Germany men's national basketball team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Germany

FIBA ranking	3 (1 March 2024)
Joined FIBA	1934
FIBA zone	FIBA Europe
National federation	Deutscher Basketball Bund (DBB)
Coach	Álex Mumbrú
Nickname(s)	Die Mannschaft (The Team)
Olympic Games
Appearances	7
Medals	None
FIBA World Cup
Appearances	7
Medals	Gold: (2023) Bronze: (2002)
EuroBasket
Appearances	26
Medals	Gold: (1993, 2025) Silver: (2005) Bronze: (2022)
Home Away
First international
Switzerland 25–18 Germany  (Berlin, Germany; 7 August 1936)
Biggest win
West Germany 127–53 Scotland  (Osnabrück, West Germany; 11 May 1989)
Biggest defeat
Yugoslavia 115–56 West Germany  (Tbilisi, Soviet Union; 4 June 1965)
Medal record FIBA World Cup Gold 2023 Philippines–Japan–Indonesia Bronze 2002 United States EuroBasket Gold 1993 Germany Gold 2025 Latvia Silver 2005 Serbia and Montenegro Bronze 2022 Germany Stanković Cup Silver 2006 Nanjing

The Germany men's national basketball team is a group of talented basketball players who represent Germany in big international games. They are often called Die Mannschaft, which means "The Team" in German. The German Basketball Federation helps organize and guide the team. Right now, Germany is ranked as one of the top basketball teams in the world!

For many years, between 1949 and 1990, there were actually two separate German national teams because the country was divided. One team represented West Germany and the other represented East Germany. But after Germany became one country again in 1990, these two teams joined together to form the single team we know today.

Germany has achieved some amazing things in basketball! They have played in the EuroBasket tournament 26 times, winning gold medals in 1993 and 2025. They also won a silver medal in 2005 and a bronze medal in 2022. In the FIBA Basketball World Cup, Germany has competed seven times, taking home the gold medal in 2023 and a bronze medal in 2002. At the Olympic Games, they have played seven times, with their best finish being fourth place in 2024.

A Look Back: Team History

Early Days and Olympic Debut

Germany joined FIBA, the international basketball organization, in 1934. They first played on the world stage at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, which was also the first time basketball was an Olympic sport! Germany played their first game against Switzerland and lost 25–18. After this, they didn't play in the EuroBasket tournaments in 1937 and 1939. This was a challenging time for the country, which affected their participation in sports.

Rebuilding After the War

After World War II, Germany was not allowed to play in international competitions until 1950. The country was also divided into West Germany and East Germany. Each had its own basketball team. The German Basketball Federation was started in 1949.

West Germany's team started playing again in the EuroBasket 1951 tournament. They had some tough games but managed to win their first game against Scotland. Over the next few decades, West Germany participated in several EuroBasket tournaments and even hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

In the 1980s, with young stars like Detlef Schrempf and Uwe Blab, the West German team started to improve. They played in the 1984 Olympics and reached the quarter-finals for the first time. They even hosted EuroBasket 1985 and finished in fifth place, showing great progress.

Germany Reunites and Wins Gold

After the reunification of Germany in 1990, a single German national team was formed. They qualified for the 1992 Summer Olympics. For the first time since 1985, NBA players like Detlef Schrempf and Uwe Blab could play for the national team.

At the Olympics, Germany won their first game against Spain. They also had a close win against Angola. However, they faced the famous "Dream Team" from the United States and lost. Germany still made it to the quarter-finals but lost to the team representing the former Soviet Union.

In EuroBasket 1993, Germany hosted the tournament. Even without Detlef Schrempf, the team surprised everyone! They reached the semi-finals for the first time by beating Spain in overtime. After another win against Greece, Germany won their first European title by defeating Russia 71–70. Christian Welp was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The Dirk Nowitzki Era

Dirk Nowitzki

In 1999, a 21-year-old basketball star named Dirk Nowitzki joined the national team. He quickly became a key player. In EuroBasket 1999, he led Germany to some important wins, helping them reach the quarter-finals.

