5 German greats who graced the NBA feat. Detlef Schrempf
German basketball has come a long way over the last few decades. The rise of the game's popularity in Germany has led to a new crop of talented players thriving in the NBA.
This summer, Germany finished fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics men's basketball event. Although the team has never had an Olympic medal, it won the European Basketball Championship and also the gold medal last year at the FIBA World Cup.
A continuously growing basketball culture has seen the nation produce some gifted players and we take a look at five German greats who have graced the NBA.
5 German greats who graced the NBA feat. Detlef Schrempf
#5. Shawn Bradley
Although Shawn Bradley never represented the country at the international level, the lanky center has roots in Germany. Bradley was born in Landstuhl in 1972 and spent his early years in Europe.
At 7-foot-6, Bradley is one of the tallest players in NBA history. He was a top prospect coming out of BYU and was selected second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1993 draft. The fact that he was drafted ahead of players like Penny Hardaway, Jamal Mashburn, and Vin Baker goes to show how highly he was rated by scouts.
Bradley went on to play 875 games over 12 seasons and averaged 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
#4. Kiki VanDeWeghe
Like Bradley, Kiki VanDeWeghe was born and raised in Germany before moving to the United States in his youth. He excelled at the high school level and earned a chance to play at UCLA under legendary coach Larry Brown.
VanDeWeghe was the 11th overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft and had successful stints with the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and LA Clippers. He was named an All-Star in 1983 and 1984.
Over 15 seasons in the league, he racked up 15,980 points, 2,785 rebounds, 1,668 assists, and 243 blocks over 810 games.
#3. Dennis Schroder
A strong showing at the Olympics reminded NBA fans just how impactful Dennis Schroder can be to his team. The speedy point guard was one of the standout players of the tournament, averaging 17.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in Paris. He also ranked fifth among all players in assists per game with 7.5.
In 11 seasons in the league, Schroder has played over 800 games with six different organizations.
Led by Schroder and Franz Wagner, the star-studded German team worked its way up in the FIBA rankings and is currently ranked third.
#2. Detlef Schrempf
Fans of 90's basketball will remember Detlef Schrempf fondly. At a time when German players struggled to break through in the NBA, Schrempf left his mark. The Leverkusen-born player was a triple threat with the ability to pass, dribble, and shoot at a high level.
In over 16 seasons in the league, Schrempf was a three-time All-Star and was named the Sixth Man of the Year twice.
Schrempf played for four different NBA franchises over his career but arguably had the most success with the Seattle Supersonics alongside Shawn Kemp and Gary Payton. He was a member of the 1996 Sonics team that went all the way to the finals before eventually losing to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
#1. Dirk Nowitzki
After a memorable career with the Dallas Mavericks, it is no surprise that Dirk Nowitzki comes in at No. 1 on this list. The versatile 7-footer was considered elite on both the offensive and defensive front.
He played his entire 21-year NBA career with the Mavericks and appeared in 1,667 regular season and playoff games. In 2011, he led the franchise to its first-ever championship, defeating LeBron James and a star-studded Miami Heat team in the finals.
Nowitzki was the league MVP in 2007, a 14-time All-Star, and a four-time All-NBA First Team selection. In 2021, he was named to the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, cementing his place in the basketball history books.