Germany’s basketball team is on the cusp of history. Twenty-eight years after their last European Championship title in 1993, the Dennis Schröder-led team is poised to win its second EuroBasket title this Sunday against Türkiye. Schröder, who was just 12 when Germany last made the final, is now the team’s captain and driving force.

From 12 Years Old to EuroBasket Final

“I have no memory of that game,” Schröder recalled about the 2005 final, where Dirk Nowitzki and Co. fell short against Greece. Now, with a 31-year-old Schröder at the helm, the team is a favorite to clinch the title.

Germany’s Road to the Final

On their way to the final, Germany secured a group victory against Finland with a gala performance. They then defeated the previously unbeaten Turks, who had earlier disenchanted Greek sensation Giannis Antetokounmpo and his team.

Their journey to the final has not been without setbacks. Key players like Moritz Wagner and Isaiah Hartenstein withdrew before the tournament, and national coach Alex Mumbru was hospitalized. Despite this, the team has remained resilient and united, with just ten players available for the semi-final against Finland.

The Future Looks Bright

Should Germany win on Sunday, they will become the first team since 2009 to secure both EuroBasket and World Cup titles. With Schröder, the Wagner brothers, and others committed to the national team for the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, the future looks promising. Young talent like Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach also bode well for the team’s future.