Schroder aims to bring off-season unity to Raptors
Global News
The Toronto Raptors message of unity and "team basketball" has at least one follower looking to make sure it's followed through on.
BURNABY, B.C. – The Toronto Raptors message of unity and “team basketball” has at least one follower looking to make sure it’s followed through on.
Dennis Schroder, an off-season signing for the Raptors, said he saw that same ideal play out as he and the German national team claimed the FIBA Basketball World Cup this summer.
“If everybody’s professional, everybody cares about winning, everybody puts their ego to the side. I think that’s what we did this summer with the national team and I try to bring that to the locker room,” said the 30-year-old point guard during a media availability in Burnaby, B.C.
Schroder also claimed the tournament MVP honours for his work in steering Germany to an undefeated World Cup win.
“It’s great to win the World Cup but the NBA is a different ball game. I’m very confident in this group … I think we can do something with this group,” he said.
Schroder and new Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic knew each other after working together in Oklahoma City in 2018 and 2019. Toronto’s new coach started his NBA career as a Thunder assistant.
“What I love about coach is he keeps everybody in the locker room accountable. It’s not to take them down, its to lift them up. That’s from the first player to the 15th player,” said Schroder.
Schroder said Rajakovic’s coaching style has an emphasis on respect and unity.
