The Hornets' new backup point guard shot 7-of-11 with 6 assists in Germany's 99-83 win over the Netherlands in Cologne on Thursday.
Germany scored 38 points in the first quarter at Lanxess Arena on Thursday and beat the Netherlands 99-83 in a 2027 FIBA World Cup European Qualifier in Cologne. Dennis Schröder scored 23 points and handed out 6 assists, 13 days after the Charlotte Hornets acquired him in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Schröder shot 7-of-11 from the field, going 5-of-5 inside the arc and 2-of-6 from 3-point range. He made all 7 of his free throws. In 26 minutes he also collected 2 steals and 1 rebound.
The halftime score was 64-50. Germany was ahead 82-66 after three quarters. Both teams scored 17 points in the final quarter.
Oscar da Silva finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds. Isaac Bonga scored 13. Maodo Lo had 10 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals, and Louis Olinde grabbed 7 rebounds.
Yannick Franke led the Netherlands with 24 points and made 6 of his 11 3-point attempts. Rienk Mast added 17 points and 5 rebounds, Nathan Kuta scored 10, and David N'Guessan had 9 points and 6 rebounds. Keye van der Vuurst de Vries finished with 6 assists and 7 turnovers.
The Netherlands committed 19 turnovers to Germany's 10. Germany finished with 9 steals to 4 for the Netherlands. Germany shot 37-of-73 from the field and the Netherlands shot 30-of-64. The Netherlands won the rebounding 35-34.
Germany is 6-1 in Group K of the second qualifying round. Poland is 7-0 and Croatia is 6-1. The top three teams in the group advance to the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar. Germany plays at Poland in Gdansk on Aug. 30.
Cleveland sent Schröder and cash to Charlotte for guard Tre Mann. Charlotte is the 12th NBA team in Schröder's career, which began with the 17th overall pick in the 2013 draft, and the deal was the ninth trade involving Schröder. He is owed $14.8 million this season and carries a $4.4 million guarantee for 2027-28.
Schröder appeared in 70 games last season, 40 for the Sacramento Kings and 30 for Cleveland. He averaged 10.8 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 24.2 minutes, shooting 40.5% from the field and 32.9% from 3-point range. His career averages are 13.7 points and 4.9 assists.
Schröder said after the trade that Charlotte would be a better situation for him than Cleveland, where he shared a backcourt with two ball-dominant guards.
Charlotte re-signed Coby White for three years at $74 million and traded LaMelo Ball to the Timberwolves for Naz Reid and draft picks. The Hornets will likely start White, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel, Reid, and Moussa Diabate, with Schröder as backup point guard.
Germany beat Turkey 88-83 in the EuroBasket 2025 final on Sept. 14. Schröder was named MVP of the tournament in Riga. He also won MVP of the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Charlotte opens the 2026-27 season on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. The home opener is against the Atlanta Hawks.
