Devin Ham on Dennis Schroder signing: 'EuroBasket played a huge role' / News - Basketnews.com

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Devin Ham remembered his coaching story with Dennis Schroder in Atlanta and admitted that the player's performance in EuroBasket 2022 played a big rule in the signing.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

Following a EuroBasket 2022 semifinal loss against Spain, it was announced that Dennis Schroder signed a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The German guard will make a comeback to both play in his former team and under his former coach.

Dennis Schroder

Position:PGAge:29Height:185 cmWeight:76 kgBirth place:Brunswick, GermanyProfileNewsStatistics

The new Lakers head coach Darvin Ham admitted that Schroder's performance in the EuroBasket played a significant role in signing him.

"Huge factor, a huge factor. He and I spent 5 years in Atlanta together, I was with him from Day 1 of his rookie year, it was our first year in Atlanta under coach Bud (Mike Budenholzer)," Ham told reporters after practice.

"He was one of my responsibilities from individual workouts to putting an arm around him when needed, just helping him understand what this level of basketball is about on and off the floor," the coach recalled his experience with Schroder. "He's like family to me now."

During EuroBasket 2022, Schroder averaged 22.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists on 45.1% shooting for Germany. The guard's point average was the best among the Top-4 teams and fifth in the entire tournament.

"His performance this summer was nothing short of incredible. It just shows his maturity [in] the way he led his team, not just the points and the stats but his energy, his competitiveness, the way he kept the group together, he kept the group moving forward through the tournament," Ham said.

"This speaks volumes of how he's grown," the coach continued. "He and I used to always kid about him playing for me one day whenever I become a head coach. Here we are, we have to make this stuff work I guess."

The Lakers will start their NBA season with a match against the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night.

Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.