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    Wagner brothers give Germany's Starting 5 in World Cup a new look

    Expect Schröder to have plenty of help at World Cup
    Jul 3, 2023
    germany starting five for world cup
    ILLUSTRATION: echo antonio

    AFTER a lowly finish in 2019, Germany has nowhere to go but up in the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup next month.

    After finishing 18th in the 2019 edition in China where they failed to advance past the group stage against eventual bronze medalist France and the Dominican Republic, the Germans are fielding an improved roster with more NBA talent in this year’s showpiece.

    Based on their 18-man pool announced last month, the Germans could unleash a starting unit with all but one player currently in the NBA.

    Led by Canadian-Finnish coach Gordon Herbert, Germany tests its mettle in Group E against Australia, Finland, and host Japan at the Okinawa Arena alongside Group F.

    Check out the potential Germany Starting 5 in the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup:

    SG – Andreas Obst

    The Bayern Munich shooting guard is Germany’s best long-range threat.

    The 6-foot-3 sniper averaged 9.9 points, 2.6 treys on 39.5-percent shooting from deep, 1.8 boards, 1.3 assists, and 0.6 steal in 25 minutes over 20 games in the EuroLeague last season.

    Turning 28 on July 13, Obst is also one of the country’s veteran players, having played in important tournaments since the 2019 World Cup.

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      C – Daniel Theis

      The Indiana Pacers big man looks to prove he can still deliver when given enough exposure.

      Recovering from a knee injury most of the last NBA season following his trade from Boston, the 31-year-old was limited to just seven games, averaging seven points on 47.7% shooting, 3.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.9 block in 15.6 minutes.

      Theis rode the bench in the last few games of the season as the Pacers turned to their younger big men.

      Now back with the national team, the 6-foot-8 Theis is eager to prove he can still go toe-to-toe with the world’s best.

      PF – Moritz Wagner

      Moritz Wagner

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      The Orlando Magic big man adds depth to Germany’s frontcourt that was missing in 2019.

      The 6-foot-11 stalwart showed what the Germans can accomplish when he’s on the roster as he suited up in the Tokyo Olympics where his country finished eighth.

      The 26-year-old Wagner is coming off his second-best scoring season in the NBA, putting up 10.5 points on 50% shooting, on top of 4.5 boards, 1.5 assists, and 0.6 steal in 19.5 minutes over 57 games with 18 starts.

      Germany has another NBA player in the power forward rotation in Dallas Mavericks stretch big Maxi Kleber.

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        PG – Dennis Schröder

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        The Los Angeles Lakers point guard will handle Germany’s playmaking duties once again.

        For a while, the 6-foot-1 dynamo also carried most of the scoring load for a country lacking in shot creators.

        The 29-year-old Schröder underlined his capability in the NBA, averaging 12.4 points on 41.5% shooting, 1.1 triples, 4.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.8 steal in 30.1 minutes over 66 games and 50 starts for the Lakers in the last regular season.

        The 10-year NBA veteran is expected to have more scoring help in this year’s World Cup.

        Germany’s point-guard rotation is solid, having another former NBA player in Isaac Bonga, who now plays for Bayern Munich alongside Obst.

        SF – Franz Wagner

        Franz Wagner

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        The Orlando Magic rising star is expected to be the face of German basketball moving forward.

        Turning only 22 on August 27 when his country takes on Australia, Wagner continued his rapid progress in the NBA, norming 18.6 points on 48.5% shooting, 1.6 treys, 4.1 boards, 3.5 assists, and one steal in 32.6 minutes over 80 starts in his sophomore season.

        The 6-foot-10 forward showed what can happen when he plays for the national team as he led Germany to the bronze in last year’s EuroBasket.

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        ILLUSTRATION: echo antonio
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