has apologized to Maxi Kleber for recent comments he made about Kleber’s participation in international competitions with Germany’s national team, according to Eurohoops.net.
Kleber was upset with Schröder regarding the guard’s criticism of the Mavericks’ big man’s lack of participation in the EuroBasket competition last year.
“Maxi wasn’t there last year,” Schröder said. “If you didn’t commit — that was actually the message for all of us — then you won’t be there next year either.”
Schröder tried to smooth things over in a statement released on the German Basketball Federation’s website.
“All of this was never something personal against Maxi Kleber from my side,” said Schroder, who signed with the Raptors as a free agent this summer. “Anyone who knows me knows that I am a direct type and always assume that the person I am talking to understands what I mean by what I say, but I have once again been shown that this is not always the case. I still appreciate and respect him and his career and hope he accepts my apologies.”
It’s unclear whether Kleber will now change his mind and play in the World Cup.
We have more from the basketball world:
- Forward Alex Poythress is departing Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv but he’s apparently found another basketball home overseas, Sportando relays via Basket News and ONE. Poythress is expected to join Italy’s Olimpia Milano. Poythress played 52 games in the NBA, mostly recently with Atlanta in 2018/19, when he appeared in 21 contests.
- Another Israeli team, Hapoel Tel Aviv, is close to signing Kyle Alexander, according to Sportando. He played last season with Spain’s Valencia. Alexander appeared in two games with the Heat during the 2019/20 season.
- Joel Ayayi has landed with the French team Nanterre 92, according to another Sportando story. He spent last season with the Magic’s G League team in Lakeland, where he averaged 8.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game. The Gonzaga product appeared in seven games with the Wizards the previous season.
“Hi, I’d like to trash your name, work ethic and patriotism in a long rant (most of which is not included in the abbreviated blurb above) … Having said that, you should be aware that I did not mean it personally.” Perhaps Schröder’s hair dye fried a few brain cells.
Dennis is right though
He was never smart. This is the same guy that cost himself $90mil
Europeans always use the “I’m direct” card.
Most of the time “direct” = rude af tool
Schröder has a point, though. The national team players had an internal agreement to represent Germany in the upcoming three to four years. You skip a commitment, you don’t play next year.
There are enough of these unpatriotic slouches in the German national football team already. No pride, no drive, no skill – just a bunch of pathetic losers. Fans have grown tired of it to the point where there’s now complete indifference towards next year’s German-hosted UEFA Euros.