Nowitzki continued to shine in EuroBasket 2001, scoring many points and rebounds. Germany reached the semi-finals but lost a very close game to Turkey. They then played for the bronze medal but were outlasted by Spain.

At the 2002 FIBA World Cup, Germany, led by Nowitzki, made history. They reached the semi-finals and then won the bronze medal game against New Zealand! Dirk Nowitzki was named the tournament's MVP for his incredible performance.

In EuroBasket 2005, Germany had another fantastic run. They made it to the final for the first time in 12 years, beating Spain in a thrilling semi-final. They ultimately won the silver medal, and Dirk Nowitzki was once again named the EuroBasket MVP. He also had an amazing game in the 2006 FIBA World Cup, scoring 47 points in a triple-overtime win against Angola.

Nowitzki helped Germany qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. This was a big achievement, but the team didn't make it past the first round. After the 2008 Olympics, Nowitzki took a break from the national team, returning for EuroBasket 2011. He played his last international tournament at EuroBasket 2015, where Germany hosted some games. After a tough tournament, the legendary Dirk Nowitzki retired from playing for the national team.

The Dennis Schröder Era and Recent Triumphs

Dennis Schröder in 2022

Even after Dirk Nowitzki's retirement, Germany had a new rising star: point guard Dennis Schröder. He quickly became the team's leader in scoring and assists. Germany qualified for EuroBasket 2017 and reached the quarter-finals, with Schröder being one of the top scorers in the competition.

The team continued to perform well, qualifying for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. They had a strong qualifying campaign, winning all their first-round games. At the World Cup, they faced tough opponents and didn't advance past the group stage. However, Germany bounced back, qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics (which happened in 2021 due to the pandemic). They reached the quarter-finals there.

Nowitzki's number 14 retired by the Germany national team.

In EuroBasket 2022, Germany co-hosted the tournament. Before their first game, the team honored Dirk Nowitzki by retiring his number 14 jersey. This emotional moment seemed to inspire the team, as they had a fantastic tournament. They defeated Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece in the quarter-finals, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in 17 years. Germany won the bronze medal, making it a memorable home tournament.

Germany after defeating the United States in the 2023 FIBA World Cup semi-final.

Germany's success continued at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. They had a perfect record in the preliminary phase. In the semi-finals, they achieved a historic victory, defeating the United States 113–111, to reach the World Cup final for the first time ever! In a thrilling final game, Germany beat Serbia 83–77 to become world champions! Dennis Schröder was named the tournament's MVP.

Following their World Cup triumph, Germany competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics. They had a strong performance, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in Olympic history. They finished the tournament in an impressive fourth place.

Germany's incredible journey continued into EuroBasket 2025. They had a dominant run, winning all their group stage games and advancing through the knockout rounds. In a hard-fought final, Germany defeated Turkey 88–83 to win their second European Championship! Dennis Schröder was once again named the tournament's MVP for his outstanding play.

Germany's Basketball Achievements

The German men's national basketball team has a proud history of competing in major international tournaments. They have participated in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 7 times, winning a gold medal in 2023 and a bronze medal in 2002. At the Olympic Games, they have made 7 appearances, with their best finish being 4th place in 2024. In the EuroBasket tournament, Germany has competed 26 times, securing gold medals in 1993 and 2025, a silver medal in 2005, and a bronze medal in 2022.

Team Players and Coaches

Current Team Roster

This is the team roster for the EuroBasket 2025.

