Steve Kerr reveals honest conversation with new Warriors guard Dennis Schroder - "He’s kicked my a** on 3 different continents"

The Golden State Warriors acquired veteran point guard Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Afterward, Warriors coach Steve Kerr touched on his laudatory post-trade discussion with his newest player, referencing their past NBA and international battles.

Golden State reportedly sought guard depth after losing offseason acquisition De'Anthony Melton to a season-ending sprained left ACL last month. So, it capitalized on Brooklyn's reported fire sale of its veterans by making the first big splash of the NBA trade season.

The Warriors shipped Melton, guard Reece Beekman and three future second-round draft picks to the Nets, netting Schroder and a 2025 second-rounder.

Schroder has bounced around the league, with Golden State marking his eighth franchise in 12 seasons. Nevertheless, he is highly esteemed in league circles, with his production for his native Germany in international competitions being a driving force.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP has clashed with Kerr, Team USA's coach, multiple times. That includes during the 2023 FIBA World Cup semifinal when the Germans upset the Americans 113-111 en route to their first gold medal in the tournament. Germany also challenged the U.S. in a 2024 Paris Summer Olympics exhibition contest, falling 92-88.

Moreover, Schroder has a 4-2 NBA playoff record against Kerr's Warriors. In 2023, he secured a six-game second-round series victory as a member of the LA Lakers.

On Sunday, Kerr underscored his excitement to finally be on the same side as Schroder after years of being adversaries.

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"I'm thrilled. I told Dennis today he's kicked my a** on three different continents," Kerr said. "So, (if) you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

He later praised Schroder's performances in their head-to-head showdowns.

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"(In the '23) playoffs, I thought he was brilliant against us with the Lakers," Kerr said. "Watching him in FIBA the last two summers, (in the) Philippines, and then we played them in London in an exhibition game, he's a gamer, he's a competitor, pick-and-roll player, two-way player."

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Steve Kerr on what to expect from Dennis Schroder with Warriors

During his press conference, Steve Kerr broke down Dennis Schroder's projected impact with Golden State. The acclaimed coach highlighted his desire for Schroder to play a versatile, two-way role, similar to De'Anthony Melton.

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"He will fill what Melt was doing for us in terms of being able to play on or off the ball," Kerr said. "Excellent defender, long wingspan, he's a steals guy, forced turnovers, pace. Everything we need, we feel like he can provide."

Schroder is expected to compete for minutes with the likes of veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield and sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski. However, it's unclear if he will receive enough usage to match his early season production with Brooklyn.

Through 23 outings, Schroder is averaging 18.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.5 3-pointers per game, shooting 45.2% and 38.7% from deep.

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