There was a fair amount of concern about Dennis Schroder when he was recently signed by the Sacramento Kings. Does he have what it takes to become a regular part of the rotation, and is he the puzzle piece the Kings have been missing?
Some, but not all, of those concerns were quieted when EuroBasket 2025 got started. That's because Schroder had a terrific showing for Team Germany and showed off his skills for a very significant audience member: Kings owner Vivek Ranadive.
Schroder has a stunning game in front of his new boss
Ranadive was sitting courtside and was all smiles during Schroder's big game against Montenegro. The German star posted 21 points and 4 assists, leading the way to a 106-76 victory. People often disagree with Ranadvie's approach to ownership, but did he make the right choice by pursuing Schroder?
There is no doubt that Schroder put on a show and reminded people why he's known as such a fierce competitor when playing overseas. The only problem is, he doesn't always keep it up when he's back in the NBA.
The Kings will be in good shape if Schroder can put up 21 points a night in 2025-26, but that's much better than the 10.8 points he did during his recent stint with the Detroit Pistons. We have seen this pattern before: Schroder does well while playing in Europe but then comes up short when he's back in the league. Is this a pattern that will continue?
Other Kings players are very excited to work with Schroder, claiming that he could help them reach their next level and bring the offense together in some vital, impressive ways. But the fans aren't so sure, because Schroder's career has been filled with ups and downs, starts and stops, and strong showings in the EuroBasket or FIBA World Cup followed by lackluster performances during the regular season.
In other words, Schroder is the epitome of a mixed bag, and even if he continues to thrive in the EuroBasket, some faithful Sacramento followers won't be sold. It doesn't matter how pleased Ranadive is with this game, Schroder still has plenty to prove when 2025-26 begins in a couple of months.