Could the German Basketball National Team challenge Team USA at the Paris Olympics?
As the quest for the Gold Medal in Men’s Basketball begins this weekend at the 2024 Paris Olympics, eyes are on the competition. Daniel Theis, yet to debut for the New Orleans Pelicans, will represent Germany. While Team USA is favored to win Gold, many believe Germany could also secure a medal.
ESPN’s Senior Writer Brian Windhorst listed Germany as a formidable team to watch during the Summer Games. He praised their strong lineup, highlighting international star Dennis Schroeder and NBA players Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, and Daniel Theis.
“Germany is such a well-built and experienced team, it doesn’t feel great assigning it in this category. But it is an indication of how deep this tournament is. The Germans were impressive in winning the World Cup last summer. They’ve got that super valuable mix of a dominant lead guard, international star Dennis Schroeder, and a gigantic and talented front line with NBA players Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, and Daniel Theis. Their veteran coach, Gordy Herbert, has proved to be brilliant at constructing and preparing his team,” Windhorst stated.
Theis played a key role in Germany’s Gold Medal victory at last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup. In the semifinal against the USA, he scored 21 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had a game-high +26 in plus-minus, leading Germany to a 113-111 win. Germany then defeated Serbia in the final to secure their first-ever Gold Medal in the FIBA World Cup. Theis averaged 10.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists throughout the tournament.
This year, Team USA boasts top NBA talent, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant. They went undefeated in preliminary matches but faced a tough challenge from Germany in a narrow 92-88 victory on July 22nd. In that game, Theis contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Pelicans recently signed Theis to a one-year deal to strengthen their front court after losing Jonas Valanciunas in free agency and Cody Zeller in the Dejounte Murray trade. They also drafted Yves Missi from Baylor University with the No. 22 pick in this year’s NBA draft. Missi is seen as a long-term project, suggesting Theis will have significant playing time unless the Pelicans acquire another big man.
Despite his 6-8 height, Theis fits the vision of new executive vice president David Griffin. In a recent NBA Summer League interview, Griffin expressed confidence in the team’s current roster.
“I know everybody thinks we have to invest in the center position a little bit. We actually are really excited about what we have now. We are excited to play small and fast,” Griffin said.
Theis is a nine-year NBA veteran, having played for multiple teams. He has started 151 regular-season games, averaging 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
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