A career-best start and a clear leadership role have marked Dennis Schroder's full season in Brooklyn thus far.
Schroder, acquired by the Nets in a trade in February 2023, also appears to have started the season with a mission to let fans get to know him on a deeper level beyond what they see on the court.
The 12-year veteran point guard has started posting YouTube videos centered around his daily life with the Nets. This was also the case with previous teams, including the Raptors and the German national team during the Paris Olympics.
The series initially began to show that Schroeder was not the person many people perceived him to be.
“I mean, I started it in LA in 2020. I think people thought I was arrogant even before I started it,” he said Monday after the Nets beat the Grizzlies 106-104. Schroder said that night. “And I posted the car when I was in Atlanta, so I posted a golden [Audi] R8 I remember Germany was furious and said he wasn't humble. Then my best friend, who I live with, said, “Listen, you should do YouTube so people who don't know about you can get to know you.” I think that was the start of it all for people to see how humble we are as a family. No matter how high our status, we are always humble and know where we come from. And I think that's what made us know, not just in Germany but all over the world, that we're humble and we're just grateful to be here. ”
We get glimpses of his family life and German culture, moments from his travels with the Nets and flashes of his teammates, all of which help give the rebuilding team more of an identity.
Schroder, who has a $13 million contract that expires this season, has expressed a desire to remain with the Nets long-term, citing not only his strong play but also his interest in communicating to fans via YouTube. has been stated and continues to support it. .
The Nets entered the season with the team's win total set at 19.5 at the sportsbook. The Nets are currently 4-4, good for third place in the East heading into Tuesday's game, and are averaging 19.9 points on 50 percent shooting with Schroder at the helm.
Dorian Finney-Smith called Schroder a “snakehead” when it comes to the Nets' defense. On Monday, he showed his worth again in a big moment at Barclays Center, leading to the Nets' fourth win.
With 38 seconds left in the game and the Nets leading 104-101, Schroder drove 7-foot-4 Zach Eady to the rim for the Nets' final basket.
“Oh, I didn't tell him that,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Eadie's momentum after the win. “I said, 'Dennis, do whatever you want. Take me home.' … At the end of the day, this is his job for the team, this is his leadership, and It's about delivering results. I've seen it internationally, I've seen it in the NBA, so it doesn't surprise me.”
After Jaren Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to pull Memphis within two points, Schröder came up with a great defense and knocked the ball out of Ja Morant's hands with 4.2 seconds left. It delayed the Grizzlies' final shot on airball. Santi Aldama.
Mr. Schroeder recognizes the responsibilities that come with his role. He knows it all “starts at the point guard,” and acknowledged that his teammates feed off of his defensive energy.
“When someone, a point guard, comes full court and they see you hustling in the backcourt, it gets to them and they know if they're applying pressure or if they're in the right spot. ” he said. “That's what the coaches want me to do and I'm going to do it every night. If you follow my career, I've continued to do that throughout my career. That's what the coaches want me to do and I'm going to do it every night. That's how we earned the time. And fortunately, we have a coach who loves that 94-foot pressure and everyone buys into it.”
The Braunschweig, Germany native had 20 points, six assists, two rebounds and one steal in the 106-104 victory. It was the fifth game in the Nets' first eight games in which he scored 20 or more points.