Germany men's national basketball team roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Age – Date of birth Height Club Ctr. SF 0 Isaac Bonga 25 – (1999-11-08)8 November 1999 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) Partizan PF 1 Oscar da Silva 26 – (1998-09-21)21 September 1998 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Bayern Munich G 4 Maodo Lô 32 – (1992-12-31)31 December 1992 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) Žalgiris F 5 Tristan da Silva 24 – (2001-05-15)15 May 2001 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Orlando Magic F/C 7 Johannes Voigtmann 32 – (1992-09-30)30 September 1992 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) Bayern Munich SF 9 Franz Wagner 24 – (2001-08-27)27 August 2001 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) Orlando Magic C 10 Daniel Theis 33 – (1992-04-04)4 April 1992 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) AS Monaco PG 17 Dennis Schröder (C) 31 – (1993-09-15)15 September 1993 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) Sacramento Kings PG 21 Justus Hollatz 24 – (2001-04-21)21 April 2001 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Bayern Munich PF 32 Johannes Thiemann 31 – (1994-02-09)9 February 1994 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) Gunma Crane Thunders C 34 Leon Kratzer 28 – (1997-02-04)4 February 1997 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) Bayern Munich SG 42 Andreas Obst 29 – (1996-07-13)13 July 1996 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Bayern Munich	Head coach Álex Mumbrú Assistant coach(es) Alberto Miranda Alan Ibrahimagić Legend (C) Team captain Club – describes last club before the competition Age – describes age on 27 August 2025

Team Lineup (Depth Chart)

Pos.	Starting 5	Bench 1	Bench 2
C	Daniel Theis	Johannes Thiemann	Leon Kratzer
PF	Franz Wagner	Oscar da Silva	Johannes Voigtmann
SF	Isaac Bonga	Tristan da Silva
SG	Andreas Obst	Maodo Lô
PG	Dennis Schröder	Justus Hollatz

Coaches Through the Years

Many coaches have led the German national basketball team over the years. Here are some of them:

Amazing German Basketball Stars

Dirk Nowitzki was a pillar for Germany throughout his career.

Many talented players have represented Germany. Some of the most famous include:

• Uwe Blab – A former NBA player.
• Shawn Bradley – Another former NBA player who also had German citizenship.
• Patrick Femerling – He played the most games for the national team (221 times!).
• Chris Kaman – A former NBA player who also had German citizenship.
• Dirk Nowitzki – A true legend! He was an NBA star, won an NBA Championship in 2011, and was MVP of both the 2002 World Cup and EuroBasket 2005. His number 14 jersey has been retired by the national team.
• Detlef Schrempf – The first German NBA star, a 3-time NBA All-Star.
• Dennis Schröder – A current NBA player and a key leader for the national team.
• Daniel Theis – A talented player who has played in the NBA.
• Franz Wagner – A current NBA player for the Orlando Magic.
• Moritz Wagner – Franz's brother, also a current NBA player for the Orlando Magic.
• Christian Welp – A former NBA player who scored the winning points in the 1993 EuroBasket final and was named MVP.

Players with International Roots

Germany's national team is known for having players whose families come from different countries. These players grew up in Germany and speak German fluently. Here are some examples:

• African-German: Stephen Arigbabu, Maodo Lô, Isaac Bonga, Ademola Okulaja, Dennis Schröder
• American-German: Shawn Bradley, Chris Kaman, Isaiah Hartenstein, Nick Weiler-Babb
• Brazilian-German: Oscar da Silva, Tristan da Silva
• Croatian-German: Dražan Tomić
• Serbian-German: Vladimir Bogojević, Marko Pešić
• Turkish-German: Mithat Demirel, İsmet Akpınar

German Players in U.S. College Basketball

Many German national team players have also played U.S. college basketball before becoming professionals. This experience helps them develop their skills. Some examples include:

• Uwe Blab – Indiana
• Oscar da Silva – Stanford
• Patrick Femerling – Washington
• Niels Giffey – UConn
• Elias Harris – Gonzaga
• Dirk Nowitzki – He did not play college basketball in the US, but went straight to the NBA.
• Ademola Okulaja – North Carolina
• Henrik Rödl – North Carolina
• Detlef Schrempf – Washington
• Franz Wagner – Michigan
• Moritz Wagner – Michigan
• Christian Welp – Washington

See also

In Spanish: Selección de baloncesto de Alemania para niños

• Sport in Germany
• Germany women's national basketball team
• Germany men's national under-20 basketball team
• Germany men's national under-19 basketball team
• Germany men's national under-17 basketball team
• Germany men's national 3x3 team