Paris 2024 basketball: Can Germany repeat their FIBA World Cup success at the Olympics?
There may not be a men’s team in world basketball right now heading to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with greater momentum than Germany.
At FIBA EuroBasket 2022 (the men’s European championships), a German team led by captain Dennis Schröder earned a deserved bronze – the country’s first international medal since winning silver at EuroBasket 2005. A year later, Germany stunned the world by triumphing at the FIBA World Cup 2023, winning the competition for the first time and qualifying directly for Paris 2024 as Europe’s best-ranked team in FIBA’s flagship event.
Since then, Die Mannschaft (The Team) have risen to third in the FIBA World Rankings, behind only two-time world champions Spain and 16-time Olympic gold medallists USA.
Now that Germany have captured everyone’s attention, what can they produce for an encore in Paris?
Germany players, coaches and team officials pose for photos with the Naismith Trophy after the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final victory over Serbia in Manila, Philippines. Germany won 83-77.
Germany's key numbers
World Ranking: 3rd
Olympic Games
- Appearances: 6
- Medals: None
FIBA World Cup
- Appearances: 7
- Medals: Gold (2023), Bronze (2002)
FIBA EuroBasket
- Appearances: 25
- Medals: Gold (1993), Silver (2005), Bronze (2022)
Germany’s undefeated run at the World Cup proves they can medal in Paris
Germany came into the 2023 World Cup as the no. 11 team in the world and reigning European bronze medallists – a solid if not outstanding resume. Few, if any, pundits predicted they would go on to win the competition.
Eyebrows were raised after Germany topped Group E with a 3-0 record, which included an 85-82 win over Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists Australia, but the idea of Germany reaching the final still seemed unlikely.
Yet when an 81-79 quarter-final win over Latvia was followed up with a stunning 113-11 victory over the USA in the semi-finals, the prospect of a first world title for Die Mannschaft suddenly became a real possibility.
Germany’s veteran experience and team cohesiveness (this is a roster that has remained largely unchanged for the past four years) proved decisive in the final against Serbia, resulting in an 83-77 win that secured the trophy and a spot at Paris 2024.
Their performance and experience at the World Cup proves Germany can execute in the biggest moments on the international stage; the roster that will be assembled for the Olympics will likely mirror the ‘23 team, meaning Die Mannschaft will bring a seasoned, winning group to France that will no longer be seen as underdogs, but rather as realistic podium finishers.
Germany celebrates after winning the FIBA Basketball World Cup Final between Germany and Serbia at Mall of Asia Arena on September 10, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Dennis Schröder and elite NBA and EuroLeague talent can shine on Olympic stage
While not traditionally seen as a basketball powerhouse, there have been several players with German heritage who have achieved considerable success at the highest level of basketball. Most notable among them are Detlef Schrempf (a three-time NBA All-Star and two-time Sixth Man of the Year) and Dirk Nowitzki (2011 NBA champion & Finals MVP, 2007 NBA MVP, 14-time All-Star, and 2002 FIBA World Cup bronze medallist).
While the current members of Germany’s squad have yet to match the individual success of Nowitzki and Schrempf, they have surpassed them on the international stage by virtue of their World Cup success. And, as a collective, the 2024 Olympic team will undoubtedly be the best German team ever assembled.
Captain Dennis Schröder, who was named the FIBA World Cup MVP at the tournament, will almost certainly return alongside Franz and Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic. Daniel Theis of the Los Angeles Clippers is an eight-year NBA veteran, while Maxi Kleber (Dallas Mavericks) and Isaiah Hartenstein (New York Knicks), both of whom were not part of the 2023 team, could be called upon for Paris.
Then there are the players currently competing in Europe, such as center Johannes Voigtmann of Olimpia Milano, a FIBA Europe Cup champion in 2016; Andreas Obst, who scored 24 points (including the go-ahead jumper) against the USA in the World Cup semi-final, is a current member of Bayern Munich; Maodo Lô is a four-time Bundesliga champion; and Isaac Bonga, a veteran of three NBA teams and current member of Bayern Munich.
With the amount of talent and continuity among this current crop of players, Germany’s success at the World Cup, on reflection, perhaps shouldn’t be that surprising. It would behove us all, therefore, to not underestimate them again at the Olympic Games.
Andreas Obst #42 of Germany controls the ball against Anthony Edwards #10 of the United States. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)
Germany's group at Paris 2024
Germany has been drawn into Group B along with Japan, hosts France and the winner of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) Latvia, with those countries being Latvia, Georgia, Philippines, Brazil, Cameroon and Montenegro.
Germany beat Japan in their opening game of the World Cup last summer, and have won three of their last four showdowns at major events against France.
Germany Group Phase Games
vs Japan (July 27)
vs Winner OQT Latvia (July 30)
vs France (August 2)