Dennis Schroder will not compete for Germany’s national team this summer, the German Basketball Federation announced Wednesday.
Germany was to begin qualification play for next year’s EuroBasket 2017 tournament in August. The team made the announcement of Schroder’s withdrawal on social media.
Schroder will assume the job of starting point guard for the Hawks next season after the team traded Jeff Teague this summer. Schroder said following last season that he intended to play for Germany in its quest to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Germany did not qualify for the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio that begin next month.
“All this does not change me commitment to the German national team. The 2020 Olympics remains the focus,” Schroder said in a translation of a Twitter post from the national team.
Schroder has played for Germany the past two summers in international qualifying tournaments. He has credited his time with the team in a development as an NBA player.
It appears with greater responsibility entrusted to him by the Hawks, it appears Schroder elected to give that team his commitment this summer.
Schroder has been in Germany and recently competed in a 3-on-3 streetball tournament.
“We fully support Dennis and renounce his commitment this summer with a heavy heart,” said Armin Andres, the president of the German Basketball Federation, in a translation from the organization’s Twitter post.
Hawks assistant general manager Jeff Peterson has worked with the German national team as an assistant the past two summers with Schroder. He is unlikely to continue that role this summer with Schroder’s absence.
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